This is the 3rd time I have bought this game. Originally on PS3, then PS4, now here.

If you download this, go over to Nexus Mods and install the 'Seeker of Fire 2.0' mode.

This will make DS2, the "Best Souls experience out there" according to FightinCowboy, and I tend to agree with his appraisal.

Playing Dark Souls II is my favourite form of BDSM

My first experience with a Souls-like game and it was the most fun I've had in years.
In little to no time I got immersed into these beautiful scenarios and decaying world fighting my way through to get to the throne.

Now that I am playing DS Remastered so I can get to DS3, I fully appreciate all the risks Fromsoftware took while making this, risking their butts with some ideas that make people think this is the worst Dark Souls of the series without actually realizing that all those small decisions made all their Souls Like games, even Elden Ring, better on the long run.
The best example for this is the focus on consumables like the Bonfire Ascetic for NG+ areas in your first playthrough or the cool odd weapons/builds that exists in this game, and I mean, stances?. I fell in love with the Santiers Spear, that thing is fun as ♥♥♥♥; sadly it is the only game where this weapon is into the souls saga. But you get the idea, they really tried to improve and create new ways for this game to be even more awesome and challenging in the right ways, even by failing in some aspects on the way making the experience for some areas harder or more frustrating than it could had been.

I died a total of 450-ish times playing the whole thing including DLCs, so even if myself, sucking that much and struggling like a chimp with a controller, enjoyed the game this much, I am positive anybody that put themselves into embracing the struggle could do it as well.

I saw the differences between Vanilla and SotFS editions, this one takes the point for me, it is better and more enjoyable. Even more challenging in some aspects.

Give it a try, endure the pain, make it through. You won't regret what you are capable of.