Living and Dying In The Shadows
Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice is an action game developed by From Software and published by Activision. The action game features ninja battles that involve stealth, platforming and tight combat in a fictional Feudal Era Japan.
That Iconic Brutal Difficulty
From Software is a Japanese game developer known for their difficult but satisfying video games. Some of their iconic games where King’s Field, Echo Night, Tenchu, Armored Core, Dark Souls, and Bloodborne. Their first few titles gained a cult following despite their poor sales. Several actors like unique gameplay mechanics, brooding ambiance and the immersive plot made From Software a sleeper hit for core gamers.
War Torn Feudal Era
Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice takes place in a fictional depiction of the late 1500s Sengoku period in Japan. The plot involves a ninja who lost his arm after getting incapacitated by Isshin Ashina’s grandson Genichiro. The Divine Heir Kuro was also kidnapped by Genichiro in order to save the falling Ashina clan as hen plans to raise an immortal army. After recovering from his injuries, the ninja receives a new prosthetic arm called Sekiro, or “the one-armed wolf” from the mysterious Sculptor. Players take control of the ninja who renames himself Sekiro and takes their revenge against the forces of Genichiro. The action game combines the stealth and acrobatics aspect of Tenchu, and the difficult but precise combat and RPG system of Dark Souls. Players traverse in the battlefields of Sengoku era Japan, taking quests from various NPCs and performing tasks. The main feature is the grappling hook from the prosthetic arm that allows players to reach high places and even evade attacks. They can upgrade the prosthetic arm for new tools, as well as learn new skills, martial arts, swordsmanship, and ninjutsu. There are also items that can raise Sekiro’s stats like health, offense and even protection from losing experience points upon death. Upgrades are divided by the skill tree and unlocking them requires in-game resources, completing quests or retrieving plot items. Collecting items and earning upgrades are important to unlock the true ending. The combat incorporates stealth and one-on-one duels. Stealth is vital for exploring fortresses, along with enabling instant deathblows against unaware enemies. Players are forced to confront enemies whether getting detected or facing enemy bosses. They can perform melee and ranged attacks, parry, and counterattack, evade with rolling or leaping and execute deathblows. Offensive gameplay and performing deathblows are rewarded but risky at the same time. Getting killed during combat will give players options to either restarting in a checkpoint while losing experience points or getting revived by collecting resurrection items. Resurrection is limited per checkpoint so players must be extra careful.
Merciless Ninja Action
Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice is indeed the spiritual successor of the Tenchu franchise imbued with the difficulty of Dark Souls. The difficulty can be intimidating for some players but the impressive ninja skills, engaging plot and terrifying bosses what makes it awesome in its own way.
