Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (Game Review by @K0WSK1)

If you’re a big fan of FromSoftware games like I am (Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, etc.), then I’m sure you’ve at least heard of their new release - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. I know the $60 price tag is a lot for people, and many are waiting for a Steam sale to bring it down, which is why I wanted to stop by here and post some thoughts about this intense dark fantasy shinobi samurai game from FromSoft. Although I haven’t beat it yet, I’ve logged about 35 hours in the last couple of weeks and have loved every second of it.

The FromSoft games that I’ve played (all of the Dark Souls, a bit of Bloodborne) feature an ambiguous, convoluted story line, in a distinctive dark fantasy genre that is really in a league of its own. Sekiro diverges from this trend in some ways, but also has many similarities to past games. The game takes place in feudal Japan, and you play as “Wolf”, a shinobi samurai whose main goal is to keep your master out of harm’s way (good luck). After a near death experience and the loss of an arm, you manage to travel far and wide, acquire a magic prosthetic arm from an unusual friend, and fuck up people’s days in search of your young lord. There is so much more to it than that, but there’s your main story arc. I will say that the story feels much more developed and clear here than Dark Souls, and there are way more NPCs than I’m used to from FromSoftware games. The increased depth of in-game dialogue and story is a refreshing change.

So, if you’re a fan of FashionSouls (gear meta), prepare to be dissapointed. There are absolutely NO changes to armor/appearance in this game (gasp! i know). However, there are several trees of skills/combat arts to unlock, and many different attachments for your prosthetic arm that allow for unique abilities. Having a single look for the entire game is a big turn-off for some people - I don’t really mind it that much. The gameplay more than makes up for the lack of customization IMO. Would I rather it have gear drops like Dark Souls or Bloodborne? Yes, of course I would. Not a dealbreaker though.

The first thing any Dark Souls fanatic will have to get used to would probably be the changes in movement mechanics. The single-button jump mechanic, incredibly quick running, and a lengthy grappling hook provide a more fast-paced, mobile feel than From’s other games. Additionally, rolls are not possible, only dodges and sprinting. It will feel especially different if you haven’t played DS3 or Bloodborne, as these games have the most similar movement styles to Sekiro (DS1 + 2, Demon’s Souls feel slow and clunky comparitively). Additionally, there is no stamina bar, so you can run for an unlimited amount of time. That being said, the similarities to From’s other games outweigh the differences by far - despite the faster tempo and focus on stealth, the game feels familiar and comfortable as a Souls player. There are typical “bonfire”-esque checkpoints (Sculptor’s Idols) scattered throughout the world, an “estus”-esque healing item (Healing Gourd), and huge “oh-my-god-I’m-never-going-to-get-past-this-point” bosses. Many bosses can be made simpler with stealth attacks or “deathblows”, which can knock out half of a bosses’ health right off the bat. Stealth deathblows are also hugely necessary when exploring the world and encountering different enemies, because if one runs around guns-a-blazin’ all the time, things get real difficult real quick.

The art and the landscapes in Sekiro are absolutely amazing, truly distinct from the dark, eerie, and often samey looks of the Dark Souls and Bloodborne games. Mountains, valleys, caves, temples, shrines, and pagodas, oh my! Some areas are so vibrant and colorful, I forget I’m playing a FromSoftware game!

Many enemies remind me of Dark Souls 3 mobs. They often look like them, move like them, swing like them, etc. There are little guys with big shields that you have to guard break that are almost a carbon copy of the full square shield mobs in DS3. However, the samurai and monk enemies throughout Sekiro will offer a swift change of pace for anyone used to Dark Souls enemies. From quick and slicey, to rude and pokey, and even large and pound-y, these guys will seriously fuck up your day.

I believe there are more bosses in this game than any other FromSoftware game, nearly 40 according to the boss guide that I checked. You run across them very often when exploring, sometimes one nasty boss right after another. There's a large variety of boss types - samurai, demons, and apparitions show up a lot. As is common with FromSoftware, the boss design is truly epic. It can take days or weeks to learn a bosses' moveset well enough to actually win a fight. The frustration is always worth the satisfaction you get from beating one of these phuckers.

All in all, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is an absolutely phenomenal game that I would recommend to any gamer who is looking for a challenge. There are a lot of things about the game that I left out of this write-up, either intentionally or unintentionally, as to not give away too many exciting details. Thanks for reading, and I hope you get a chance to pick up this great FromSoftware release!