ShittyDarkSouls

Did you play the original first? If you didn't and you're a first-time player, I can think of all the ways you could progress through the game, and the only player I can think of who'd be bothered is the type who immediately backtracks and uses it on every statue he saw, even after seeing important paths being blocked.

You don't need to know where the branches are. These games expect you to explore the areas thoroughly, and there's STILL multiple unmissable branches.

If you did play DS2, you already knew what the branches were, how they were limited early, and past Things Betwixt I can't see you getting cockblocked unless you use the first branch you get on the tutorial. Which, already knowing they block major pathways too, is stupid.

There was nothing there besides an ogre (or were there two already?) and thus ladle in the original anyways, and now you at least get an Estus shard and Twinkling Titatnie. Usually when these games give you a reason to reexplore the tutorial it's good, why is this instance bad?