Player is bad at the game and clearly needs help: game gets harder.
Player is good at the game and doesn't need full HP: game gets easier.
Player has read the wiki page and understands how World Tendency works:
It's insane! Did they come up with that system on Opposite Day?!
Yeah, Demon's Souls world tendency is a big part of why these games got branded "hardest game ever and it hates you." The games that followed weren't quite as brutal -- losing souls after dying repeatedly, or having to farm for blood vials isn't exactly cruel or unusual.
As much as world tendency added to the mystery and intrigue of a game from that era I'm glad it's gone. But I'm much happier they dumped the encumbrance system. That was lame.