Are Hardcore Gamers Playing Games Wrong? (Patreon)

Is summoning in Elden Ring a violation of the "pure" experience, or is it the very purity of the game? While fighting every boss solo, rejecting tools deemed overpowered, and otherwise engaging in the "hardcore" experience is perfectly valid, it might not be the objectively correct method of engagement that some seem to think so. After all, denying yourself advantages to make things harder isn't playing the game as designed - there is actually an entire category of niche gameplay it falls under...