This is my comfort game. The sounds, music, map, world building etc. is perfect. Though clearly rushed in the later stages, the overall experience is incredible from start to finish. I feel so melancholic playing the game now and remembering all the areas I used to invade, summon and be summoned, read and place messages and just experience the game with others for better or for worse. Despite that it still serves as an amazing experience even solo and the lack of online features now make you play the game in slightly different ways. I still load up the game just to take in the sights and environments of my favorite locations or do a play through with a new build for old times sake.
The remaster changes too much of the game, the lighting and "remastered" visuals to spells, bonfires, and a handful of textures clash with the original aesthetic and vibe. The atmosphere of the original game is utterly ruined in so many areas due to these changes. Not to mention the broken rolling animations. Once you notice them in remaster you can never unsee them and they just serve as a reminder you're playing an inferior version of the game.
I'd hope GOG can do all they can to get Bandai to approve the game for release here one way or another. GOG could even bundle in dsfix which makes the game perfectly playable, similar to what they did with Alpha Centauri and its user made mods that have allowed the game to function better. Even without the multiplayer this game makes for a great experience and allowing people to buy and own it again so they can experience the original developers vision and intentions is right in line with what game preservation is about. Not to mention saving some people hundreds of dollars from key scammers.