Sekirō: Shadows Die Twice Review – A Shinobi’s Redemption
Game Information
Publisher: Activision Developer: From Software Rating: Mature Reviewed on: PC Other Consoles: Xbox One, PS4
There are no spoilers in this review outside of what happens in the tutorial.
From Dark Souls to Bloodborne, From Software‘s games are well-known for their intense difficulty, somber atmosphere, and masterful storytelling, and its newest entry to the Souls-like genre is no exception. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a punishing—yet rewarding—adventure through a mythological feudal Japan that offers many hours of enjoyment, difficulty, and storytelling.
Set in Sengoku-period Japan—a time of war in Japan’s history in the late 1500s before it was united under one government—Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice tells the fantastical story of a shinobi, Sekiro (translated as the “one-armed wolf”), and his quest to regain his honor and save the kidnapped young lord whom he is bound to serve in a dark and twisted world. With only his right arm and a contraption called a shinobi prosthetic fitted to the other, Sekiro uses stealth and visceral combat techniques to swiftly strike down his enemies.
Rating
Gameplay: 9.5 – Sekiro brings many new mechanics to the Souls-like scene, such as jumping, grappling, stealth, and a vast number of new combat techniques and abilities suitable for a shinobi. The game’s combat moves at a faster pace, but with the inherent slowness and strategy that comes with stealth, the game is still well-paced. There are some new mechanics, however (such as Spirit Emblems), that will needlessly hinder less-experienced players that die often.
Story: 10 – As a typical From Software game, Sekiro’s story unfolds both directly to the player and discretely via item descriptions, dialogue, visuals, and the world itself. Simply playing through the game will offer a compelling story, but diving deeper into the game’s lore, connecting the dots, and developing theories will give a much broader perspective on Sekiro’s masterfully-crafted world. Though set in a real era of Japan’s history, Sekiro’s story focuses little on history and more on it’s own fantasy; however, knowledge of Japanese language and history will offer an interesting (though unnecessary) perspective on its story and lore.
World Design: 10 – From Software’s level design is masterful, meticulous, and captivating in Sekiro. It tempts a player’s sense of exploration; then strikes at the heart if he or she neglects checking for danger. The world feels quite linear for the first few areas, but after a certain point, it opens up, and there are multiple paths to proceed.
Controls: 9.5 – While Sekiro’s controls feel solid, it takes on an “easy to learn, hard to master” philosophy. Mashing buttons at an enemy is easy, but pressing the right buttons will make the difference between victory and death.
Graphics: 8.5 – The visuals are a noticeable step up from its predecessors, but Sekiro’s striking visuals are more than a technological feat. The brighter world creates a stark contrast between it and From Software’s previous games in the genre, making for a nice change of pace. Despite the new beautiful visuals, certain areas retain the dark and gritty atmosphere, however, so From Software didn’t veer too far from their legacy.
Playability: 8 – Sekiro is difficult for both average and experienced players; however, it may not be for everyone, as the difficulty is highly punishing. The genre is defined by dying and failing repeatedly while learning to read and combat enemies effectively, and finally achieving success is a rewarding experience because it is more so a player’s skill that improves rather than in-game stats or levels.
Replay Value: 9 –
Final Score: 9.25
Buy Sekirō: Shadows Die Twice
*Neither The Rampage nor Bluefield College is affiliated with or sponsored by Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation, Valve, or From Software
