I know that I’m late on the bandwagon, but I will still write my Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice review because this game offers a very unique experience for players.
Photo from baltana HD Wallpapers
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is FromSoftware’s 2019 Game of the Year, and it was able to receive such an achievement for a good reason. To say that it took the formula of FromSoftware’s other games (e.g., Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls 1, 2, 3, and Bloodborne) and then concocted its own is an understatement. Even Star Wars Outlaws, who is quite ambitious, pales in comparison to how groundbreaking Sekiro was.
Now, let’s start with my review of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and let’s find out if it’s worth playing after 5 years!
A Rhythmic and Beautiful Struggle: The "Clang, Clang" Combat Mechanic in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice’s combat mechanic is very unique. It’s basically like a rhythm game (you know, time the rhythm right and you win), but with action and fights inserted into it.
Imagine playing Dance Dance Revolution, but instead of listening for the music’s beat and when to time the right steps that correspond to the arrow keys floating down on the screen, you’re instead listening to the clangs of swords clashing with each other as you deflect the enemy’s strikes, blow after blow, after blow.
It sounds like a terribly balanced game, I know, but once the combat mechanic “clicks” for you, you’re in for a wild ride.
Beautiful Visuals From Top to Bottom
FromSoftware is mainly known for the difficult games that they release whenever they can, sure. But one thing that they’re equally popular at is creating majestic and beautiful worlds. While it’s true that the world they build is often bleak, dilapidated, and a shell of its former glory, there is enough beauty left in it that players often find themselves in awe.
Take a moment to take a look at this picture:
Beautiful, isn’t it? This is Fountainhead Palace. It’s one of the reasons that compelled me to write this Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice review. From a distance, you can see the pink Sakura leaves from the enormous trees they sprout out of. You can see the crystal clear waters and the turquoise shade on its surface.
The moon’s silvery skin glints upon those waters, adding an even more surreal factor to this place. If you look a bit further to the left, you can see a massive waterfall rushing down a massive cliff. From the far right of the screen, you can see a tall mountain with what seems to be monoliths.
But if you ever look a bit too close and stare at things for a bit longer, you’ll notice the ugliness, too. You’ll notice broken roofs, rotting wood, and an entire building submerged beneath the water’s depths. Sekiro’s visual is truly another fantastic product coming from FromSoftware’s brand of games.
A brand of games that encapsulates both the beauty and grotesqueness of its world, especially so with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
A Steep Learning Curve That Promises Perfection
I think it’s time we talk about the elephant in the room, that being, Sekiro’s difficulty. There’s just no easy way around it, so I’ll just go ahead and say it: the game is notoriously hard. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice arguably has the steepest learning curve out of any FromSoftware game.
It’s one of the reasons why it sparked so much debate from “game journalists” who say Sekiro needs an easy mode. And while the steep learning curve is really there, once you overcome it, something in you changes.
Like flicking on a light bulb in your room, something in your mind flips a switch. The steep learning curves turn into some kind of addiction. That addiction turns into obsession, and before you know it, you are already chasing perfection in every enemy, particularly with bosses, that you encounter.
The Way to Overcome Challenges Is Through You—The Player
Since Sekiro’s combat mechanics rely on your skill as a player, every time you play the game, you’re not grinding for in-game EXPs or skills. It’s pretty similar to Black Myth: Wukong, but the numerous builds in the game can be abused by players.
With Sekiro, you’re actually honing your timing, reflexes, and hand-eye coordination skills to get better at the game. I would even say that Sekiro is the epitome of the phrase “Git gud!” that gamers so often throw around.
In Sekiro, there’s no way to overlevel an enemy. There’s no way to farm for more resources to upgrade your sword to a +7 Scythe of Death that wipes out enemies in a single hit.
The only thing in Sekiro is you, your controller, and the boss you need to defeat.
Conclusion to My Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Review
I feel like some of you, my dear readers, already know how I’ll conclude this article. If you can’t already tell, I’m a big fan of the game, and it’s the only one in a long time that I still actively replay from time to time.
Games nowadays are often too formulaic. They’re too repetitive, generic, and “safe” for the sake of being “user-friendly.” What’s worse is that players are now bogged down with microtransactions, turning the game into an even less enjoyable gaming experience.
But if you’re up for the challenge, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is nothing like that. It’s a game that is ambitious, doesn’t oversell itself with microtransactions, and it promises that you can pull off a perfect fight against your foes—if you so desire it.
That’s all from me, folks. It’s been a pleasure and stay tuned for more reviews on games and the gaming industry with GameEels!
