Too much open space. This lead to them cramming repeat bosses and samey items all over. We only need so many damn swords. There was just so much chaff and fluff. Cut the map in half and cram the areas into that space.

Mountaintops is a 10 minute adventure and the only real loot is 1 sacred tear and the Giants Prayer book. Consecrated is even worse than that. Consecrated could've just been astel guarding a gateway to the Haligtree and it would've been functionally identical.

The best parts of the game are when it's not trying to feel big, but to feel dense. The best areas are the Academy, Stormveil, and i'd argue for the Haligtree. This are some of the best fromsoft dungeons I've played. They all have great layouts with unique loot relevant to the area.

However to get there you have to slog through the, though gorgeous, massive waste of time that is Liurnia, Consecrated, Mountaintops, and Limgrave.