My first Dark Souls 1 playthrough was 30-40 hours, I believe. The best hint I can give you is not to look anything up. Just play the game, be wary of your surroundings, think logically and take everything in. Using guides to get through certain areas, to find out how to beat bosses or where to find the best weapons really takes a lot of the fun out of it.
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I'm struggling to get past the 1st monster :D, I'm overhead and then he destroys the porch I'm standing on.
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That means you're waiting too long. Outside of the fog gate is a sign on the floor that tells you what to do. If you run off the porch and press R1 in midair, you'll do a plunging attack. You won't take any damage yourself, but you'll hurt the Demon plenty. Give it a try, and don't stand still on the porch too long!