The problem is, 99% of players ignored the recommended level settings, because they like to stay at a fan created PvP 'meta' of lv. 125. Ringed City on NG is designed for 150, and you had lv. 125s going into NG++ expecting easy bosses and enemies.

Soul memory is why people hate DS2. It was a mechanic that was SO bad, it doesn't actually matter what the rest of the game was like.