I've heard others say this, got to NG+ and found 1-1 way easier than I was expecting, but then I tried my favourite early farming spot of 4-1 and can barely beat the first skeleton.
I think some of it is just me expecting to stomp the early lvl slightly harder enemy's with my end game weapons - just like all other souls games. Ended up losing 100k+ souls in 1-1
Ng+ on demons souls is no joke