The first Dark Souls PC port is notorious for being borderline unplayable with a mouse and keyboard unless you tweak the settings or use plug ins, most just used controllers for ease of use. With later versions of the game, m&k controls seem to have gotten better. Fast forward to today, most PC versions of modern soulslikes allow for both control configurations while still usually suggesting a controller.
Which do you prefer? Have you tried playing with m&k?
My first times playing ER was mouse and keyboard. I got progressively better but it was incredibly difficult. I thought I just sucked at games, couldn’t get past any enemies that moved fast. And duo bosses? Forget about it.
Then I got an Xbox controller and hooked it to my PC.
That next run-through, I made it from Limgrave to Leyendell in about the time it originally took me to clear Stormveil