There?s a formula we?ve come to expect from FromSoftware titles, we?ve seen it time and time again with each addition to the legendary Souls series and the gothic masterpiece that was Bloodborne.
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It?s a formula which the studio has seen little need to alter, flawlessly gliding from the inky, medieval kingdom of Lordran to the twisted streets of Yharnam, as each entry bottles our primal, masochistic passion for pain in a fever dream setting, while leaving us begging for one more run.
FromSoftware's primary export, we feel, are distorted RPGs, infuriating ?You Died? screens, and stunningly authentic worlds. So when it was announced at E3 2017 that the studio would launch a new IP set in feudal Japan, fans? eyebrows were understandably raised.
Almost two years later, we finally got to sit down with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice at a preview event and found that FromSoftware and Activision?s latest offering adds some extra strength, and a lot of culture, to the formula we thought we knew so well...
Lone wolf
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice follows the journey of a Shinobi during Japan?s war-ravaged Sengoku period.
Left for dead by a samurai commander, who cuts of his arm and kidnaps his boy master, the shinobi - known only as Sekiro (?one-armed wolf?) - is rescued by a peculiar sculptor who creates a prosthetic arm for the wolf.
Fueled by loyalty to his Divine Heir master, the Shinobi sets out to save his lord from Ashina castle and wreak vengeance on those who left him for dead - and it?s going to be bloody.
It?s here that you truly begin your journey, in the dilapidated temple that serves as your home base. The temple serves as a perfect introduction to the unsettling and curious characters that inhabit the world of Sekiro.
Firstly we have the sculptor who saved you, an abnormally hairy-legged elderly man who sits contorted on the floor of the temple, carving wooden statues of Buddha. His job is not merely to unnerve you, but to upgrade your prosthetic arm.
The Shinobi prosthetic initially comes with just the grappling hook ability, which allows you to transverse to higher ground and move seamlessly through the mountainous regions populated by ancient trees and temples.
This also provides excellent diversity when it comes to combat strategy, but we will come back to that later.
As you progress, you will find upgrades such as the Shuriken Wheel which, when brought to the hairy mentor, becomes a Spinning Shuriken add-on for your prosthetic.
While you can find these upgrades scattered throughout the world, they can only be added to your prosthetic by the sculptor.
Sculptor?s statues, which serve as save and rest points, allow you to fast travel back to the sculptor quickly as well as between the statues you have already prayed at - however, much like the Souls series, resting will cause some defeated enemies to return.
If you wish to test these new abilities, then it?s beneficial to pay a visit to the unkillable samurai who resides in the temple - imagine Mortal Kombat?s Raiden has crawled his way out of the grave.
While it?s perhaps an annoyance for him to be immortal, it serves you well in that he is the perfect trainer, allowing you to practise blocking, attacks and other combat without any moral dilemma.
The final resident of the temple is the physician, who can improve the efficiency of your healing gourds if you bring her gourd seeds.
Blood, sweat and more blood
As expected from FromSoftware titles, you are given little to no direction about where to go or what to do. However the game remains fairly linear until about mid-way through, opening up after this point and allowing you to essentially wander at your leisure and take on segments as and when you see fit.
This is a great way to ease players in - particularly if you aren?t a Souls or Bloodborne veteran - and especially as a way to get to grips with Sekiro?s combat mechanics.
As previously mentioned, your Shinobi Prosthetic serves as a reliable weapon and tool, however your Kusabimaru katana is your staple and this becomes extremely evident in one-on-one combat.
If you weren?t a fan of parrying in previous FromSoftware titles, then you are in for disappointment. Sword combat in Sekiro is heavily reliant on parrying, in order to knock your enemy off their posture and leaving them open for you to unleash the fatal Shinobi Deathblow.
While in some cases this proves relatively easy, with enemy?s strikes being easily blockable and predictable, the difficulty comes later as their speed increases and unblockable attacks begin to make an appearance.
Each of these particular attacks require a specific response such diving when a thrust attack comes your way; it seems fairly straight-forward until you?re in a blur of combat, trying to remember which response you need for each attack.
Combat requires strategy and patience, but when you begin to get to grips with the flow and timing of Sekiro?s swordplay then it?s extremely rewarding.
Seeing a red circle appear on your enemy after a blade dance of parrying and swift strikes, and landing that final devastating Deathblow is an incredibly satisfying (but extremely bloody) experience. It feels like you worked for the kill.
However, not all Sekiro?s combat has to be so full-on. Stealth is a large part of the game, with opportunities for distraction, ambush and avoidance all playing a role.
On occasion Sekiro can eavesdrop on enemies, picking up hints and information on the best way to approach a situation - maybe there?s a hidden entrance somewhere that will allow you to sneak into an area undetected?
But the true heart of ambushes is your prosthetic. While your grappling hook allows you to reach higher ground, identify new routes of attack and get the drop on your enemies, prosthetic upgrades such as firecrackers allow for distraction techniques.
The Shinobi Prosthetic is truly a dynamic piece of gear, with each upgrade allowing for a shift in combat style.
While the add-ons for your prosthetic are picked up and fitted by the sculptor, these are then upgraded in the skill tree using skill points. As you kill more enemies, you gain skill experience which then becomes skill points.
These skill points are also used to upgrade stealth-based Shinobi Arts and combat-heavy Ashina Arts, honing your combat style with techniques such as Ninjitsu and Ichimonji and creating new ways to use current weapons. Becoming a master of each option is key to success.
Wake from death and return to life
Unlike the Souls series and Bloodborne, Sekiro is not an RPG. While you inherit new skills and weapon upgrades, you do not level-up as a character and therefore a lot of your progress is built on how you yourself develop as a player.
It?s a ruthless learning experience, more so than ever before, with FromSoftware aiming to make death ?more punishing than ever?. Yikes.
When you die in Sekiro, you permanently lose half your skill experience and your money. But there are a few potential saving graces.
Firstly, there is resurrection. This ability can be restored at sculptor statues but is very limited. If you have one available, then you can choose to be resurrected upon death - but it doesn?t need to be used straight away upon death, instead you can use it for an ambush.
For example, you may have been stricken down by a man spewing crickets everywhere (this is a thing). Rather than immediately resurrect, you can wait until he thinks you are definitely dead and turns his back, resurrect yourself, then unleash a devastating ambush on him and his chirping chums.
If you?re not fortunate enough to have resurrection available, then you have a slim chance of being blessed by the gods. This rare feature, called ?Unseen Aid?, sees the gods have mercy upon you and not stealing half your experience and money. You never know when this aid will kick in, so best not to test the gods.
Reimagining Ancient Japan
The period in which Sekiro takes place is one which sees the world on the brink of ruin, years of non-stop war may have devastated the Ashina territory but the wounded beauty of Ancient Japan still shines though.
There?s a something unsettlingly haunting about FromSoftware?s authentic and immersive worlds, a mythical gothic hue on classically stunning worlds - like a slightly distorted painting. Sekiro is weathered temples with creaky floorboards and blood-stained snow. Its aesthetic is a juxtaposition between peace and uncertainty.
Perhaps that is cemented in the historical accuracy of Sekiro, the bloodiness of the Sengoku period blended with the mythical beliefs of the time - a blend of the fantastical and the ugliness of reality.
The scene which sees Sekiro lose his arm to the commander is the pinnacle of this balance between intense beauty and brutality.
On a backdrop of snow-white pampas grass fields, a full moon and a black sky, the commander slices Sekiro?s arm, misting the feathery grass in crimson red.
But it?s the eerie silence which speaks loudest as the blade cuts through the Wolf?s arm - it?s a truly breathtaking cinematic experience which sets the tone for the entire game.
Early thoughts
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice seems to be a departure from what we?ve seen from FromSoftware before, but in the best possible way.
While death is more punishing than previously, success feels more rewarding than ever - though it?s not something which is easily earned.
Sekiro requires patience and practise but will scratch the itch for those who want more than a simple hack n? slash, instead seeking an authentic and dark.
