I don't know about this "Ariandel had great level design" thing we have going on here. The Corvian Settlement is really striking and the areas with a bunch of Followers are a good time, but the rest is just kind of there. I'd argue that the areas with lots of Millwood Knights or Lady Trees actively encourage you to sprint through them. The Depths of the Painting is just a mistake from start to finish.
The final room of Ariandel especially just shows how little they committed to the whole concept of the rot. They only made one enemy for it.
The final room of Ariandel especially just shows how little they committed to the whole concept of the rot. They only made one enemy for it.