Throughout the last decade, FromSoftware titles got stuck in a fruitful yet repetitive rut. The Dark Souls trilogy and Bloodborne felt like variations on a single gameplay formula and the Souls-Like genre desired innovation. Thankfully, FromSoftware revitalized this genre with the release of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The game’s sword-based combat and astounding visuals combine beautifully to create a fulfilling and well-crafted gameplay experience!
Sekiro stands out among FromSoftware’s works by utilizing its masterful presentation to encapsulate the mythology and atmosphere of Sengoku-era Japan. The luxurious graphics beautifully show off the vibrant landscapes like the sun-kissed Mt. Kongo and Ashina’s snowy plains. The music accentuates these feelings as the drums and flutes further the immersion and effortlessly suit the player’s current situation. However, Sekiro’s best trait does not come from its presentation.
The gameplay’s combination of weapon-on-weapon duels and the posture system helps Sekiro stand out as a masterpiece. Every encounter revolves around the player’s ability to inflict a deathblow on an opponent, whether this occurs by depleted health or by breaking the enemy’s posture. Whereas commonplace enemies fall quicker with damage, stronger foes are best approached by shattering their defense and constantly attacking. This forces the player to act aggressively and take control of battles as the best offense comes from deflecting your opponent’s attacks and straining their posture and the best defense comes from controlling the flow of battle by constantly attacking. Once one masters these elements, fights become fantastic and smooth as one balances deflecting enemy blows and striking back.
Unlike Dark Souls and Bloodborne, this gameplay system allows for an easier learning curve and a fulfilling experience. Where one’s skill at a souls-like game increases due to high stats and strong equipment, one can only increase their proficiency in Sekiro’s swordplay-based combat by mastering it. The player can also take more risks thanks to the main character’s ability to resurrect once after death, encouraging players to act dangerously and explore without worrying about running into a strong foe. However, the finely crafted gameplay cannot alleviate the questionable design choices present in Sekiro.
For instance, the combat does little to assuage the unfair circumstances presented by the game. Encounters with the Headless and the Shichimen Warriors smother the player in insta-kill status effects and shatter any sense of balance the gameplay held previously. Other fights like Guardian Ape forgo weapon-on-weapon combat in futile attempts to innovate on the experience. Aside from various tools and items, one cannot do much to alleviate the tedium.
Sekiro also does little to encourage multiple playthroughs. While the game features several endings, they require vague and easily missed steps. Furthermore, unlike FromSoftware’s other games, Sekiro only features one reliable way to approach combat. The lack of adaptability may put off players who expect this game to play similarly to other Souls-likes. Thankfully, these minor flaws do not severely impact the game’s high quality.
All in all, I give Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice a 9/10 and highly recommend it for whatever price you find it at!
