Collecting My Thought on Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice—No, Not Madamada Koinu Yo

I remember my concluding sentiments for Dark Souls 3 being FromSoftware requiring a sort of rejuvenation for their following title. Half a year after I posted about it, they granted my wish. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is exactly what this doctor ordered. This game is a proper rejuvenation of the Dark Souls formula. Some DNA has been retained, like countless boss fights and fabulous legends. The differences, however, stuck out immediately. Our non-customisable character, Sekiro, leaps like a frog, runs to no end, and even speaks a little Japanese. Perhaps most surprising was how accommodating the game seemed to be to new players (finally!). Unfortunately, this came at the expense of finesse as they opted for a barrage of fourth-wall-breaking instructions and tutorials to achieve this. What can I say? Some people just can't be pleased.

So here we are in Japan, in the age of samurais and ninjas. Sekiro, a.k.a. Wolf, is a shinobi, a.k.a. a ninja. He is charged with protecting from danger the young Divine Heir, Kuro. The big talk in town is immortality; Kuro's lineage is indeed known for the gift of immortality, thus the need for said protection. Sekiro must fight through a legion of samurais and terrifying monstrosities to ensure Kuro's safety and that his gift does not fall into the hands of villains. The shift in mechanics is an apt accompaniment to the shift from a Western medieval world to a Sengoku-inspired one. The focus on stats, weapons and armour sets has been replaced by a focus on stealth, posture and learning intricate arts. Posture is a key mechanic that truly captures the feel of samurai sword fight. Sekiro can defeat his enemies either through whittling their health or breaking their posture, which is done by landing his own attacks or deflecting his enemies' attacks. This creates a combat dynamic between offense and defense you just don't see in other games. Just one of the unique elements in FromSoftware's most unique entry in their portfolio.

Despite stumbling into an "early" ending, I did not feel ripped off when I put down the controller. This speaks to how well-designed this game and its story is. The look, the feel and the sound of the game are spot on, and the journey I had was unmistakably FromSoftware yet innovative. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice proves that its creators are to be treated as seasoned mentors in the realm of game design; it proves that the wolf is not still just a puppy.

#LearntANewWord Palanquin.

#PlayTime 63 hours.

#FavouriteMechanic Sake sharing. What a way to lay out some lore while developing the player's connections with some NPCs, bravo.

#FavouriteName Long-arm Centipede Giraffe. Or Robert.