only fitting i compare it to dark souls 1
soundtrack: ds1 is better and it’s ost carries a larger identity
gameplay: ds3 is miles more fun
enemy/boss design: easily ds3
world/level design: definitely ds1
visuals: ds3 is breathtaking
sound design: ds3

beating ds3 felt very unfulfilling. i thought i was about halfway done with the game, and next thing i know i’m travelling back to kiln of the first flame and fighting lord of cinder (pretty easy fight for a final boss btw… i struggled more on gwyn)
overall, i think the aesthetic of ds1 makes me enjoy it more, but ds3 is a breathtaking game. the bosses fights are significantly more enjoyable then ds1 and it’s more fun from a gameplay perspective (with better enemy design/placement, and more exciting exploration)

both are incredible games tho!

i absolutely love how a music chord plays every time youve discovered the solution. its unlikely youll unintentionally solve these puzzles and so its super rewarding and satisfying to here the jingle after being stumped for a few minutes
(the music is general is great, super pretty and atmospheric)

the animation is very unique, almost creepy at times (especially the purple planet and the weird way it pulls back the terrain)

the puzzle mechanics and designs are outstanding. really cool way of using multiple dimensions to solve puzzles. I just wish there was a bigger challenge, or the game was longer. It felt too short and it feels like they barely scratched the surface of what was possible with the mechanics (the last 10% was pretty great tho)

I loveeeee games without tutorial, written instruction, or guidance. The game leaves you with no information, allowing you to discover the solutions and mechanics yourself. And it is done amazingly, I was never stumped for beyond 5 minutes and the a-ha moments were incredibly satisfying
It truly feels like YOU are solving the puzzles, the game is just observing you and acknowledges when you've solved it. The self-tutorials are some of the best Ive seen, up there with celeste and the witness. Even the bosses, which are quite fun, have great tutorial systems and I was extremely impressed

underrated, overhated.

the characters arent going to leave a lasting impression, (in fact I find them mostly dull) but the writing and quest design is actually pretty good. I even like the main quest, which is rare in a Bethesda game. feels like it takes loose inspiration from Outer Wilds - embarking on a quest to solve the ultimate mystery in space

besides the glaring red herring (new Atlantis), the environments are super pretty. I love the initial landing on new planets, you never know what to expect and it [almost] always is a breathtaking interest. your breath still slowly come back and start to overfill your lungs once the realization hits - theres actually nothing to do here.
I understand why Starfield wanted an abundant amount of planets, and I dont even hate the idea, but it just... doesn't quite work. Once again I'll mention Outer Wilds, a game that has 6? closely connected planets yet feels like a bigger galaxy than Starfield does, through its terrible menu/fast travel system and boring flight mechanics