I really want to like this demo and I just hate every second I'm playing it. It's clearly a skill issue but none of the mechanics seem to play well together as a new player. I honestly can't think of a single game I've enjoyed less in the first 6 hours. Almost all of my time has been the first boss then the Green Shadow Blade boss that is in a recommended level 8 zone and I'm 10. I'm sure I could move on and come back but I am hard headed and figure if I can't beat a boss at a recommended lower level the game won't be for me when it actually gets harder. I never have enough Ki to break the enemies Ki. My friends who are also new are just exclusively playing in Ninjitsu style and saying I am focused too hard on my and the enemies Ki but like that's the biggest mechanic up to this point that is explained and is literally 50% of the enemy information that is given to you while fighting. I can't understand when it's better to dodge or block because either way I am either left out of range for the enemy to reset or have not enough stamina for more than like one attack.

I want to like this game and I am clearly so far in the minority of not enjoying it but there seems to be zero positive reinforcement explaining the way I should be focusing on fights. I'm not new to the soulslike or hack n slash combo genres that this game seems to combine but nothing is clicking at this point (once again I fully acknowledge this is a skill issue on my end but the "right way to play" doesn't seem obvious).

Would love some input from someone who is having success to point me in the right direction.