Just as a secuel to a great game should be. You get more, and better. Everyone has said it already.
Combat is tense, dangerous and precise. Make the right moves and you will succeed. Make a mistake and you will be punished. This will methodically teach you to be careful and patient, for the risk of losing your hardly earned souls is always there. The fact that every enemy is a somewhat heavy challenge, and that the whole world is stuffed with perils, REALLY encourages you to fight your way to keep leveling up, and exploring to find useful treasure and new better equipment; an important issue which most modern games just don't give a damn about.