slo said:
It's really not about discovery. It's about fighting shit. There are actual games about discovery, but they are unpopular. If Dark Souls did not have "fighting cool shit" as the main activity, it too would be unpopular.
Have you actually played the game? Dark Souls IS about discovery, that's why people love the interconnected leveldesign in Dark Souls 1, that's the number one reason i played the game, the difficulty is merely, let me use GlaDos words to describe it: "note that any appearance of danger is merely a device to enhance your testing experience. "
Exploring new areas is so much more rewarding, for any underestimated enemy or careless step could mean the end of your way. Every aspect of the game is about exploration, not only is it very nonlinear, you also have to dig deep to get to the actual story of the world, you have to explore all possible enemy-movements, you have to explore the different ways your weapons and armor make you able to fight those enemies.