Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (PS4)

By now you have likely heard the two different opinions of Sekiro. That some players think it's harder than the Souls games, and that others think it's easier. In accordance to opinions I have personally found Sekiro to be something of it's own. Something doable. While the base level design, and enemy layout harbor similarities to the Souls games it is functionally more diverse than said experiences. It is faster, more fluid, and offers different ways to progress and dispatch the foes in front of you. The new stealth mechanics, and the shinobi prosthetic gives the players multiple tools in dealing with the threats they face. Additionally there are skills with a skill tree that come into play later on that will add a sort of variation to the more traditional stance based parry and punish system that you are introduced to at the earlier stages of the game.

The gameplay itself is fairly straightforward though, in all due respect. You play as an aged shinobi named Wolf who was rescued at a younger age, and taught the ways of the shinobi in order to protect his master's young lord. As Wolf you will keep to that task as you forward your mission, and backtrack to unlock portions of the game previously hidden behind key items, and key NPC interactions. Your base of operations is a dilapidated Buddhist temple kept in order by a monk whose prosthetic arm you now don. As your savior early on he guides you with wisdom along with a shrine maiden or rather doctor's assistant, and helps tune-up your prosthetic with new shinobi tools when you find them, and bring them back to him.

At the temple resides a common prayer statue that doubles as both a resting place or save point that renews the dual death feature, and offers additional options such as skill enhancement, a store to buy the means to use shinobi tools (paper dolls), a means to fast travel to other statues/locations discovered, and other features vital to sustaining Wolf in his journey to save his master's lord. Also in short distance of said statue is the previously mentioned shrine maiden or doctor's assistant who gifts you your only source of health restoration outside of the pitiful life pellets. A gourd with magical medical properties which can be increased in quantity with found gourd seeds. Something that is crucial for longevity in a fight that can take away your only two deaths in a matter of seconds. Keeping in mind that that statue, when rested at, will replenish one death and that killing enemies will also refill the pinkish death circles located right above your health meter in the lower left-hand side of the screen. Making the perilous trek across the Japanese countryside less perilous.

Though death comes swiftly for those ill-prepared the game has it's own resident training guy located at the starting temple for training sake. As you progress, and learn of new fighting techniques you can return to this undying trainer, and fight in free mode or in guided tutorials that give you hands-on experience in combat without the consequences of death. Aside from the training offered there is also a box at a nearby shrine that will sometimes gift you rewards under certain circumstances. Definitely keep checking on it as you play.

Into the Heat of Battle ...

Combat in Sekiro, which will either be what causes you enough frustration to ragequit the game or inspire you to master it is not as bad as it might initially seem. Though there is definitely a learning curve when it comes to figuring out when to dodge, parry, and attack or use the grapple you'll find that when it clicks you will feel the satisfaction of an accomplishment in every fight that follows. From the mundane to the monumental the battles will seem like major victories. Sekiro, in that sense, is a very satisfying game when it comes down to the combat. Whether you choose to play more stealthily or go balls to the wall like a madman the bloodletting to be had will revitalize your will to push forward no matter how many times you might fail.

Speaking of failing dying twice, or even more is not as punishing as the game might lead you to believe. The only thing dying multiple times really does is inflict upon the NPCs an illness called "Dragonrot". It's nothing fatal, mind you, but it will have them coughing to the point you cannot converse with them. This renders side missions impossible, and ultimately certain endings as well. On top of that the "Unseen Aid" mechanic which offers the chance at in-game aid upon death and resurrection will be downed by a percentage. Like Dragonrot though there is a cure to be found later on. In the case of Dragonrot locating infected NPCs, gathering their blood, and returning said blood samples to the shrine maiden will cure the world's Dragonrot pandemic. Until you die enough to have to repeat the process over again. In a similar fashion the Unseen Aid can be remedied also. By finding certain in-game items you can take them to the nearest rest statue, and restore chances for Unseen Aid. By a percentage.

Of course the more you play into the world of Sekiro the more the features will open up to you. This often times requires backtracking though. Things like the skill points meter which allows for the earning of skill points upon enemy kills, and the application of said skill points to the skill tree will be made available to you if you do the back and forth errands required. Ultimately making progress easier, and less dependent on your base combat mechanics. Regarding said combat mechanics you'll find that the combat is more deeply involved than just swinging a sword, dodging, or blocking. Timing with all these things changes how it effects the battle between you and the enemy you are fighting. Sometimes, for example, by jumping over a sweeping attack you can press the jump button again, and do a dive kick which opens up an attack window. Attack windows, as they were, are what you look for to deliver the "Fatal Blow". Fatal Blows are finishers that result in bloody fatalities. Sometimes in the boss, and mid-boss situations it takes multiple clearings of their health meter in order to be able to deliver the Fatal blow, and sometimes said Fatal Blow requires the use of your shinobi prosthetic.

In the way of stealth combat you'll find that approaching the enemy or enemies can be done through attention getting items from vantage points, or through crouching, and creeping up upon them in bushy areas. You can even dive in from heights on target enemies, and one hit stealth kill them that way. While not every scenario will be full-on stealth applicable it can help make things easier. Thus learning the layout of the land, and the static starting positions of the enemies is a must if you hope to make it to the end of Sekiro. Also keeping in mind that enemies will respawn upon leaving an area is vital knowledge not worth forgetting.

In the way of menus you'll find "OPTIONS" on the PS4 DualShock4 controller will get you into the main hub of tweaks. By tweaks I mean you can assign up to 5 quick use Souls-like items there including the life gourd. Items which are cycled through and used in-game using the DPad. You can also fix into place up to three different shinobi tools as well as one skill. The shinobi tools are cycled through, and selected using the "TRIANGLE" button. The tools themselves rely on paper dolls that act as the source to use said tools. Buying paper dolls can be bought with the games in-game currency (gold from downed enemies) at the rest statues or earned by killing enemies. Other items of use can be found through either killing certain enemies or in golden purses located in hidden areas in the various environments. Along with the single use items you'll also find some key items that come into play in different ways. Such as a prayer bell that can be offered to a smiling Buddha statue at the starting temple in order to access a special side mission area. Needless to say there's a lot to discover as you make your way from start to finish, and it is that journey that will make more and more prepared for what lies ahead.

The Verdict ...

As a gamer who did not enjoy the Souls games I was pleasantly surprised with Sekiro. Going in I was worried about how the two deaths would play out, and whether or not travel/combat would be a grueling ordeal. Thankfully neither of said things are so overbearing that they turned me away. The more I played the more I felt compelled to keep on keeping on. I died a lot at certain enemies, but not once did it deter me from continuing onward. The game has a very satisfying, and visceral charm about it that is truly inviting. Though the learning curve is nothing to shrug off once it all clicks, and you learn "the dance" you'll enjoy it. I think, in retrospect, what a lot of Souls players find difficult is the complexity of combat. It's not as basic as the Souls games. It's a lot more involved mechanics wise, and getting used to the control scheme can be daunting at first, but no more so than any new game that you pick up. You just have to keep at it, and realize that you don't have to utilize everything at hand to win every fight. Each enemy requires a different approach, and in understanding that you will become more accustom to what needs to be done in each situation. As it stands I find Sekiro to be a worthy purchase. Just know that this is not a Souls game. This is something new and different as my friend, and fellow reviewer Justin said. Approach it as such, and it will be easier to enjoy. Sekiro gets the Inferno's fiery brand of approval!