"But can I really critique a game on being obtuse when it's sole reason for being is to be difficult?"
Yes. There's a difference between a game being hard because its obstacles have been carefully balanced for challenge and being hard because it's nigh-impossible to find important information. One is legitimate difficulty and is good. The other is fake difficulty and is bad.
Minecraft had (and, I believe, still has) no in-game information or recipes, not that it stopped people.
I would add to the first reply above that the Souls games largely avoid Fake Difficulty. Of course, nothing is perfect, and there are certainly aspects of this game that are legitimately frustrating instead of legitimately challenging. Much as it's the unpopular opinion, one of the reasons I like Dark Souls 2 over both the original and Demon Souls is the extra layer of polish. For something that's supposedly easier, I sure still die a lot, but far less often do I feel like the game is being outright unfair instead of it being my own fault.
I disagree on what the OP says about the graphics, though. The graphical fidelity is quite low. Some things have a lot of detail, most things do not. Characters don't even move their mouths when they speak. I do agree that the game looks stellar, because this game is an excellent example of how good visual design and art direction can easily make a game look far better than the resolution of its textures. Every environment is unique and lush with whatever details the area calls for, while still giving off the impression that you're exploring a place very far gone from its old glory, winding down to the end. The animation is extensive and each enemy moves like it should; the hollows shamble like zombies, the bosses lumber or lunge or strike like old, powerful things coming for your head, the lighting is vibrant enough to notice but not overpowering. This is a game you show someone to demonstrate good design that puts what's available to good use is far preferable to putting all of the effort (and budget) into a shiny but shallow and comically linear presentation with spoonfed exposition like The Order 1886 did.
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I Might not be Part of the Target Audience...
... But I still find something about Dark Souls 2 to be enthralling. Maybe it's the nonstop challenge, maybe it's the large world, maybe it's the expansive RPG mechanics and equipment choice, or the diverse combat... perhaps it's just the drive to explore, to press on and see what else is around the corner.
Is it difficult? Oh most definitely. Even the most bog standard enemies can ruin your day if you're too cocky and not watching your surroundings. And often it feels that the game always chucks something at you just to rub dirt in your face. However at times I feel difficulty comes from areas outside of combat.
For example, the game is very conservative about telling you things. It wasn't until my third hour playing that I found out how you level up, by talking to a character that blends into the scenery if you're not looking for her. And during my first run I wound up missing the tutorial area entirely because I had no idea what the mist portals were supposed to be. In addition for a game that apparently calibrates more than Garrus Vakarian, it sure lets wonky shit pass through the net. Usually by helping enemies. For example, any enemy wielding a club seems to have some invisible forcefield around their weapon, allowing it to hit you even if it looks like you dodged it by a factor of two feet.
In addition it's entirely possible to just slam into a brick wall and not progress any further. Say you meet a boss that royally kicks your ass and you die there. Your souls stay in the spot you died at, unless you die again without retrieving them in which case they're gone forever. As you need souls to level up and/or get new equipment, this can be problematic. It would be fine if you could grind off enemies, but if you kill the enemies of an area enough times then they stop respawning. Particularly painful early on, as there only about two routes you can take. One of which is a colossal pain in the ass.
But can I really critique a game on being obtuse when it's sole reason for being is to be difficult? It's still an impressive and oddly enjoyable game, and definitely worth the money if you want a challenge. Technically it's quite stellar too, remarkably smooth frame rate and some rather good textures.