It was rather lazy. I personally just kept running through them. I had much better success with it than Jeff did, I got the timing down on running past them quickly and easily. I also didn't have to do it many times though.
It seems like they did everything they could to discourage many tactic people used in DkS1.
Backstabbing and Parrying are nerfed, and you can get hurt during their animation.
Many enemies spin in place to prevent them anyway.
Plunging attacks are harder to pull off.
Jumping attacks and shield breaks too (this could be a deadzone issue and not intentional).
Opening chests takes forever.
Entering fog gates takes forever.
Stamina management is harsher.
Estus take forever to heal you.
Raising your shield is slower.
Rolling is ineffective unless you pump up your AGL.
Farming is detrimental due to Soul Memory.
And i think there are in general more harder to skip gauntlets.
On the other hand, they did give you life gems, front stabs and loser clearing/despawning.
