This expansion is excellent. I have not found the difficulty overwhelming. May-haps the complaints are caused by not utilizing the tools offered at the game. Over the past couple of years, a debate about using summons was constantly discussed. Well, Fighting two bosses like the crucible duo or three rot crystallions would be unfair if summoning was not an option provided by the developers.
What I liked about the expansion more than the base game is layering the game, offering too much content in a condensed area. If Fromsoft next project, that I am already exited about, is an open world game, I hope they adapt the same design philosophy of this expansion.
My only complain is about leaving loose ends, especially about the black flame queen. I was expecting to see the small jar from jar burg. I was expecting more content for Tanith. Well, it is what it is at this point.