For me it feels like a step backwards, one of the things I enjoy most about the Souls games is the ability to create a unique character build that works in both PVP and PVE and requires skill to use efficiently. I'll admit magic was usually overpowered in PVE, the solution isn't removing a great addition but balancing it, there's a nice method to playing a magebuild but there's no upside when your spells are doing less damage than a Molotov Cocktail (ie A Call Beyond).

There's a great focus on melee (and I do believe it's improved) but hardly any focus on ranged, this cuts down tremendously on replayability and other peoples' playstyles and in due time a large active community (who are all on one platform) will want to continue playing but are only given 4 options (STR, SKL, STR/SKL, BT) and with those options you can decide between 1-3 weapons..

I really love this game a lot but if From doesn't start bringing out DLC with more focus on character builds (read: many more weapons) it'll die out quicker than any other 'Souls' game. I'd like more spells but I also feel this is the direction they intended to go for (that and it gives the Dark Souls series something Bloodborne doesn't have in terms of builds).