Well, the theme of contrast is in the name isn't? Clear vs obscure, transparent vs opaque.

Eh, it's perfectly fine to not enjoy even highly acclaimed games. I ended up not liking BotW despite trying hard to get into it.

I think the gore change did a really good job in setting the theme. Like it suddenly goes from surreal but optimistic and then brutally reality hits.

The game feels special partly because those two themes interchange throughout and you never really know what to expect

Some time before I played this game, I reset my TV display settings but apparently forgot to turn game mode back on. I was getting slaughtered by everything and I was so pissed thinking that they just did a bullshit job developing the reaction commands.

The game was a lot more enjoyable after I realized that I was just an idiot.

You can turn off the most punishing aspects of the parry system if you just want to experience the story. It's legit one of the most moving and engaging stories I've ever seen in a video game so if your only complaint is the difficulty it gives you an easy solution in the settings. I found it hard but worth learning, but you can make it much less intense if you want.

This one for me too. The definition of "needlessly complicated". The combat system is so annoying, the upgrades, every character plays differently. I'm only motivated to finish it because I paid full price for it. At this point I'm playing in story mode and searching for a mod to auto parry, so the fights don't drag on.

My friend told me it has a great opening. So great, that by the time you get past it and realise you don't like it, you've already played too long to return it on steam. And it was only surprising if You haven't seen Logan's Run.

I don't remember gore being very prominent in the game outside of the opening. Tbh it sounds like you haven't played much of the game, in which case your post doesn't belong in this discussion.