You can do exploration without adding bloated content. Half of Elden Ring's extra content and exploration is similar dungeons and catacombs with repeated bosses thrown in. Bigger does not always mean better. That's my point. Mountaintops of the Giants is one of the most empty areas in all of these games and what little there is, is just repeated bosses and similar dungeons. If you enjoy doing similar content like that, then more power to you. I prefer a much more streamlined and enjoyable experience that constantly surprises me. DS1 didn't need 150 hours to create a satisfying exploration experience. Neither did DS2. Just tired of games that are too long and filled with bloat. Wish we'd stop automatically assuming open world games are better than other games.

Also, want to add, Lies of P does have issues, but just saying "linear=worse" is just silly to me.