LogFAQs > #963474543

I mean that's kind of how all optional content in Soulsbourne has worked in NG+. It sounds like the main differences here are 1) there is SO much more game, 2) almost all of it is optional, 3) the soul pinata dragon makes taking advantage of it more accessible.

This reminds me of the Dark Souls 2 speedrun where the strat is to ignore almost the entire game and just use Ascetics to fight The Rotten enough times until you get enough souls to open the soul door, because it's faster than beating all of the main gate bosses.

Still, doing this on replays just because it's optimal is not typically the approach people have to Dark Souls 2!