It's not a hard game perse (even though I rage quit before).  I think you just need to show it due respect and not try to rush through it in a cocky way.  Also, planning ahead and being meticulous about it pays great dividends.  It's good to keep this in mind while you're at the start.  Have an idea of what type of character you want to go for in your playthrough (even though the game is ultimately completely open regardless of the class and stats you start with, it's really good to think about it from the start.  Also, use the wiki.  It's one of those games where you really will not get to experience most things unless you specifically look for them.  So use the knowledge that has accumulated from the community (I do not consider doing this to be spoiling my experience - if anything it enhances it and I wish i'd done this more from when I first tried playing it).

Yeah, small glances at a guide will help wonders and won't spoil things a bit.

That's the beauty. You can do your own thing in each playthrough.

Today I did Tombs of Giants and I killed that stinking rotten bastard Nito.  Apart from not being able to see a thing until I realised I had a lantern I could use, this area didn't give me much trouble.  Seeing Patches come back from Demon's Souls (to give you a kick down a different pit) was a nice touch.  Game seems to have opened up and to have become a little easier since Anor Londo.  Maybe I've leveled up too much ... but I prefer it this way.  No sense in being masochistic about it

Dvader said:

Finally I am doing damage. I can walk around without fear of dying by everyone. I beat Gargoyles with some summoning help, I got the tail axe by accident, I had totally forgetten about that. Now I am doing great damage, I cleared out lower part of the city with no issues.

It's an awesome feeling when you start kicking ass.  What kind of character build are you going for?  What weapon are you using.  The Drake sword (when you pick off the tail of the dragon that guards the bridge with arrows) makes the early game much much easier, but as Steel said to me, it's best not to learn to depend on it and to learn to fight properly with a weapon of your choice which will offer more long term benefits.  Also being able to use a bow is great.  Pyromancies are great.  Don't know much about spells or miracles, haven't bothered with that side of the game (maybe something to do in another playthrough)

Dvader said:

I am going for a ninja dex class but I want him to have some pyro powers. I have no magic yet and no katana yet so I am just using whatever I got.

That's an awesome choice.  It's what me and steel did this time around pretty much.  You should make going into the depths to rescue the first pyromancer a priority.  Also keep in mind that your pyromancy flame is independently upgraded and it's not depended on your level or other stats.  Personally I made it a priority to upgrade that before I did anything but the bare minumum character leveling and stat upgrades but it depends on how much you want to use your pyro powers.

Also, without wanting to spoil anything...  if you want to get the most out the pyromancy aspect (and you don't care too much about PvP) the covenant that makes the most sense to join is the chaos servant one as it will give you access to some unique pyromancies and other perks.  So avoid joining anything before you get to Queelag's domain

bugsonglass said:

That's an awesome choice.  It's what me and steel did this time around pretty much.  You should make going into the depths to rescue the first pyromancer a priority.  Also keep in mind that your pyromancy flame is independently upgraded and it's not depended on your level or other stats.  Personally I made it a priority to upgrade that before I did anything but the bare minumum character leveling and stat upgrades but it depends on how much you want to use your pyro powers.

Also, without wanting to spoil anything...  if you want to get the most out the pyromancy aspect (and you don't care too much about PvP) the covenant that makes the most sense to join is the chaos servant one as it will give you access to some unique pyromancies and other perks.  So avoid joining anything before you get to Queelag's domain

Damn I just joined the praise the sun dudes covenant. I wanted the white summon stone. You can switch no problem though right.

So these last couple of days I've been playing the game online with humanity intact.  I started doing that because I wanted to summon help for the 4 kings boss fight.  During the process I got invaded by several dark spirit cunts.  Much to my surprised I dispatched most of them and sent them packing with relative ease.  Such an awesome feeling.  These are bullies so used to invading people and sneaking around and backstabbing them just for the heck of it.  Imagine their surprise when they realised they're screwed for messing with someone they should have left well enough alone.  Now I quite enjoy fighting human players.  While I will never invade anyone's game because I'm fundamentally opposed to it, I get a smile on my face when I get invaded and I always summon any dark spirits who want a fight.

Dvader said:

Douchebag red invaders kill me all the time. I am still a weakling. What do you do to win the online fights.

last night I made it to the sewers, I hate them, I hate them so much. Creepy ass frogs from hell.

Most of them just try to sneak behind you to do the backstabbing move.  I have some devastating pyromancy in my arsenal which makes them stop in their tracks most of the time.  They don't know what hits them ... hint, it's a chaos fireball!!

The sewers is nothing compared to Blight Town.  Have you rescued the pyromancer?  He is behind the butcher in a room full of wooden barrels.  Just roll into them to break them without hurting him.  As soon as you rescue him go back to firelink shrine and get some fireballs.  You will deal with the basilisks and with those slugs much easier.  Also, try to farm humanity while you're at it.  You will need it to go up the ranks in the Chaos Covenant

Fucking Blightown. I hate this place. Every Souls games has an area like this, I wonder what DS2s shit hole area is going to be like.