Man I must have done thousands of google searches for this game. I think without the internet it might be even harder or i'd get lost. The Wiki helped a ton.
Playthrough videos on Youtube help, but I NEVER go further than I am in the game when viewing them. I don't want anything ruined.
After beating Ornstein I went through new Londo Ruins. I died on the first try due to stupidity. I ran through there and got surrounded by ghosts when my Transient Curse ran out.
I even got up to getting my Very Larger Ember, killing all the Wraiths and giant slime things. I've still yet to see a Titanite Slab. I got some items for farming so that'll help when I go back.
I can't fight Four Kings until I do some other stuff first.
I've never played Demon's Souls yet. I owned it, but it sat on the shelf forever because I was worried it'd be too hard!
I actually found the game kind of hard early on when I was new, but that mostly was due to me figuring out the game. That area with the giant boar gave me troubles. Then it took me awhile to get to the first Blacksmith somehow.
It's amazing how many Bonfires and shortcuts I missed so that it made it even harder!
Compared to all the old NES games, this game isn't any more difficult than the average game. Back then games were so much tougher. Some of them almost impossible to beat (like Battletoads i've read).
Towards the end of Dark Souls i've glad it didn't suddenly get 10x harder.