I just think the whole feeling of "no progress" is part of this type of game. I played for like 2 hours last night and don't feel like I really made any progress lol. I found some new graces, lost to Godrick multiple times again, found a new boss I had never found and died over and over, and then basically called it a night. I did level up my uginata to +5 so maybe that will help with Godrick when I face him again.
I have like 26 or 28 hours I think and I haven't even passed Stormveil Castle, story wise. I have found my way around it well before ever getting to Godrick, but I haven't been able to beat him yet. I'm kind of doing a jack of all trades build but am now going to just focus on strength mainly since I have my magic in a place I think it's good enough for. I'm at level 49.