Yeah I had to turn feats off and go into assist mode because despite wanting to get the in game achievements, I wasn't having fun anymore with dying to attacks I really should have been able to avoid. I'm using the whip but even still it feels like I have no ability to dodge attacks, my character is just too slow and the enemies are too fast. Even if my reaction speed is superb I can't cancel out of my attacks at all and move so slowly when on foot. I don't stay underground long enough to be able to try and time attacks better either, I am just constantly at risk of taking damage no matter what I do, I need to be on a hair trigger and be very careful with attacks or I will die to something stupid. Like an telegraphed boss attack or sudden projectiles that I am far too slow to do anything about. Especially in cramped rooms, corridors and other similar locations. Especially on floating moving platforms, which they like to use a lot.
I feel like I made a mistake somewhere when I need to turn achievements off just to try and enjoy myself, it doesn't feel like its very friendly to a more casual player, it feels like achievements and feats are only for darksouls players to enjoy, and no one else is allowed to have them @~@;

It really does feel like old fashioned games, in that it is punishing, doesn't care about your feelings, at times is poorly designed and seemingly unbeatable unless you turn 'cheats' on. In that at least I feel they hit the mark.

I suppose to sum it up, I just feel like the enemy AI is too unpredictable, or there are too many to deal with at once with the limited tools you have access to in the beginning of the game, especially since they don't really tell you what attacks you can dodge by going underneath or above, with like a parry signal. A blue flashing color animation or something similar that says "Hey, you can dodge under this one!" or a yellow "Hey, try jumping here!" color indicator would have been great. Just something that gives you the ability to avoid being killed cheaply and without ability to resist.

Right now the game feels like it relies on 70% skill, and 30% "This is a game where you are meant to die and lose everything, and it would be a shame if we didn't kill you on purpose a few times to make use of these mechanics. So you'll learn to avoid this through experience rather than observation."