Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5159 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4,327 out of 5159
  2. Mixed: 286 out of 5159
  3. Negative: 546 out of 5159
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  1. beelzebubiii
    Mar 29, 2019
    9
    While there are a far too many mini-bosses, the game-play and atmosphere is masterful. It's different enough from the Souls games, and a bit reminiscent of the Gaiden games. Players both old and new to From Software can enjoy this challenging, exciting, and at times frustrating title.
  2. Grandmaster7
    Mar 29, 2019
    5
    this is not the kind of game from FS that we would like to see, it's a curve slasher that you get tired of, removed the old mechanics by adding slasher elements...
  3. sufflaminandus
    Mar 29, 2019
    7
    Pre-release promotion material and official change of genre somehow enwrapped me into believing that Sekiro might indeed be something different from Souls series. Thankfully it was an illusion: like predecessors, Sekiro is all about combat and exploration. Though not in classical ratio.

    The genre is ‘action-adventure’ now but there are some important remnants of RPGs. ‘Souls’ are now    Pre-release promotion material and official change of genre somehow enwrapped me into believing that Sekiro might indeed be something different from Souls series. Thankfully it was an illusion: like predecessors, Sekiro is all about combat and exploration. Though not in classical ratio.

    The genre is ‘action-adventure’ now but there are some important remnants of RPGs. ‘Souls’ are now experience and money. Half of the both exp and money is irreversibly lost upon death. Exp goes into skill points needed to buy abilities: passive, conditional and active. Money is needed to trade and to upgrade prosthetic arm. Prosthetic arm is fitted with multiple tools that have numerous upgrades costing randomly dropped materials, so we can label prosthetic arm as a loose imitation of equipment progression. Character development simplified into two stats: vitalily, upgradeable by Prayer Beads found in the world, and attack power, increased upon defeating bosses. The last part is ‘healing gourd’ aka estus flask, serving and upgradeable in absolutely same manner as in DS2 and DS3. As you can see, aside from lacking of character builds, Sekiro is as RPG as DSs were RPGs (can DSs be called RPGs is another question), especially given the fact that Sekiro is still about that “think up the story yourself”, weird oddities and hidden pseudo quests.

    The problem is that the journey of taciturn shinobi Wolf in service of young lord Kuro, whose blood can bestow immortality, is plainly *less* that of any soulsborne game. It comes from two objective factors. First, and more crucial one, is limitation of the setting. It is totally understandable but still regrettable that feudal Japan, XVI age, cannot provide the same grandiose and contrast locations that purely fictional world can. I mean, typical Japanese castle filled with typical japanese houses? Snowy mountains leading to them? Grass fields? Sakuras? Too *plain*, especially compared to DS1. The only two locations that surprised me were Sunken Valley and Ashina Depths. And not because it was something unseen before, but because it was unexpected. The second factor is above mention lack of material gain in exploration. Prayer beads, gourd seeds, 8-9 tools and occasional story item is comprehensive list of worth finds. How much shorter is it compared to predecessors? (Well, note for the new players - it’s still better than countless generic text/audio logs or coins/vases/masks/ships/cups/..., which is somehow predominant gameplay device nowadays). But still, the world is seamless, big and beautiful, all in good old traditions. The ability to fall from high heights and hook oneself to distant cliffs is breathtaking. From Software was afraid to fail vertical level design but they managed it well. So is it worth exploring? Yes. Is it good? Yes. Is it the best? Not at all.

    Now for the funny part: combat. Let’s lay bare few bitter truths first: combat arts are useless, prosthetic tools are useless, stealth is a joke. By useless I mean low percentage of useful tools/arts, and complete unnecessity to use them. Stealth is helpful (especially as a first strike to mini-bosses) but secondary: if they removed it, no one would have noticed. It all comes down to deflections. You and your opponent have posture bars that is filled upon taking damage, guarding (blocking) or when your opponent timely guard your attack aka deflect. When enemy’s bar fills up shinobi is allowed to execute deathblow which instantly decacipate opponent (bosses requires several deathblows). When shinobi’s bar fills up he is stunned briefly. You still have your dodges but they will do you much less good than in DSs. Well, actually dodges is essential part of hit’n’run tactics to kill things (which is, by the way, the only path to success on higher difficulties) but my point is that deflections are the bliss. Miyazaki stated his intention was to capture the feel of "swords clashing" and it’s right here, just as he said. You attack and you deflect. Yes, it’s reflexes, yes, it’s QTE, like many player already drew comparison, but damn it’s beautiful. The feel is here and it's awesome. The mobility of Sekiro is awesome too. The great three (attack, deflect, dodge) creates a real martial flow.

    And yet we cannot toss this sad fact about Sekiro aside: most of the bosses are a reflex trainers. There are no strategic approaches, no use of head brains (unless you’re a hit'n’runner). From Software clearly intended to create a “difficult” game and wasn’t really creative about it. Some bosses are pumped with ridiculously high amount of posture/health and design of some of the others is outrightly horrible (hello, Long-arm Centipede Giraffe). The percent of useless mechanics in the game is unbecoming.

    Sekiro is “git gud” game. Exploration is still fun but locked behind reflex combat. Don’t try to be a Shadow unless it is exactly what you are looking for.    … Expand
  4. Zebra_in_Dream
    Mar 29, 2019
    10
    Masterpiece. It's not that hard if you really play it, not in a way of playing COD.
  5. Rb420
    Mar 29, 2019
    0
    Game feels half cooked in the stealth department. No wall animations for stealth kills just the drop down and behind the back

    There is not a new item in this game not talking about prosthetics that improves the stealth aspect
  6. Mokhan13
    Mar 28, 2019
    10
    Being a veteran souls player I have to say this is another masterpiece from the great mind of Miyazaki. Also the most difficult of all from soft games( the bosses are insane), the monsters are pretty easy though due to the stealth mechanic. Going through the different areas and stages you can see the great amount of work that was poured into it, from majestic buildings to deadly cavernsBeing a veteran souls player I have to say this is another masterpiece from the great mind of Miyazaki. Also the most difficult of all from soft games( the bosses are insane), the monsters are pretty easy though due to the stealth mechanic. Going through the different areas and stages you can see the great amount of work that was poured into it, from majestic buildings to deadly caverns you have everything. I recently finished the game and all I can say the sense of accomplishment is one that I haven't had since beating bloodborne, I am excited to play again on new game plus. I have noticed many people complaining of the difficulty or saying it's not a soul's borne game, but people have been approaching the game incorrectly. This is a whole new type of gameplay, that Miyazaki wants us to learn, you still have dodging and blocking but now its more focused on blocking on the right moment, remembering certain patterns of enemies and bosses to build the posture bar so you can finally deal the finishing blow. you need to dodge at the right time and attack in the right moments. This game requires skillful play and I understand many people might not be for that but people need to understand that is the basis of from software games. To learn to adapt and conquer the challenges in front of you, and then feel great accomplishment from your efforts. It emulates real-life situations where difficult hurdles are thrown at you and the losers are the ones who give up but the winners are the few that endure and develop their senses to overcome the odds. This is what this game feels like, so I implore all of you to not give up and keep trying because eventually, you will get it. Especially those who hate on the game there is no need to give a masterpiece like this a bad review just because you couldn't get over the challenge, just move on with your life or keep trying until you get it. Heck, there are many out there willing to help also, just ask me and I can give you tips. But all in all, this is one of the best games I have ever played. I rarely enjoy many types of video games. The only few are probably battle royal games like apex legends. Yet, nothing can compare to the games from software makes. Miyazaki and his team have been saving the video game industry from dying out and I am really honored to be a part of the experience. Thank you for reading this review :).… Expand
  7. setuis
    Mar 28, 2019
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. From Software has downgraded "player choice" (a sword , an axe , a flame thing and useless shurikens and i can't progress orge keeps throwing me over cliff as circle block doesn't work properly sometimes) , Downgraded " Customisation " the lack of no characterisation and the slow grinding need to acquire a very limited skill tree (currenty 2 the starting one and unlockable prothetis one) added mechanics that a player cannot 100% rely on e.g you can't do the game purely with hit run and escape to stealth mechanics as bosses/mini bosses such as chain orge heal. This is punishing , devoid of fun and my absolute worst purchase of 2019 so far considering devil may cry 5 is better as is the first nioh game. Why show off stealth mechanics if they don't work for bigger enemies and the death mechanic to revive to take down enemies doesn't work either so there is no dying and killing like i saw else where its basically false advertising . Jumping is nice accept when trying to grab ledge as it won't always register your trying to grab ledge. Grappling hook is nice but has no use in combat even through i took the grappling hook skill. Orge kills me with grab again turns back walks 5-10 steps but yet some how knows i have revived???. wtf is this?. The story is better than dark souls/demon souls but i cannot progress in any form due to shobi items costing in game currency, they don't even give you a set amount for free. The lack of stat system means no gaining health, no gaining attack power that's all done with items now and beating mini bosses by trying to beat poorly designed crap for hours on end, the souls games where doable for disabled people this garbage isn't. The posture system is load of bull to its basically there to justify boss armor or artifical health. Considering that videos i saw showed players dying then combing back to life to do stealth hit i feel i was lied too by promotional materials.… Expand
  8. dbmc77
    Mar 28, 2019
    1
    Has some pretty sweet game play, but the difficulty coupled with the penalty of losing money and xp when you die has made it almost completely unenjoyable. This is the only FromSoft game I won't be finishing. It's exhaustingly difficult.
  9. tibzoid
    Mar 28, 2019
    10
    STICK WITH IT. It's not a Souls game but it is made with the same level of dedication. It's only "hard" because you have to educate yourself and learn how to play it. That takes time. Whatever you do, don't give up on it. I broke through the frustration wall and now I'm absolutely loving it. The game mechanics seem confusing at first but you get muscle memory after a while and then itSTICK WITH IT. It's not a Souls game but it is made with the same level of dedication. It's only "hard" because you have to educate yourself and learn how to play it. That takes time. Whatever you do, don't give up on it. I broke through the frustration wall and now I'm absolutely loving it. The game mechanics seem confusing at first but you get muscle memory after a while and then it turns into a total blast. Again, keep going!… Expand
  10. Mponder205
    Mar 28, 2019
    9
    If you like samurai/ninja and Japanese lore as well as the Soulsborne games, then run and buy this. I have not been able to put Sekiro down. If you are new to FromSoftware's games then be prepared for extremely intense yet rewarding mechanics that you don't find in modern games. People saying there is no leveling up are not good enough to progress I assume. There is character leveling,If you like samurai/ninja and Japanese lore as well as the Soulsborne games, then run and buy this. I have not been able to put Sekiro down. If you are new to FromSoftware's games then be prepared for extremely intense yet rewarding mechanics that you don't find in modern games. People saying there is no leveling up are not good enough to progress I assume. There is character leveling, skill leveling and tool leveling. No, there is no difficulty setting (except a trick to make it harder) Yes, you lose XP and money when you die. Yes, you will die a lot. No risk, no reward. There are always systems in place in any Fromsoftware game and this is one of the most fast paced and intense game they have ever made. Highly recommended.… Expand
  11. Gajdash
    Mar 28, 2019
    8
    I really wanted to give this a 9 or even a 10, but I had to be fair to myself and my expectations. I, like so many others, struggled to enjoy Sekiro at first. I blame this on my expectations to play like Dark Souls/Bloodborne.

    Combat, was by far the most difficult transition. I just couldn't get into playing the game in its intended way; dangerously. Eventually I learnt it was less    I really wanted to give this a 9 or even a 10, but I had to be fair to myself and my expectations. I, like so many others, struggled to enjoy Sekiro at first. I blame this on my expectations to play like Dark Souls/Bloodborne.

    Combat, was by far the most difficult transition. I just couldn't get into playing the game in its intended way; dangerously. Eventually I learnt it was less about dodges and jumps, instead focusing on close quarters vis-a-vis parries and split second openings to strike.

    Since then, I have found battle -- in particular (mini) boss battles -- enjoyable and intense. Patience and concentration is required. But I can't help but feel that I'd finally learnt how to fight - properly - way too late on in the game.

    Sekiro presents itself as visually polished, with beautiful vistas and an environment that's second to none. The frantic open exploration really compliments this and is most highlighted when making a leap of faith off a ledge to grapple-hook away from a tense fight, unsure as to whether you'll make it.

    A variety of endings gives longevity but nothing next to the experience of character builds and customisation that adds to a more traditional Soulsborne experience. This is where Sekiro misses a trick, but it's more than made up for with the a library of skills to learn and shinobi tools to boot.

    The positives far outweigh the negatives and this game is happily recommend. An easy 8/10 if not a 9.    … Expand
  12. Stixc
    Mar 28, 2019
    10
    Потрясающая боевка, отличный геймдизайн, проработанный мир игры, невероятный хардкор-все это про sekiro:shadows die twice. Игра настолько хардкорная, что я после прохождения бб и 3 дс-ов, страдаю от анальной порки от каждого бомжа, а про боссов я вообще молчу, на первого встречного мне босса (леди бабочка), я потратил 4 часа, я восторге, секира-божественна !Потрясающая боевка, отличный геймдизайн, проработанный мир игры, невероятный хардкор-все это про sekiro:shadows die twice. Игра настолько хардкорная, что я после прохождения бб и 3 дс-ов, страдаю от анальной порки от каждого бомжа, а про боссов я вообще молчу, на первого встречного мне босса (леди бабочка), я потратил 4 часа, я восторге, секира-божественна !
  13. samcraw
    Mar 28, 2019
    8
    This game is pretty fun so far in a lot of ways. I agree with some people saying that it used aspects of dark souls but left out things that make dark souls games fun. But that aside my biggest problem with the game is that when you get to a boss/miniboss you want to clear all the enemies around the boss first before engaging the boss and of course you're probably going to die a few timesThis game is pretty fun so far in a lot of ways. I agree with some people saying that it used aspects of dark souls but left out things that make dark souls games fun. But that aside my biggest problem with the game is that when you get to a boss/miniboss you want to clear all the enemies around the boss first before engaging the boss and of course you're probably going to die a few times before beating the boss. So this means you're going to have to go through getting rid of the trash enemies around the boss over and over again which is tedious. In my opinion they should've left the other enemies separate from the boss battles like dark souls does. The other thing is that when you get to a boss/mini boss if you want to do the smart thing and do a stealth hit on it first to take half the health away you often have to go face the boss to wake it up basically then run away, wait for it to chill out, then sneak back to the boss and do a stealth hit. I think this is stupid because once again when you're facing bosses that you are probably going to die a few times before defeating you have to repeat this technique over and over. In dark souls there is no gimmick like that so it worked. You could run past all the weak enemies and enter the boss and the smoke wall would keep the other enemies out. It's just you and the boss and no repetitive busy work before you face it. Other than this problem it's a good game but not as good as any of the dark souls in my opinion. Combat wise, customization wise and considering what I've just talked about.… Expand
  14. geistreiches
    Mar 28, 2019
    4
    the best thing about the souls games is leveling up and getting better gear, this made it really addictive for me.. but you won't get this with this game, not being able to level up and make your character stronger with better weapons leads to a lot of frustration and in the end it's just not fun to play..
  15. DiegoClarke
    Mar 28, 2019
    10
    Amazing game, challenging but very satisfying, masterpiece, to enjoy hours and hours
  16. bcdserra
    Mar 28, 2019
    10
    Ragey bois need to put the controllers down and find other ways to vent than bashing on another FS masterpiece. No it's not DS. No it's not BB. This is Sekiro and no matter how much of a GOD you were at the former, you'll need to rethink your strategy and get good (absolutely no pun intended) because right now you are not.
    To others; NO the gameplay is not clunky, NO the graphics aren't    Ragey bois need to put the controllers down and find other ways to vent than bashing on another FS masterpiece. No it's not DS. No it's not BB. This is Sekiro and no matter how much of a GOD you were at the former, you'll need to rethink your strategy and get good (absolutely no pun intended) because right now you are not.
    To others; NO the gameplay is not clunky, NO the graphics aren't inferior to prior FS titles (they have slightly improved) and don't be mistaken because apart from the "Japanese" levels you'll definitely encounter some truly nightmarish Soulsborney areas you wish you hadn't. Enjoy !    … Expand
  17. antanaka
    Mar 28, 2019
    2
    Если коротко, ждал DS3 про Японию, вышел Hitman's Creed may Cry с примитивным стелсом от ребят, которые полжизни делали souls-игры (отсюда и "костры", и кастрированные "души", и немножко интерфейса, и разбросанные по миру подсвеченные предметы). На убийство боссов максимально пофигу (в souls-like игре-то!). Переоцененная поделка, совершенно не ясно, за что получившая такие высокие баллы.Если коротко, ждал DS3 про Японию, вышел Hitman's Creed may Cry с примитивным стелсом от ребят, которые полжизни делали souls-игры (отсюда и "костры", и кастрированные "души", и немножко интерфейса, и разбросанные по миру подсвеченные предметы). На убийство боссов максимально пофигу (в souls-like игре-то!). Переоцененная поделка, совершенно не ясно, за что получившая такие высокие баллы. Хотя, если людям от Sekiro нужен был рескин костров из DS, наличие боссов и Миядзаки-сюжет, то конечно это для них 10/10. Для меня же это как если бы взяли DS3 и вырезали из него половину того, за что я его полюбил.… Expand
  18. Lestatman
    Mar 28, 2019
    1
    Another over hyped game from From Software. Boring world with tedious game mechanics. Give me Wither 3 anyday to this.
  19. KnightimeX
    Mar 28, 2019
    7
    Fun game with balance issues.
    Posture gimmick defeats the purpose of a health bar. Build it up and watch 100% of their life drop to zero in a devastating death blow attack.
    You're going to need to get used to this as your sword is inferior to plastic knives in terms of damage. When it comes to dealing damage enemies might as well have lightsabers. You can do a 10 hit combo and if    Fun game with balance issues.
    Posture gimmick defeats the purpose of a health bar. Build it up and watch 100% of their life drop to zero in a devastating death blow attack.
    You're going to need to get used to this as your sword is inferior to plastic knives in terms of damage.
    When it comes to dealing damage enemies might as well have lightsabers.
    You can do a 10 hit combo and if you're lucky the enemy MIGHT notice a slight itch going on only to find you struggling to do any kind of damage.
    Why the player has a posture gauge is beyond me.
    Attack the enemy 50 times you'll get about 50% of the job done.
    Get hit once by the enemy and you'll slip into a small seizure party.

    If you're looking for a hardcore blocking simulator this game is for you.
    It's a fun game but hardly in the same league as Bloodborne or any other souls game for that matter.    … Expand
  20. Fejker1
    Mar 28, 2019
    10
    Gra wymagająca oraz bardzo dająca bardzo satysfakcji z grania osoby które lubią gry FROMSOFTWARE napewno odnajdą się w klimacie gry.
  21. drowblade
    Mar 27, 2019
    10
    Шедевральная смесь Тенчу и Душ, великолепный гемдизайн и боевка в частности! Оторваться от игры невозможно, в нее хочется возвращаться снова и снова, исследовать каждый уголок этого мира.
  22. nickkkkps4
    Mar 27, 2019
    10
    best fighting system in gaming history 10/10
    literally superior in every aspect.
  23. moromir0
    Mar 27, 2019
    9
    if you dont have the brain capability to locate your guard button, this game might be very difficult for you.
  24. the-dude
    Mar 27, 2019
    0
    I was so looking forward to this game and even pre ordered it. What a waste. I’m a casual gamer and not skilled enough or patient enough to get past first mini boss . Loved everything else FromSoftware has put out since Demons’ Souls. Don’t understand who their audience for this game is or what the point is.
  25. Phoenix243
    Mar 27, 2019
    2
    If I wanted to spend hours of my time suffering without results, I would get a second job in retail, at least I'd get paid. This game is crap compared to other Fromsoftware titles. Very disappointed in the lack of balance in this game. First off, you can only possess one main weapon in the game, so you cannot play the way you want to like in Dark souls or Bloodborne. Secondly, boss fightsIf I wanted to spend hours of my time suffering without results, I would get a second job in retail, at least I'd get paid. This game is crap compared to other Fromsoftware titles. Very disappointed in the lack of balance in this game. First off, you can only possess one main weapon in the game, so you cannot play the way you want to like in Dark souls or Bloodborne. Secondly, boss fights are extremely difficult, long, and unforgiving. They demand perfection during the entire match -you slowly chip away at their health, while one slip up from your character often results in a one-hit-kill.… Expand
  26. Valkuntah
    Mar 27, 2019
    10
    Game with an interesting story, it is true that the weapons and style of clothing are the same and that the enemies are almost repetitive, but with a great difficulty of game as well as history, if you only look for a game where you would like to have a character cute without anything deep in their environment Sekiro is not for you (players who only look for meaningless complaints), inGame with an interesting story, it is true that the weapons and style of clothing are the same and that the enemies are almost repetitive, but with a great difficulty of game as well as history, if you only look for a game where you would like to have a character cute without anything deep in their environment Sekiro is not for you (players who only look for meaningless complaints), in short an increibe game.… Expand
  27. Carlos_Damasio
    Mar 27, 2019
    9
    Brilliant game but won't please everyone.
    Level design excellent, I would say probably the best within from software games.
    Story and characters are also good, I would prefer to see a bit more interaction with some NPCs and some side quests fell short but in general quite satisfactory. Game Play is a bit disruptive from previous from software games but very well balanced, stealth    Brilliant game but won't please everyone.
    Level design excellent, I would say probably the best within from software games.
    Story and characters are also good, I would prefer to see a bit more interaction with some NPCs and some side quests fell short but in general quite satisfactory.
    Game Play is a bit disruptive from previous from software games but very well balanced, stealth mechanics are a good addition but sword clashing and grappling hook for exploration is where the game play shines.
    World and atmosphere are mix of beauty and mystery, it's really well done however there's not a lot of variety through the game, I guess is matter of quality over quantity.
    There will be a lot of frustrating moments, specially on boss fights and if attempting a boss 20 times it's a deal breaker for you then this is not your game.    … Expand
  28. targos
    Mar 27, 2019
    1
    Я бы хотел поставить хорошую оценку, хотел бы посоветовать в нее поиграть, но только не на пс4, особенно если у вас не пс4 про.
    Это просто ужасно, речь идет даже не о 30 фпс, а скорее о 20, а если говорить о битвах с боссами, то это просто не играбельно. Вы просто не можете нормально играть, потому что игра не отзывается на управление так, как нужно, инпут лаг доходит до половины секунды,    Я бы хотел поставить хорошую оценку, хотел бы посоветовать в нее поиграть, но только не на пс4, особенно если у вас не пс4 про.
    Это просто ужасно, речь идет даже не о 30 фпс, а скорее о 20, а если говорить о битвах с боссами, то это просто не играбельно. Вы просто не можете нормально играть, потому что игра не отзывается на управление так, как нужно, инпут лаг доходит до половины секунды, не смотря на то, что вы видите атаку противника, вы знаете что с ней делать, но вы просто ничего не можете предпринять, потому что игра лагает. Если вы раздумываете брать игру или нет, и у вас есть выбор пс4 или ПК, то не задумывайтесь, берите на ПК, ведь требования для нее очень низкие.
    Очень жаль, не так часто выходит игра, которая так затягивает, надеюсь в будущем хоть как то починят патчами, а пока что только 4/10, только за ужасную оптимизацию под пс4.

    UPD: Прошла неделя, и в игре где довольно много багов и ужасная оптимизация ноль патчей, НОЛЬ, я повторю, ноль. По этому меняю оценку на 1/10. Я разочаровался в from software. Не думаю, что буду покупать их продукты в будущем.    … Expand
  29. SLURM187
    Mar 27, 2019
    10
    Different enough from From Software's last few releases to feel fresh, but similar enough to keep us crawling back for more. I don't want to spoil any game mechanics or progression like some of the other reviewers, but don't go into this expecting the exact same Dark Souls formula. It is very much a different game as far as progression is concerned. This game is focused primarily on combatDifferent enough from From Software's last few releases to feel fresh, but similar enough to keep us crawling back for more. I don't want to spoil any game mechanics or progression like some of the other reviewers, but don't go into this expecting the exact same Dark Souls formula. It is very much a different game as far as progression is concerned. This game is focused primarily on combat and exploration. You don't have to worry about finding sets of armor, new weapons, etc. You do however need to practice your combat skills until you feel comfortable navigating this treacherous world filled with supernatural creatures inspired by Japanese myths and lore. One aspect that I like is the removal of any online features. I always felt like summoning was a crutch for players that were too lazy to study each boss and figure out a proper strategy in order to defeat them. Bottom line, it is a great game.… Expand
  30. dantah
    Mar 27, 2019
    10
    Game of the year!!
    A perfect accompaniment to the SoulsBorne series, with plenty of unique ideas of its own and some of the best combat of the generation.
  31. Tenchitenno
    Mar 27, 2019
    10
    Very much a 10/10 for this. The game is visually appealing, nice environments and ambiance with a real attention to detail.

    The trademark fromsoft story and cryptic world building is present. The combat system will challenge you even if you are a souls veteran and will force you to take risks. The feeling of overcoming the bosses comes second to none. Contrary to what others have    Very much a 10/10 for this. The game is visually appealing, nice environments and ambiance with a real attention to detail.

    The trademark fromsoft story and cryptic world building is present.

    The combat system will challenge you even if you are a souls veteran and will force you to take risks. The feeling of overcoming the bosses comes second to none.

    Contrary to what others have said the game is not cheap or poorly balanced, on the contrary, It is however very hard to grasp and has a steep learning curve.

    If you enjoy reaction based combat, feudal japan, ninjas, and if you liked games like ninja gaiden where the only block is your lack of skill to kill this boss, then this is the game for you.

    If however you played souls for coop, leveling, and liked to powerlevel to pass bosses then you will probably struggle in Sekiro and this might not be your type of game.    … Expand
  32. TheAtheist
    Mar 27, 2019
    10
    From Software has outdone themselves and created the best melee combat system ever. The responsiveness, flow and spectacle of the combat is something to behold and a joy to master. No game has made me feel the exaltation that overcoming bosses does in this game.
  33. Larson_I
    Mar 27, 2019
    10
    Thank you, From Software. It was truly amazing. Last boss broke my heart, but after 87 tries I beat him. It was the best feeling ever. Thank you for this masterpiece.
  34. cogdotnet
    Mar 26, 2019
    9
    Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a fantastic game, that both previous and newcomers to the game’s style will be able to hop in and enjoy. The game is marked for it’s intense combat, strategic thinking, and beautiful world design, while only suffering from some minor polishing issues as well as a questionable amount of replayability.
  35. P0tatoFetus
    Mar 26, 2019
    10
    Alright if I see one more of these negative reviews comparing Sekiro the Soulsborne series and criticizing Sekiro based on how non-similar it is to the Soulsborne Series I'm gonna explode. People who do this need to get it through thicck skulls that THIS IS NOT A SOULSBORNE game, there for should not be treated as such. It is a entirely different game with different focuses and concepts.Alright if I see one more of these negative reviews comparing Sekiro the Soulsborne series and criticizing Sekiro based on how non-similar it is to the Soulsborne Series I'm gonna explode. People who do this need to get it through thicck skulls that THIS IS NOT A SOULSBORNE game, there for should not be treated as such. It is a entirely different game with different focuses and concepts. It is is a good game in its own way.… Expand
  36. laplace1969
    Mar 26, 2019
    9
    This is the worst game, not just by Fromsoft but in the history of games.
    There's no depth and skill involved in the combat, you just mash two buttons, unlike in Dark Souls where you mash one.
    Its just a **** rhythm game with no actual gameplay involved and you have to actually learn the bosses' patterns to defeat them. This is just a bad copy of Nioh and Soulsborne games. You can only    This is the worst game, not just by Fromsoft but in the history of games.
    There's no depth and skill involved in the combat, you just mash two buttons, unlike in Dark Souls where you mash one.
    Its just a **** rhythm game with no actual gameplay involved and you have to actually learn the bosses' patterns to defeat them.
    This is just a bad copy of Nioh and Soulsborne games.
    You can only use one main weapon to beat the game and that's bad because having lots of weapons and using five of them was much better.
    You have to play in the way that was intended by the developers, because breaking the game with unintended methods is clearly evidence of good game design.
    You're just fighting the same enemies and minibosses over and over again and of course them being placed in different environments changes nothing about the way you fight them.
    The only reason why this game is being praised is because its made by Fromsoft and if you disagree with me, your opinion is WRONG and you are a From fangay as well.    … Expand
  37. Shaheenpd
    Mar 26, 2019
    10
    If not the best, one of most addicting games of this year!
    Despite some personal issues with the game, consistent with the game's level design, it's another great piece of art made by Hidetaka Miyazaki. Although, I found the lack of Bakhshi's appearance disturbing, it's definitely worth the time.
  38. Triforkalliance
    Mar 26, 2019
    2
    I cannot begin to describe how disappointing this game is. Sekiro is a game that gets worse the longer you play and goes for quantity over quality and it shows. the bosses are either forgettable in terms of ease or design, or so frustratingly RNG that it not even worth fighting them. Despite the emphasize on the prosthetic tool the need to grind out items in order to use it makes usingI cannot begin to describe how disappointing this game is. Sekiro is a game that gets worse the longer you play and goes for quantity over quality and it shows. the bosses are either forgettable in terms of ease or design, or so frustratingly RNG that it not even worth fighting them. Despite the emphasize on the prosthetic tool the need to grind out items in order to use it makes using any tools on anything other then a mini boss a complete waste of time and resources. The stealth however is phenomenal, as is the level design, unfortunately with nothing to look forward to this game is a waste of time at best, and a complete ripoff at worst. honestly just buy dark souls 2 if you want 101 bosses , at least some were good in that game.… Expand
  39. Samx88
    Mar 26, 2019
    10
    I took 3 days off to play this game and man I wish I took a whole week. Sekiro is amazing and I’m so happy! Thank you From Software.
  40. sgrodsky1
    Mar 26, 2019
    0
    I can't tell you how disappointed I am in this game. Yes, the graphics, music etc is very nice. I was not expecting another DS Bloodbourne game. But, I can't believe From went in this direction. First of all, there is no fun in this game. Remember how we all laughed when an invader fell off a bridge trying to kill you. I have seen some many streamers doing interesting thing in DS toI can't tell you how disappointed I am in this game. Yes, the graphics, music etc is very nice. I was not expecting another DS Bloodbourne game. But, I can't believe From went in this direction. First of all, there is no fun in this game. Remember how we all laughed when an invader fell off a bridge trying to kill you. I have seen some many streamers doing interesting thing in DS to entertain their followers. I loved the coop, playing with friends, and making new friends. I am a girl, and I loved the fashions, the atmosphere of the soulsborne games. I like creating characters, and trying out new weapons. I went platinum in every soulsborne game excep Demon Souls because I got to that game too late. Sure would like to see that game remasted.

    From has made me feel like I can't even play video games with this game. It is just too difficult. Please bring back Bloodborne, or DS for more fun. THAT is the reason we buy from From. We get quality along with fun. Where oh where did you go wrong.    … Expand
  41. criticthecritic
    Mar 26, 2019
    10
    I registered just to rate this game. The visuals, the combat flow and the setting are so god damn good. While I find the game to be challenging, there is something so immensely gratifying when you beat a boss or when you're in the middle of a bunch of enemies, dodging, striking, dodging, parrying and then retaliate in one motion, it is just so awesome. First game in years I've reallyI registered just to rate this game. The visuals, the combat flow and the setting are so god damn good. While I find the game to be challenging, there is something so immensely gratifying when you beat a boss or when you're in the middle of a bunch of enemies, dodging, striking, dodging, parrying and then retaliate in one motion, it is just so awesome. First game in years I've really enjoyed. I feel like a lot of this game reminds me of dancing and the most memorable moment is when I found myself on lady butterfly for what had to be the 30th time, when I realized I was playing solely on instinct. I wasn't thinking, just watching and reacting to her moves -- dodge, strike, parry, shuriken, then strike, it was like a choreographed drance. When I killed her I had only been hit one time.

    The grinding in this game is different from other games. You're not grinding levels or points really, you're grinding your own skills. If you enjoy games that challenge you and reward tight game play this is game you will like.    … Expand
  42. Fumei
    Mar 26, 2019
    10
    From Software can’t cease to impress! Thank you very much team From Software for this gem, clearly a lot of work and passion went to it. And the business model is exemplary, great job on this amazing entry and definitely looking forward to your continuation!
    Pros:
    - Amazing artwork, lore and graphics. - The combat is really innovative and challenging, perfecting it requires skill,    From Software can’t cease to impress! Thank you very much team From Software for this gem, clearly a lot of work and passion went to it. And the business model is exemplary, great job on this amazing entry and definitely looking forward to your continuation!
    Pros:
    - Amazing artwork, lore and graphics.
    - The combat is really innovative and challenging, perfecting it requires skill, practice and patience.
    - Top notch world and character design accompanied with a compelling story.
    - Amazing voice acting in both Japanese and English and a top soundtrack to compliment this amazingly executed game.
    Cons:
    None.

    I put a score of 10 and it is a deserved 10 for me, not to counter the pathetic 0.. I fully recommend this masterpiece to anyone up for the difficulty.    … Expand
  43. Rabit3A
    Mar 26, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. At first glance the gameplay may seem extremely basic, just one attack button and one guard button after all. But the amount of timing, prediction, and skill needed to succeed in battles is so much more in depth. You can't just learn boss patterns like in Dark Souls, because timing is so much more necessary.

    Those that continue to try and think of this game as Dark Souls are guaranteed to fail, because this is nothing like dark souls and there is no reason why it should be. Whats the harm in FromSoftware branching out and succeeding so wonderfully after all?

    If there is any issue I ever have with the game, it stems from momentary frustration due to my own ineptitude, and is easily remedied by me thinking back on my mistakes. Once I realize what I did wrong it is easy to remedy and try something different. Bosses like Genichiro or Lady Butterfly can't be fought defensively, meanwhile bosses like Guardian Ape or Corrupted Monk can't be completely offensively. Yes, both need offense and defense in specific balance, but it becomes easy to tell simply by how the enemy moves and attacks.

    Simply put, I fail to find much fault in this game overall, it simply accommodates with so much of my preferences in games. It's skill based and fair, but punishing if you get even slightly too cocky. The bosses all have simple ways to win, but it takes a while to figure it out if you aren't paying attention. And the story, oh god the story and characters are just fantastic-.

    Now, I'm very nearly finished with the game (At the Isshin fight going for the Severing of Immortality ending.) So it isn't like i'm completely talking hot air.    … Expand
  44. emorcen
    Mar 26, 2019
    0
    Sekiro was very much the game I looked forward most to in 2019 but also my greatest disappointment so far. I'm almost 40 hours in and at the end stretch of the game. Every time I played, I hoped for it to click, thinking that it may be something wrong with me. The glowing critic reviews left and right didn't help either. To summarize what I think is wrong with the game, it's the overallSekiro was very much the game I looked forward most to in 2019 but also my greatest disappointment so far. I'm almost 40 hours in and at the end stretch of the game. Every time I played, I hoped for it to click, thinking that it may be something wrong with me. The glowing critic reviews left and right didn't help either. To summarize what I think is wrong with the game, it's the overall interaction of it's (stealth / combat) mechanics that encourages you to play in a very specific way.

    For example, a large percentage of the minibosses have entourages that are designed such that the safest / most rewarding way to go about those engagements is to:

    1) Stealth kill a minion
    2) Run out of aggro range
    3) Wait a minute for remaining enemies to disengage
    4) Repeat 1 to 3 until you can fight the miniboss individually

    immersion issues aside, doing the above can take up to 15 minutes per "run"
    and if you die - which always will happen because you have no idea what the new boss' moveset is, you have to repeat the process all over again. The major bosses are also designed to be impossible to defeat the first time through because you have no idea what the exact timing is for all their strikes and combos and this meant you can never reliably parry their attacks which is also the singular way to win.

    The whole game is akin to doing tiresome dance rehearsals repeatedly until you get a waltz down the way your instructor wants it to be, except he doesn't tell you what he wants in the first place and you have to be beaten into knowing. This wasn't a problem with Dark Souls because caution could always bring you far and there were plenty of alternative solutions to the same puzzle.

    By the end, Sekiro felt easier and more manageable when I could play by it's set of rules but that's because it forced me to play the only way it wanted to be played and the lack of player agency left a bad taste in my mouth.

    My conclusion at the end is this - Sekiro was overdesigned and has an identity issue. It wants to be a little bit of Tenchu, but doesn't do it well. It also wants to somewhat be Dark Souls, but doesn't do that well either. It definitely wants to be Onimusha / Bushido Blade but is also halfhearted about that. I have little doubt that Sekiro will not be looked upon favorably years after the hype has gone. But still, plenty of love to players who had a good time with it.    … Expand
  45. Banuner
    Mar 26, 2019
    9
    Sekiro is fantastic. It feels familiar to souls fans but it also manages to feel completely different. It has its own lore that is actually easier to understand than the souls games because there are many avenues to actually get some lore. The main bosses are all unique and offer many phases. The bosses will kill you a lot but like any good souls game from the past, conquering that bossSekiro is fantastic. It feels familiar to souls fans but it also manages to feel completely different. It has its own lore that is actually easier to understand than the souls games because there are many avenues to actually get some lore. The main bosses are all unique and offer many phases. The bosses will kill you a lot but like any good souls game from the past, conquering that boss that has killed you for hours will feel amazing and will give you a rush that simply cannot be felt from many other games. Where Sekiro falls a little short for me is with its prosthetic tools. A lot of them are far too situational and some are just not really worth using as it may get you hit if you try to use one and when you get hit you lose a lot of hp in this game. Overall the game is fantastic and worth picking up. There are 4 different endings and a new game plus to keep people playing even after the credits roll.… Expand
  46. Tahra
    Mar 26, 2019
    2
    Bad physics. Sub par graphics. Gameplay that's way too niche with an equally niche difficulty to boot. A big nope from me.
  47. king-flames
    Mar 26, 2019
    0
    yes the game hard even harder than the souls series .. but it is balanced and very rewarding and require skills and passion , i love it and i don;t want it to end but everything good has an end
  48. Nartlee
    Mar 26, 2019
    9
    Nice perfect hard souls with new ways and options and the lists not completeed it’s really new experience with conservative on taste of souls am ready enjoying the hard time like the first day of demon souls
  49. xeontheneon
    Mar 26, 2019
    10
    The game is a mix of the fast pacing and bloodshed of bloodborne, while keeping the epic and dramatic fights of dark souls, all at the same time being a completely different game.
  50. Moth3rlov3r
    Mar 26, 2019
    10
    Sekiro is a great addition to Bloodborne and the Souls series. Mastering the combat and stealth system is fun. Thanks to FromSoftware for this wonderful masterpiece, Sekiro is awesome!
  51. LadSouls
    Mar 26, 2019
    10
    As a longtime souls fan, I was hyped for this game but did not expect to be so blown away. The combat is absolutely genius and fair. The music score is absolutely beautiful and tense. The level design is perfect and really might be best in the series. Can't recommend this enough.
  52. tooitchy
    Mar 26, 2019
    9
    Amazing game, it's not Dark Souls, it's not Bloodborne, this is Sekiro. It has a lot of the DNA of Souls games, but it is a different game for sure. It's difficult, but it's not unbeatable, just don't give up and leave a salty review on metacritic, just because you are bad. The negative reviews are a joke, especially the one claiming it's ripping off Nioh.....Guess they never knew thatAmazing game, it's not Dark Souls, it's not Bloodborne, this is Sekiro. It has a lot of the DNA of Souls games, but it is a different game for sure. It's difficult, but it's not unbeatable, just don't give up and leave a salty review on metacritic, just because you are bad. The negative reviews are a joke, especially the one claiming it's ripping off Nioh.....Guess they never knew that Nioh came after the Soulsborne games, or that Tenchu was a From Soft title, and this game is 100% From Soft, not Nioh at all...

    Whatever, point is, the game is fantastic, could easily be game of the year so far, but I doubt it will get the media appreciation it deserves. Great game, runs fantastic on PC (no ultrawide support and locked to 60fps, so I docked 1 point), other than that I get steady 60 fps at 1080p, and 1440p on a gtx 1070 and a 6600k. Beautiful, amazing level design, very fun, and challenging boss battles, with normal mobs that let you feel like a bad ass again after getting beat down by a boss for a few hours. Highly recommended, and to the idiot saying it's "QTE" combat..... I'm really not sure what game he's playing, you can break an enemys posture and do a death blow, but it's not straight forward to get to that point, Soulsborne games always had a finishing move after parries, or backstabs....this is the exact same thing, and nobody claimed those were QTE's, and just like in those games, you need to either parry, more than once on later mobs, to even get the deathblow, so it's not like you're just pressing A to one shot everyone.

    Metacritic should really prune the reviews that exist just to trash a game, without a basic understanding of it. There's just no way anyone in their right mind could rate this lower than a 6, even if they couldn't get passed the first boss, you will still experience enough of the game to appreciate what is being done here, and that it was your own ineptitude that kept you from proceeding.    … Expand
  53. Whiteesnakee
    Mar 26, 2019
    10
    Excelente juego, una obra de arte, algo que los viejos jugadores de demons, dark, blood y todos los juegos del estilo "souls", esperamos. El juego es un aprendizaje constante a las mecánicas de cada enemigo. Gráficamente estupendo, quizás en lo único que todavía no he disfrutado, personalmente, es la música. Veremos con el transcurso de las horas. Recomendado para los que buscan desafios.Excelente juego, una obra de arte, algo que los viejos jugadores de demons, dark, blood y todos los juegos del estilo "souls", esperamos. El juego es un aprendizaje constante a las mecánicas de cada enemigo. Gráficamente estupendo, quizás en lo único que todavía no he disfrutado, personalmente, es la música. Veremos con el transcurso de las horas. Recomendado para los que buscan desafios. Saludos… Expand
  54. raiseralex21
    Mar 26, 2019
    10
    Con bastantes variantes a las sagas SOULS... que te hacen sentir una nueva aventura de calidad y muy entetenida, llena de retas y peleas emocionantes.

    COMPRENLO!!!... es buenisimo :3., y si buscan verdaderos retos.... ya comprenlo! jajaja
  55. JGY
    Mar 26, 2019
    10
    I am writing a review from the perspective of someone who has very little experience with the Dark Souls/BloodBorne series. So from this perspective I can tell all who fall into this boat that Sekiro is a game of contradictions. It is difficult, challenging, and certainly NOT a game you play just to relax. That being said, if you play it, there is something about this game that keeps youI am writing a review from the perspective of someone who has very little experience with the Dark Souls/BloodBorne series. So from this perspective I can tell all who fall into this boat that Sekiro is a game of contradictions. It is difficult, challenging, and certainly NOT a game you play just to relax. That being said, if you play it, there is something about this game that keeps you wanting to come back.
    The world itself, set in feudal Japan, is absolutely breathtaking. It is authentic, regal, mature, taking aspects of Japanese history/mythology and highly immersive. I found myself sometimes just standing in one spot and moving the camera around just to admire the design. By the way, do this often in the game, there are many hidden areas that can be overlooked if you aren't aware of your surroundings. The story is equally engaging, and you begin to really take a liking for the character you play as you progress in the game.

    But the greatest factor of this game is its controls. I've played lots of games in my lifetime, but I have never played a game whose controls were so fluid and perfect. After five minutes of playtime I was surprised how organic the controls were. And, by extension, this drastically elevates the combat system. Suffice it to say you actually feel like you are holding the katana when fighting NPCs. It will take some time to learn the combat, however. The enemies in the game aren't messing around, they are just as skilled if not more skilled than you are. With practice and PATIENCE you'll become the Shinobi the game requires you to be.
    All-in-all this game is beautiful, challenging, brutal, and so rewarding to play. It challenges the gamer to become precise in combat, aware of surrounding and, in a nutshell, gain an intelligence that not many games offer. In terms of warnings, be prepared to die A LOT. If you can get through this game with minimal causalities you are a god. But if you are a vanilla mortal like the rest of us, you will certainly enjoy getting your ass kicked in a stunningly beautiful way :P
    Thus far this is the best game of 2019 and actually has made it to my top ten best games I have ever played easily.    … Expand
  56. Thetanius70
    Mar 26, 2019
    3
    very disappointed.
    stupid artificial intelligence, auto closer strikes enemies, too much damage and life. At the same time, the protagonist, master of shinobi, falls from one or two missed punches. Dodges are useless, the enemies get you through them. Same locations. It is not clear what to explore. The game is about nothing at all.
  57. Alienwarez567
    Mar 26, 2019
    9
    First of Sekiro is not a RPG game in the sense that you are not in control of your looks, weapons etc. So 99% of the bad reviews are Souls players who are angry they cant run with a huge axe and a stupid looking hat, the last 1% of the bad reviews just need to learn to play.

    The story is decent, the combat is fun and a refreshing way to play compared to the somewhat stale souls series.    First of Sekiro is not a RPG game in the sense that you are not in control of your looks, weapons etc. So 99% of the bad reviews are Souls players who are angry they cant run with a huge axe and a stupid looking hat, the last 1% of the bad reviews just need to learn to play.

    The story is decent, the combat is fun and a refreshing way to play compared to the somewhat stale souls series. The verticality and general flow of combat is great.

    Overall i like this game, iove that its not a Souls game again, i love they removed the RPG and grinding to overpowered level if something was to hard, i love they removed the awefull character generator, i love that this is more Tenchu than bloodborne. Dont get me wrong i love bloodborne one of my all time best game, but i really didnt need more of that in a ninja world, so what we got here is a more fresh and fun game.    … Expand
  58. Bitwizard
    Mar 26, 2019
    10
    People who are complaining about this game, especially in regards to it's difficulty are either bad at games in general, or are young and unable to remember a time when video games were heartless and unforgiving towards the player. I personally think that Sekiro is extremely difficult. This is not a bad thing. Simply put, Git Gud
  59. DoctorPC
    Mar 26, 2019
    5
    Ojo no es para todos !!! no comprar sin jugar antes

    Es un juego complejo ,profundo sin apenas instrucciones o guias y de elevada dificultad . Si eres un jugador casual que busca divertirse sin mas , este no es tu juego , no vas a encontrar graficos punteros , es mas parece de Ps3 . Yo tras unas 15 horas lo he abandonado porque requiere de muchas horas y esfuerzo que no tengo ni tampoco    Ojo no es para todos !!! no comprar sin jugar antes

    Es un juego complejo ,profundo sin apenas instrucciones o guias y de elevada dificultad . Si eres un jugador casual que busca divertirse sin mas , este no es tu juego , no vas a encontrar graficos punteros , es mas parece de Ps3 . Yo tras unas 15 horas lo he abandonado porque requiere de muchas horas y esfuerzo que no tengo ni tampoco ganas la verdad porque al Red Dead Redeption 2 le he didicado mas de 100 horas y sigo cabalgando ...... pero es que RDR2 es espectacular solo verlo , este no lo es , asi de simple . Advertido quedas , juega antes de comprarlo o puede que malgastes tu dinero .    … Expand
  60. AloyOfNora
    Mar 25, 2019
    7
    To provide some background, I have completely soloed every Dark Souls game and Bloodborne multiple times and have well over 500 hours combined in them.

    The artwork of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is absolutely incredible. Beautiful colors and designs are a treat. The vertical traversal with your arm prosthetic is also a delight, acting as a Hookshot from the Zelda series but with a    To provide some background, I have completely soloed every Dark Souls game and Bloodborne multiple times and have well over 500 hours combined in them.

    The artwork of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is absolutely incredible. Beautiful colors and designs are a treat. The vertical traversal with your arm prosthetic is also a delight, acting as a Hookshot from the Zelda series but with a delightful elegance and animation. Vertical exploration and traversal is great. Where this game falters is primarily with the poorly designed combat, which is built from the ground up around a Posture system...and the boss design.

    The Posture system is a mess, giving the combat a SPAM feel. It's essentially a glorified and fancy QTE system, with much less emphasis on precise dodging and more on mashing appropriate buttons at appropriate times (colored symbols are also flashed). The entire combat system feels like big regression from FromSoftware masterpieces in the past. Also gone are stat values and variety in weapons and armor, leading to shallow, linear and limited character progression.

    Boss design is also very disappointing and a tremendous step backwards from previous games. Bosses are nowhere near as fun to fight and feel less rewarding to defeat, despite all bosses being easier than the hardest Soulsborne bosses.

    Overall, Sekiro is a solid game with fun to be had, but it is easily the worst FromSoftware game in over a decade. Hopefully, FromSoftware will deliver a sequel to their masterpiece Bloodborne and learn from missteps made in Sekiro.    … Expand
  61. guilhermefdias
    Mar 25, 2019
    9
    For me, this game is a love letter for adult gamers.
    From Software got the essence of video games with this gem, and made it for the real gamers. Those who put hours on developing skills and trying to overcame what the game offers to you. It is a very HARD game, maybe the hardest I ever played, but is possible to beat it, you just gotta put some heart in it, and the game will stick with    For me, this game is a love letter for adult gamers.
    From Software got the essence of video games with this gem, and made it for the real gamers. Those who put hours on developing skills and trying to overcame what the game offers to you. It is a very HARD game, maybe the hardest I ever played, but is possible to beat it, you just gotta put some heart in it, and the game will stick with you for a very long time. Mark my words: the game will go how in history as a classic. Thank you From Software! You guys have courage, and we salute you!    … Expand
  62. Inculcinator
    Mar 25, 2019
    9
    Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is, at it's core, an updated publishing of Tenchu: Stealth Assassins. I hesitate to even compare it to Dark Souls, because it is so, so different. However, I will since I know that is on everyone's mind - including my own. I have played all of the Dark Souls games and have thoroughly enjoyed them. When taken in it's own light, Sekiro it is fairly close to perfect.Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is, at it's core, an updated publishing of Tenchu: Stealth Assassins. I hesitate to even compare it to Dark Souls, because it is so, so different. However, I will since I know that is on everyone's mind - including my own. I have played all of the Dark Souls games and have thoroughly enjoyed them. When taken in it's own light, Sekiro it is fairly close to perfect. It does have some blemishes, but the luster is almost blinding at this point. I think if players can stop trying to shoe horn it into the Dark Souls catalogue, they will learn to love it.

    Tenchu is one of my all time favorite games, it arrived on the market in 1998 for the PS1. To look at the graphics today and marvel at how it was even playable back then, is a demonstration of just how far game engines have come. Many games owe their success to Tenchu, being a pioneer of stealth tactical games. The unique play style is as engaging now as it was 20 years ago.

    The level design is incredible. This is one instance where sharing resources with Dark Souls is not a bad thing. I've only been playing for a few days, and I have not cleared very much of the game, but the environment so far is breath taking. It begs to be explored, and there are a plethora of corners to find and inspect. That cliff dropping into the bottomless chasm has a shelf to drop down to, provided you figure out the path to it. That rocky outcrop that seems unreachable actually is, and getting there is half the fun.

    I read so many complaints in this board that Sekiro is a poor excuse for a Dark Souls / Nioh love child. Yes, it is. However, that is not what this game is about. A Ferrari makes a poor work truck, and Sekiro is the Ferrari. I've played all the Dark Souls and I love them. They are great games. That doesn't mean this is a bad game. If you think it is a bad game because it's not Dark Souls, you're missing the point.

    I noticed right away that the controls are lightning fast and responsive, but not squirrely. Playing Dark Souls, I always feel like I'm moving with drag, even if I'm skinny rolling. There's just so much weight to the controls, albeit with very concise feedback; well, not Dark Souls 2, feedback was horrible in DS2. Sekiro is about maneuvering into an advantageous position with speed and then executing that advantage. A purpose that is succinctly delivered upon. I get excited when I see the opportunity to chain the grappling hook action to "Spider Man" my way around the area, and I achieve a great sense of accomplishment from stealth take downs.

    Unlike Dark Souls, this game has a coherent story which unfolds as you play. This doesn't have an esoteric lore that will take a community of YouTube streamers 3 years to unravel by reading item descriptions and hyper analyzing the fleeting lines of speech from NPCs. Sekiro's story It's woven into the progress of the game, the story will compel you to reach just a little farther to get the next verse and learn more about the protagonist and his charge.

    This game does share some common mechanics and story telling techniques with Dark Souls. I found it uncanny and unnecessary. There is a central hub where a female avatar will unveil story elements and upgrade your Sunny D, there's a crafts man who whiles away his time while you're not around by crafting items of his desire, there are fast travel points that act as leveling spots. These are all cosmetic, since the bedrock of Dark Souls is min - maxing your spec, playing fashion Souls and gitting gud.

    Another place where this game suffers is the heavy reliance on "hit and run tactics". Unfortunately, the enemy placement seems at times to be inconsiderate of this. Or they expect an assassin to barrel head long into groups of enemies. It's just not practical to fight an enemy head on while two or more take shots at you.

    Should you play this game? If you expect it to be Dark Souls and wont forgive it for not being so, then no. Save yourself the trouble. However, if any of what I've said sparks an interest in you, then yes, you should.    … Expand
  63. StrangeAeons
    Mar 25, 2019
    5
    I wanted to like Sekiro, I REALLY did. I love the Souls-Borne series of games, and I think that was my first mistake when jumping headfirst into Sekiro. First and foremost, Sekiro is not a souls game.

    Sekiro shares many similarities with the Souls games, but Sekiro is a whole new beast. Gone are the days of leaving messages for other players. Gone are the days of other players for    I wanted to like Sekiro, I REALLY did. I love the Souls-Borne series of games, and I think that was my first mistake when jumping headfirst into Sekiro. First and foremost, Sekiro is not a souls game.

    Sekiro shares many similarities with the Souls games, but Sekiro is a whole new beast. Gone are the days of leaving messages for other players. Gone are the days of other players for that matter, as Sekiro is only a solo experience. That aspect does not bother me so much as I prefer single player experiences anyways.

    In the Souls-Borne series if I ran into a frustrating situation there was always an option of going back and doing some grinding to help level up in an effort to conquer the roadblock in my way. After finally getting past those roadblocks there was an immense feeling of accomplishment. I find the bosses in Sekiro are so frustrating that I leave feeling defeated and have no drive to continue. And with no leveling up of your character, and no gear to swap out and try, there is no motivation to continue bashing my head against the wall.

    Sekiro is a beautiful game aesthetically speaking, but the frustration outweighs the beauty. It feels like FromSoft took the difficulty aspect of the Souls-Borne series and cranked it to 11 just for the sake of making it difficult. Sneaking around like a ninja and picking off the "trash" mobs feels like that is what the game was supposed to be. Realizing that the bosses needed to be challenging it feels like FromSoft overcompensated and crossed that line which separates difficult-fun and difficult-frustrating.

    There is good to be found here, do not get me wrong. Sekiro is a beautiful game with tight controls. The frustration found in the game overshadow everything Sekiro does well. The one thing a game should always be is fun. For me, this is where Sekiro fails, it becomes so frustrating that it is no longer fun.

    There are going to be plenty who do not agree with me. And that is ok. This is just my honest opinion, my honest review. I really, REALLY, wanted to like Sekiro. The only other game I am looking forward to as much as Sekiro is Cyberpunk 2077, and it saddens me to think how disappointed I am with Sekiro.

    If you go into Sekiro expecting a souls-like experience, you will be sorely disappointed.    … Expand
  64. Munno
    Mar 25, 2019
    8
    I played about 15 hours, Sekiro does not have spectacular graphics but has beautiful scenery with many places to explore which always makes you want to continue playing for the curiosity to discover new places. It is quite challenging indeed, most fights are difficult and demand a lot of skill and immediate response, one of the bad points of the game is that you will hardly be wellI played about 15 hours, Sekiro does not have spectacular graphics but has beautiful scenery with many places to explore which always makes you want to continue playing for the curiosity to discover new places. It is quite challenging indeed, most fights are difficult and demand a lot of skill and immediate response, one of the bad points of the game is that you will hardly be well rewarded or hardly will be in advantage when doing a good parry for example because in many situations the opponent will continue attacking you and you'll have to be prepared for all his next moves or else when you can get in with a hit in the gap of an onslaught of him in many cases you will not be able to stop him, these things are very frustrating and do not give the feeling of being in a fair combat, I also miss a faster attack with the sword as a poke or a "jab" to force the opponent to a wrong move, but as far as I played I still did not get anything like this. Artificil intelligence is a bit robotic and generic when you're not fighting, the characters do not have much personality, the game brings the feel at some moments of being a last generation game, but it's very immersive. Overall it is a good Action-RPG that reminds Tenchu ​​and it's for those who have a lot of patience.… Expand
  65. Qwazar
    Mar 25, 2019
    10
    I consider this game one of the best in that janra. So in my opinion it is 10/10
  66. Imac301
    Mar 25, 2019
    9
    This game comes from a company that is notorious for making very difficult games and Sekiro is no different. In fact it is more difficult than their previous games like Dark Souls or Bloodborne, but don't let the difficulty push you away. Despite the title, I died a lot more than twice in my play through yet I almost never felt cheated. The game brilliantly balances fast, but methodicalThis game comes from a company that is notorious for making very difficult games and Sekiro is no different. In fact it is more difficult than their previous games like Dark Souls or Bloodborne, but don't let the difficulty push you away. Despite the title, I died a lot more than twice in my play through yet I almost never felt cheated. The game brilliantly balances fast, but methodical combat with stealth and rewards persistence. The only problem could performance on console with the frame rate staying at thirty frames consistently to take a sudden dive every so often. There are a few needlessly frustrating enemies and a couple minor issues that are far out-shown by the quality of everything else. I could go on for quite a while about its beautiful art style and great story, but the bottom line is that this game is well worth your time. That is, if you're up for it.… Expand
  67. DoctorCocToPuss
    Mar 25, 2019
    8
    The game embodies the "break you down, then build you up" mantra often adopted by military boot camps. It is relentless, punishing, and unfeeling. It forces you to adapt. You will be very angry and may feel like quitting. But, once you do adapt, you will feel rewarded. Less for the items, loot, and abilities you receive upon triumph, and more for the knowledge that through the tribulationThe game embodies the "break you down, then build you up" mantra often adopted by military boot camps. It is relentless, punishing, and unfeeling. It forces you to adapt. You will be very angry and may feel like quitting. But, once you do adapt, you will feel rewarded. Less for the items, loot, and abilities you receive upon triumph, and more for the knowledge that through the tribulation you have become better. Man, does the game make you feel good about being better.

    Not perfect by any means, though. A few bugs here and there, not the most visually stunning in today's climate, camera can be clunky.    … Expand
  68. whatiswrongwith
    Mar 25, 2019
    9
    I am terrible at this game. I have played probably 4 hours. I have died almost a hundred times. But it's beautiful, holds me accountable, and I love it. This is my first From Software game, and I went in with the expectation that I would die a million times and might need to restart the game because of how terrible I would be at it. I think if you go in with that mindset, you'll becomeI am terrible at this game. I have played probably 4 hours. I have died almost a hundred times. But it's beautiful, holds me accountable, and I love it. This is my first From Software game, and I went in with the expectation that I would die a million times and might need to restart the game because of how terrible I would be at it. I think if you go in with that mindset, you'll become addicted to the exacting and exciting gameplay and alluring world. Wish me luck. Any advice on how to be better at this would be appreciated it. Gave a 9 cuz it's too hard, but it also gets a 9 cuz it's so hard.… Expand
  69. predator73
    Mar 25, 2019
    10
    Awesome game. Like dark souls and bloodborne. Diffuculty is hard. Bosses are tough. Skills and upgrades are very innovative. 100+ hours playing time!
  70. Gette
    Mar 25, 2019
    2
    Remember people love Witcher 3 and trash talk about Witcher 1 especially the combat?

    Now here, Sekiro has revived that rhyme pattern combat and suddenly it's not only acceptable but well received? If this were a game made by other company, bet it'd get something like 7 from reviewers. The game also has a short invincible frame like Nioh rather than souls. So you're looking for    Remember people love Witcher 3 and trash talk about Witcher 1 especially the combat?

    Now here, Sekiro has revived that rhyme pattern combat and suddenly it's not only acceptable but well received? If this were a game made by other company, bet it'd get something like 7 from reviewers.

    The game also has a short invincible frame like Nioh rather than souls. So you're looking for Witcher 1 x Nioh hybrid with much less varieties, this game might be for you. Otherwises, it plain sucks.    … Expand
  71. GamergodsFail
    Mar 25, 2019
    8
    While I can't exactly say it's as substantial or as replayable as Souls and Bloodborne, what Sekiro does offer is a well-polished, incredibly challenging action-adventure game with an intuitive combat system, lots of risk, and solid (albeit minimal) stealth mechanics. It is Dark Souls meets Tenchu, and if you're a fan of both, you shouldn't be disappointed.
  72. Heilan
    Mar 25, 2019
    0
    Muito desbalanceado para um hack n slash e muitas partes injustas ._.Para jogadores casuais nao recomendado
  73. Hobobo
    Mar 25, 2019
    5
    Not as good as I was expecting. I've played all the Souls games and Bloodborne is my second favorite game of all time. Sekiro though... it doesn't hold up as well as those other titles. Some of my main gripes are as follows;

    - No Armor? Wow, I can't believe I'm actually typing that, but Sekiro has no armor/loot system. That's one of the most fun aspects of Souls games in my opinion. I    Not as good as I was expecting. I've played all the Souls games and Bloodborne is my second favorite game of all time. Sekiro though... it doesn't hold up as well as those other titles. Some of my main gripes are as follows;

    - No Armor? Wow, I can't believe I'm actually typing that, but Sekiro has no armor/loot system. That's one of the most fun aspects of Souls games in my opinion. I loved grinding enemies for different loot/weapons. Not sure why they scrapped such a cool aspect of their games.

    - Guard system is pointless and broken. I just run around and poke bosses to death or find other means to cheese them because the combat is so broken. There's no poise or shields in this game. Instead FromSoft wants players to block with a little sword? What??? Most enemies will destroy your guard and instakill you if you try to block.

    - Dodge frames have been nerfed. The dodging in this game is terrible and has almost no invincible frames like past games. It's practically impossible to dodge boss ultimate attacks, you'll have to pop some food buffs and just pray your vitality can tank the hit because dodging is very unsafe. This mixed in with the bad guard system makes things an all around mess.

    - Weak boss line up. Most bosses/ mini bosses are just dudes with swords/lances/guns. It gets pretty uninteresting half way through the game. Granted there are like 4 boss fights that are cool, but you gotta grit through all the boring stuff to get to them.

    I could keep going, but I really don't want to waste much more time on this game. Sekiro is pretty mediocre and that's unfortunate for Souls fans because now we're left waiting for the next installment to those good games. Luckily, if you're looking for a good samurai souls game to play in the meantime, I highly recommend checking out Nioh. It's a much better attempt at this genre than Sekiro is in my opinion and the DLC is some of the hardest/funnest stuff I've played. It also has an amazing loot system to boot.    … Expand
  74. gq_foine
    Mar 25, 2019
    10
    This game is NOT for the filthy casuals (APEX, Madden, Fortnite, NBA2K) and the salty complainers about the game's difficulty.. or Please stop writing negative reviews since you are NOT qualified to play this game. This game separates the men from the boys.. The Dark Souls & Bloodborne fans assume this will be similar, but has a rude awakening - ITS NOT! This is a game that requiresThis game is NOT for the filthy casuals (APEX, Madden, Fortnite, NBA2K) and the salty complainers about the game's difficulty.. or Please stop writing negative reviews since you are NOT qualified to play this game. This game separates the men from the boys.. The Dark Souls & Bloodborne fans assume this will be similar, but has a rude awakening - ITS NOT! This is a game that requires a lot of concentration, patience and perseverance. If you don't have the patience to die 100X to learn how to defeat some of the toughest bosses then this game is NOT for you.. This game is designed specifically for intelligent gamers that have refined tastes.

    I have put in about 15hrs+ and so far I would give this 9.5 overall. It's an absolute fantastic game! The story is absolutely memorizing and the battles are intense.. You have to be patient, smart, and just plain "git gud". The graphics people complaining about seems pretty pathetic.. The GRAPHICS ARE GREAT! I would give it a 9/10.. Is it God of War graphics good no, but its not freaken PS2 or PS3 quality.

    The music and the ambient effects are great! I love the boss battles so far and the learning how to combo and parry in this game.

    Gameplay - in absolute 10 -

    Overall - This is just a masterpiece. Absolute enthralling battle and action sequences. The story is very interesting and its for true gamers are willing to accept the toughest boss and game challenges. For the casuals and madden/nba2k gamers stay away.. This game was not designed for low IQ.    … Expand
  75. EXILER
    Mar 25, 2019
    10
    Masterpiece! (From Software) did it again!!! this maybe the closest we will ever get to Tenchu For a While.
  76. PhknLeon
    Mar 25, 2019
    10
    When you first start the game you might be thinking "oh wow this combat is excellent what a unique and excellent experience.....however eventually the game fights back it introduces nearly one hit kill enemies and attacks from groups. I would honestly rather jerk off with some barbed wire then torture myself anymore with this experience. But can't let the game.....can't let it win...... IWhen you first start the game you might be thinking "oh wow this combat is excellent what a unique and excellent experience.....however eventually the game fights back it introduces nearly one hit kill enemies and attacks from groups. I would honestly rather jerk off with some barbed wire then torture myself anymore with this experience. But can't let the game.....can't let it win...... I haven't seen my family since this game released *sobbing* 10/10 would suffer again… Expand
  77. cornbread
    Mar 25, 2019
    10
    My first impression of this game was a bit "meh." I'm a soulsborne vet and I love things about those games that were clearly not a part of Sekiro (obscure story, collecting armor, lack of explanation about anything, creepy vibe).

    However, after giving it five hours, I am convinced this game is yet another masterpiece of From's. Is it my favorite of theirs? No, it's going to take a lot    My first impression of this game was a bit "meh." I'm a soulsborne vet and I love things about those games that were clearly not a part of Sekiro (obscure story, collecting armor, lack of explanation about anything, creepy vibe).

    However, after giving it five hours, I am convinced this game is yet another masterpiece of From's. Is it my favorite of theirs? No, it's going to take a lot to beat BB and DS, but it belongs and I know I'll be playing this one through many times.

    If you're on the fence, take it from me and from other reviewers: you need to give it several hours before it "clicks." Get past some of the mini bosses, and the first main boss Gyoubu. Look up tips on how to beat him if necessary because it'll inform how to beat other bosses.

    I'm an explorer and love finding secrets. Trust me, there are tons of those as you progress and you're rewarded for going off the beaten path.

    Enjoy, use the wiki/youtube if you need, and give it a solid chance before giving up!    … Expand
  78. SetStndbySmn
    Mar 25, 2019
    9
    Sekiro is an amazing title from From Software that I can only find one noticeable flaw in- so I'll get the gripe out of the way: the unseen aid mechanic. For those that don't know, when you (really) die in Sekiro, you lose half of your sen and half of the experience earned towards your next point- that is, unless Unseen Aid occurs, a random chance to save you from penalties that lessensSekiro is an amazing title from From Software that I can only find one noticeable flaw in- so I'll get the gripe out of the way: the unseen aid mechanic. For those that don't know, when you (really) die in Sekiro, you lose half of your sen and half of the experience earned towards your next point- that is, unless Unseen Aid occurs, a random chance to save you from penalties that lessens with subsequent deaths.

    So let's say you arrive at a boss, aka one of the places you will be dieing the most at. You check your sen and your experience, finding that you are about half way to your next skill point and a bit shorthanded on coin for the goody you've been saving up for. The game's systems naturally encourage you to go make sure you complete that skill point and invest your sen in something (for this I believe they realized some of the clunkiness midway through the design process and made sen pouches, or this game's version of 'soul of a _ undead', purchasable from vendors at a minor upcharge). However, I don't want to do that. I want to go bang my head against a boss when I get to it- it's what I like in souls games (and yes this is a souls game, regardless of the inclusion of posture and z-axis exploration). It's a minor annoyance on par with occasionally needing to farm for vials in bullets in Bloodborne.

    The main reason it sticks out a little more to me is the unseen aid mechanic. When you arrive at that boss, of course gamers are going to game the system and make sure their currencies are roughly 0. Almost nobody is so green in the genre anymore to actually believe they would make it out of a boss encounter they've never experienced with anything left anyway. So then, what good is unseen aid? A random chance to save you from..... what exactly? The answer is that it's basically only good for saving you from unexpected deaths out in the world, and does nothing in the areas of the game with plentiful expected deaths.

    Now after a rant like that, the 9 out of 10 may seem a tad strange, and that should tell you how good everything else about this game is. The reason I went into more detail of my one gripe is because it's likely to be one of the only reasonably unique sentiments I have to contribute to a discussion on the game's merits. So that being said, I'll keep it short and sweet for the positives. The combat, the atmosphere, the exploration, the movement...... it's simply amazing. I won't say that if you like Souls games, you WILL like Sekiro, but I will say that if you like Souls games, you CAN like Sekiro if you give it a chance and learn its combat. You will have some tough stumbles at first, but if you are a Souls veteran, you are made of stern enough stuff to tough it out.

    As a side note, I love that it doesn't have the loot systems apparent in Nioh. I hate having to constantly figure out which version of the same weapon is better. Part of the reason I like loot in Souls games, is that a zweihander is a zweihander- yes you can upgrade it in various ways, but there isn't any sifting of loot. It's an experience I value in some games, but not when I'm playing a Souls-like, and it severely hurt my enjoyment of Nioh.    … Expand
  79. MattyD1987
    Mar 25, 2019
    10
    First off, and this is important, this is NOT a souls game.

    If you are looking for the kind of depth and customization you would find in Souls and Bloodborne, you’re on the wrong track. You’re going to end up with a souls-lite experience. Now. Let’s judge it for what it is: Sekiro is a brilliantly crafted, brutally challenging, utterly enthralling ACTION game with some    First off, and this is important, this is NOT a souls game.

    If you are looking for the kind of depth and customization you would find in Souls and Bloodborne, you’re on the wrong track. You’re going to end up with a souls-lite experience.

    Now. Let’s judge it for what it is:

    Sekiro is a brilliantly crafted, brutally challenging, utterly enthralling ACTION game with some ‘souls-like’ elements.

    Leveling up isn’t the focus here. Instead, the real skill is put on the player in a way I haven’t experienced in a video game for quite some time. Becoming a master of your simple skill set is such a rewarding journey, I am stunned at how meticulously crafted it is. Every experience teaches you and gradually hones your skill. None of the game can be surpassed through over-grinding or leveling up some magical weapon you saved up for. You need to listen to the NPCs, you need to grow with the game, you need to practice your actual gaming skill. As a result, the entire experience is one of the most rewarding I have ever felt playing a game. When it clicks it feels so so good. You feel like a superhero.

    The visuals are some of the strongest I’ve seen from From Software and the world is gorgeous. The entire aesthetic of the game is slick and elegant. The story is really fantastic as well. I was impressed with how deep it was, given how few RPG elements there were.

    Overall, this is already my game of the year. It will take a great deal to knock it off it’s throne. I have played all souls games, but I am by no means a From Software junkie or die hard fan. I expected an interesting experience with Sekiro, but I never imagined how swept away I would be.    … Expand
  80. Flypaper
    Mar 25, 2019
    6
    Beware the overrating from Critics. Try before you buy is my advice. I'm a long time lover of the souls and bloodborne series. I beat them all (except demonsouls - but I will if they ever remaster it) so I'm not bad at them. Unfortunately it was like Fromsoft decided to stick it to us long time players and reverse everything you learned from dying over the years. This game takes fastBeware the overrating from Critics. Try before you buy is my advice. I'm a long time lover of the souls and bloodborne series. I beat them all (except demonsouls - but I will if they ever remaster it) so I'm not bad at them. Unfortunately it was like Fromsoft decided to stick it to us long time players and reverse everything you learned from dying over the years. This game takes fast reflexes and a lot of motivation to push through the many, many deaths before you unlearn and relearn what you need to survive. It is punishingly difficult with lightning reflexes and perfect timing required (no mistakes or your dead). The world and story are not really doing anything for me, which is what I always loved about the past games. They always had you guessing what the next level/world would be. This one is all Feudal Japan all the time and I do not care about Japanese history. I didn't in college and I still don't. So the verticality of the game that everyone is praising is overrated. The grappling hook mechanics work okay, but only in the spots the game lets you use it. The jump and grab ledge mechanic is so slow and terribly inconsistent (needs fixing badly). While hanging from a ledge my natural instinct is to hit the jump to jump up, but no you have to push grab button again (why?). If you are new to Fromsoft games, you actually might be better equipped than longtime players, but you will likely lose interest after the 50th death to the same early bosses. If you are determined you will persevere or have a lucky run (even the blind hog finds an acorn except with a lot of skill needed even to get lucky). This game is super frustrating without the fun and mystery of previous Fromsoft games to keep me going. Not sure why everyone is going on about this game. Gluttons for punishment apparently.… Expand
  81. Zisis151
    Mar 25, 2019
    6
    I don't see what Sekiro does better or unique compared to other action games or even From's own franchises. The game reminds me of Nioh but nowhere close to being as fun.. Why? Because it's not as deep mechanically as Nioh, has no gear/weapons to get throughout the game and my biggest issue of all, it forces you to play with a certain style.

    If you don't force yourself into learning how    I don't see what Sekiro does better or unique compared to other action games or even From's own franchises. The game reminds me of Nioh but nowhere close to being as fun.. Why? Because it's not as deep mechanically as Nioh, has no gear/weapons to get throughout the game and my biggest issue of all, it forces you to play with a certain style.

    If you don't force yourself into learning how to parry, then you're not gonna have a healthy experience with the game. Dodging isn't as safe as it felt in other FromSoftware games and blocking is just a waste of time since 9/10 enemies will continue to swing their weapons relentlessly until they brake your guard. Same applies for your prosthetic tools.. There will be many times where you NEED to use them otherwise the game will screw you hard. Lastly, stealth is pretty much mandatory for the majority of the game. It's a good addition....when it works. I can't count how many times I've died because I jumped into an enemy and the assassination mark didn't trigger.

    Moving into visuals and performance... Again, not impressed. I don't pay attention to graphics much, but I do value framerate. It's 2019, FromSoft is a company that bathes in gold from the sales of SoulsBorne games and you're telling me they can't provide a proper fps boost on PS4 pro? The framerate is uncapped but almost never goes above 40. Reminder that GoW 2018 was a much prettier game, with the same semi-linear structure and had a respectable 45-60fps experience.

    Closing this review with a personal statement.. This "hard but fair" debacle needs to go away IMO. The game is as fair as a fight between me and a Sumo wrestler. When the enemy needs 25hits to take down while I die in 1-2, is not fair, especially in Sekiro where most of your hits end up being blocked. It's a hardcore game yes, but not "fair".

    Overall the game is a big meh, doesn't do anything better than previous SoulsBorne games or Nioh and the fact that it forces you into a certain playstyle is a big turn off for me.    … Expand
  82. Grahl1
    Mar 25, 2019
    10
    What can I say... From Software did it again. Distancing themselves miles away from all other devs, creating another masterpiece that is absolutely unparalleled in everything, be it graphics, story, immersion, and specially (man, specially) that gameplay. No games ever made are as challenging and as rewarding to PLAY (not just watch). I mean, the combat is just perfect. Even more complexWhat can I say... From Software did it again. Distancing themselves miles away from all other devs, creating another masterpiece that is absolutely unparalleled in everything, be it graphics, story, immersion, and specially (man, specially) that gameplay. No games ever made are as challenging and as rewarding to PLAY (not just watch). I mean, the combat is just perfect. Even more complex and rewardng than in the other souls games. And there's no artificial difficulty - this is not freaking Nioh, where everything one shots you. There are no one-shots, yet the skill cap is nearly limitless, unlike Souls games where after a while you realize you just gotta dodge and attack once, dodge and attack once.

    In short, absolute masterpiece, would call it the best game ever if it wasn't for me preferring Western medieval settings (maybe it's in my blood).    … Expand
  83. thimost
    Mar 25, 2019
    10
    GAME of the YEAR!!!!!!! Maybe the best PS4 Game. Thank you so much 4 this Game.
  84. isylgan
    Mar 25, 2019
    10
    Great game all around, 20 hours in I found myself googling the actual story length, I just don't want it to end anytime soon.
    Combat system is truly revolutionary in its complexity and variability. Exploring for new tools adds a new kind of character building level, when missing single one of many prosthetics means missing a whole new mechanic you can utilize in your combat and therefore    Great game all around, 20 hours in I found myself googling the actual story length, I just don't want it to end anytime soon.
    Combat system is truly revolutionary in its complexity and variability. Exploring for new tools adds a new kind of character building level, when missing single one of many prosthetics means missing a whole new mechanic you can utilize in your combat and therefore you just can't allow yourself to go past any kind of tiny secret path on your way.

    To mention some minor letdowns for me so far:
    1) OST is not that atmospheric and haunting, especially compared to previous From's titles;
    2) level design is a bit too open for my taste - with this much of options to proceed I feel lost out of story progression sometimes and stressed with guessing things like "should I even be here fighting this thing at this point?". Having 2-3 paths to move on is fine, but currently I have like 5 different ways to go further at once and I am not a big fan of this simultaneous levels availability, I'll probably forget about 2 of them by the time I finish writing this.

    Other than that I am so happy with how things turned out with Sekiro. Can't wait for DLC announcement    … Expand
  85. strawvery
    Mar 25, 2019
    10
    Arguably the best action game ever in terms of "action". The combat in this game is soooo good if you understand the mechanics and play like how the devs want you to. it's so much better than Dark Souls or Blood Borne though I loved them and spend like 5000 hours in total. I feel like people who think this combat is boring or too difficult are those who don't understand the mechanics andArguably the best action game ever in terms of "action". The combat in this game is soooo good if you understand the mechanics and play like how the devs want you to. it's so much better than Dark Souls or Blood Borne though I loved them and spend like 5000 hours in total. I feel like people who think this combat is boring or too difficult are those who don't understand the mechanics and play it like Dark Souls or something. When you understand the mechanics of the game and play wisely this game can't never be boring. I thought parrying would be difficult before I actually played it but it's actually easy and, most importantly, satisfying and fun. Parrying all of enemies attack is so fun and sick.… Expand
  86. Creeeamy
    Mar 25, 2019
    9
    Game is called shadows died twice, I have died at least 400 times by now. Extremely misleading title, but very good game.
  87. BadMad
    Mar 25, 2019
    0
    Step back of souls-like genre. There are no epic and beautiful bosses, you can't change weapon and choose your characteristics, you can't avoid attacks as in DS. That is not fun game. It's boring and tiring. Worst game of From Software.
  88. Danthereddevil
    Mar 25, 2019
    10
    so far amazing, about 8 hours in, a mixture of different games in one, but holds a unique feel and is hard but rewarding just like others from software games. graphics are breathtaking but the gameplay is where its at , a learning curve required but if you go in thinking its not souls youll be fine.
    Amazing
  89. foce
    Mar 24, 2019
    9
    Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice takes Hidetaka Miyazaki's signature world building and deliberate combat in an entirely new direction, ditching the RPG aspects present in the Souls and Bloodborne franchises for a more plot focused action game. While some may be upset by this, the trademarks of a FromSoftware game that have lent themselves to the global acclaim attained by Miyazaki's prior worksSekiro: Shadows Die Twice takes Hidetaka Miyazaki's signature world building and deliberate combat in an entirely new direction, ditching the RPG aspects present in the Souls and Bloodborne franchises for a more plot focused action game. While some may be upset by this, the trademarks of a FromSoftware game that have lent themselves to the global acclaim attained by Miyazaki's prior works are present in this game, arguably at their strongest implementation so far.

    The vertical design of the world of Ashina allows for more in depth exploration than almost any other game, giving the player a variety of options for each encounter. Barge in, guns blazing, and mow down everyone who stands in your way? Sure. Want to sneak through the grass and stealthily take down hordes of enemies to prevent engaging the entire group? Absolutely. Use your grappling hook to soar between buildings and avoid confrontation all together? Sekiro allows that. Despite removing the RPG elements, the freedom of choice in how a player can tackle combat situations is more diverse than it's ever been. Freedom of movement also lends itself to this player agency, with the player's shinobi being able to parkour up walls, swing across canyons, and shimmy across cliff ledges.

    The death system is very well executed, to an extent. Too many revivals will cause any characters you've interacted with to fall ill with Dragonrot, preventing interaction with them until one returns to an Idol and heals the characters. The downside of Dragonrot rears its ugly head with the Unseen Aid mechanic: A random chance that the downsides of player death (losing half of the current experience and currency) will be avoided that decreases with each instance of Dragonrot caused. While a viable way to punish a player for abusing the revival mechanic, having this potentially grind-saving skill left up to random chance is sure to cause frustration with multiple players.

    In addition, some items crucial to boss battles are hard to come across and very limited in how many the game will allow a player to access. This can lead to increased frustration upon a failed boss attempt or misuse of an item.

    Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is undoubtedly one of the best games of the current console generation. Yes, it's got flaws, but high paced combat, a gorgeous and well developed world, and versatile combat make it an experience that is not to be missed.    … Expand
  90. akamikojima
    Mar 24, 2019
    0
    I would vote for minus score if i could, this game is not fun !
    Stay away from it if you want to invest time in something that makes you happy, disgusting!
  91. shiftyman
    Mar 24, 2019
    1
    If this was a EA/BioWare game it’d be getting 3/4 out 10. Sekiro has no customisations, it’s basically 2 click attack, which is mostly just spamming the attack button, a broken parry system, that only works sometimes, which is typical for from software games, a grapple that just plain annoying at times, maybe the worst ai in gaming history, still trying figure how you can land multipleIf this was a EA/BioWare game it’d be getting 3/4 out 10. Sekiro has no customisations, it’s basically 2 click attack, which is mostly just spamming the attack button, a broken parry system, that only works sometimes, which is typical for from software games, a grapple that just plain annoying at times, maybe the worst ai in gaming history, still trying figure how you can land multiple “deathblows” when you think it’d only take one, horrible clunky combat, with slow unresponsive character movement, but the souls, bloodborne fan boy brigade would give anything released by from software a 10/10, this will easily be 2019 most overrated piece of pure trash. It’s basically a poor mans version of dark souls.… Expand
  92. zht09
    Mar 24, 2019
    6
    Normally I wouldn't bother leaving a review on a game but the fact that Sekiro is currently scored higher than Demon's, Dark Souls, and Dark Souls III is just a factually wrong statement. You can see plenty of evidence for this if you just look at the userscores to be honest. Demon's, DS 1 & 3, and Bloodborne are all 8.8-8.9 on userscore which is accurate. They're great games but they'reNormally I wouldn't bother leaving a review on a game but the fact that Sekiro is currently scored higher than Demon's, Dark Souls, and Dark Souls III is just a factually wrong statement. You can see plenty of evidence for this if you just look at the userscores to be honest. Demon's, DS 1 & 3, and Bloodborne are all 8.8-8.9 on userscore which is accurate. They're great games but they're by no means flawless. Meanwhile Sekiro and DS II are barely floating over an 8 on userscores so clearly there's a significant number of people that disagree with the critic scores. Gonna be honest, I'm not a reviewer so don't expect me to give some amazing review just enjoy the thoughts of a Soulsborne fan that was severely disappointed with Sekiro.

    Anyways, the game itself is fine. The combat can be fun and enjoyable but for a game that's supposed to not be a Souls game it is too similar to a Souls game without retaining the same things that make a Souls game fun. To name a few of the removed things weapon and armor variety as well as being able to create any kind of character you want. Instead you're given a singular weapon and what is more or less just a normal Souls item in the form of the Shinobi Arm. At the very least the first couple are just a throwing knife and the Souls kick that breaks the guard of enemies using a shield. The axe is more permanent as it actually breaks the shield but it still does the same job of breaking their guard and opening them up to a Riposte/Deathblow which are basically the same thing as they typically kill the enemy using the shield unless they're special in some way.

    The same Bonfire/Enemy Respawn mechanic is back again and you still have an Estus Flask albeit with a different name. The only real difference here is the grappling hook and ability to jump and crouch. Some would say Stealth as well but you can stealth Souls games to some degree and I wouldn't exactly call Sekiro that different. Sure it works great sometimes but sometimes the enemies are just placed in a way that you can't just stealth the area much like normal Soulsborne.

    The last and biggest complaint I have here is ironically about the same thing that From is known for doing well which are the bosses in the game. Soulsborne bosses have always been somewhat grand encounters which stand out significantly from the rest of the gameplay. In Sekiro, they've literally just been normal people that just don't die and can kill you in 2 hits regardless. I was honestly questioning if what I was calling bosses were even bosses as they're just laid out in the level like normal enemies just with multiple health bars so your instakill move doesn't instakill them. They're not especially memorable either and of the first 6 I know at least 2 are basically identical samurais with big katanas. The difficulty is all over the place but an average person has basically no chance of legitimately beating a boss without a lot of deaths which is only further dampened by the fact that the game penalizes you for dying too much. As for what that penalty does exactly, I don't know. I got tired of the game and quit playing after around 6 bosses so I never found out. Not that it really mattered to me anyways as I didn't care about the characters in the game as they're not especially interesting.

    I honestly wish I could say the game was better but it's just not that great. It's not a bad game exactly but it's basically crippled in my eyes due to its standing as a From Software game much like DS II. I'd honestly recommend Nioh over it as Nioh at least has a lot of combat and enemy variety.    … Expand
  93. BeefWellington6
    Mar 24, 2019
    10
    Strong GOTY contender.
    I highly recommend it to everyone that is looking for a challenging but rewarding experience.
    The combat is great and never gets old, the music is original and adds more atmosphere to it's impressive areas, the bosses are unique and some of the best I've ever seen in any From Software game and the addition of mini bosses lets you practice and test your combat    Strong GOTY contender.
    I highly recommend it to everyone that is looking for a challenging but rewarding experience.
    The combat is great and never gets old, the music is original and adds more atmosphere to it's impressive areas, the bosses are unique and some of the best I've ever seen in any From Software game and the addition of mini bosses lets you practice and test your combat skills.
    The game may be challenging at first but mastering it's mechanics is incredibly rewarding gameplay wise.
    And for people that might think Sekiro is just a soulsborne game they're totally wrong. It does have some similarities but it has it's own identity, combat and way of telling it's story.    … Expand
  94. Aleco
    Mar 24, 2019
    10
    Total masterpiece. I see people complaining about lack of customization and RPG touch but I didn't miss them. This game doesn't need it and it works very nice. New combat mechanics are fresh and addictive, took me many deaths to get a hang of it but then I enjoyed it very much. Great way to reward more aggressive gamplay style. Visually beautiful.
  95. cnix
    Mar 24, 2019
    10
    absolute frikin masterpiece what a game wow. mechanics are solid and the atmosphere is unlike any game i've played in a long time.
  96. inquisitor1009
    Mar 24, 2019
    10
    Fast enemies + slow controller signal (for such a game) = hours of pain and suffering. I think this game is not for PS4. I hardly jump, not to say about the fight with the bull.

    But the game is good.
  97. robandsunday
    Mar 24, 2019
    8
    I am a souls veteran. All the way back to Demon souls. I love this game. It is awesome. The grappling hook adds a vertical element to the game that is unlike anything else. The game is fairly tough. I died a LOT at first. The mechanics of the combat are definitely its own. If you try to use the dark souls style to the game. It will punish you brutally. I would have given it a 10. ExceptI am a souls veteran. All the way back to Demon souls. I love this game. It is awesome. The grappling hook adds a vertical element to the game that is unlike anything else. The game is fairly tough. I died a LOT at first. The mechanics of the combat are definitely its own. If you try to use the dark souls style to the game. It will punish you brutally. I would have given it a 10. Except that there is no character customization. There is no online play. Of course these things could be added later. If you were a souls veteran who loved the sword builds. Congrats. This is truly the game for you.… Expand
  98. Aminofuel
    Mar 24, 2019
    9
    Ok so, i'm 20 hours deep in the game and the only thing i can say is, WOW, the scenarios are beautiful, the enemies have a great designed and the bosses are challenging.
    The map is so well designed, it is all connected.
    The game is hard, not for everyone, i have finished all the souls-borne games, and for me this is the hardest by far, you have to be a master in the fighting mechanic    Ok so, i'm 20 hours deep in the game and the only thing i can say is, WOW, the scenarios are beautiful, the enemies have a great designed and the bosses are challenging.
    The map is so well designed, it is all connected.
    The game is hard, not for everyone, i have finished all the souls-borne games, and for me this is the hardest by far, you have to be a master in the fighting mechanic because if you are not, you are going to have a really bad time.
    First real GOTY nominee for me right here, well done From Software    … Expand
  99. Swisha64
    Mar 24, 2019
    10
    Didn't know that i would enjoy this game, boy was i wrong I'm having a blast playing this masterpiece definitely 10/10
  100. Animespora
    Mar 24, 2019
    10
    Literally pay no real attention to 70% of the negative reviews. Sekiro is on a class all on it's own and From Software has said countless times that it was targeting pure action, rather than anything you would consider "deep" like countless RPG elements. Sekiro is an Action-RPG and that last part is because of the utility offered by items, prosthetic tools earned throughout the game (whichLiterally pay no real attention to 70% of the negative reviews. Sekiro is on a class all on it's own and From Software has said countless times that it was targeting pure action, rather than anything you would consider "deep" like countless RPG elements. Sekiro is an Action-RPG and that last part is because of the utility offered by items, prosthetic tools earned throughout the game (which are essentially like spells or weapon morphs in Bloodborne), and other stat related enhancements and even deadly. Sekiro is not Bloodborne, Demon's Souls, Dark Souls, SoulsBorne, wtf-etc! It's masterclass enemy design, animations, stealth, action mechanics, unique NPC quests, and it's "lovely" killer roosters :) not to mention some of the best fuc*** boss battles I've played in a video game! If you don't like sekiro, sekiro doesn't care... you already 死… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best PS4 Game of 2019
5
#5 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2019
5
#5 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 77 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 76 out of 77
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 77
  3. Negative: 1 out of 77
  1. RPGamer
    Dec 17, 2024
    90
    Overall, Sekiro is defined by its riveting, challenging, and ultimately highly rewarding gameplay. Stemming from simplicity but giving a wide variety of different combat options, few games come close to matching the exhilarating rush that Sekiro’s best moments provide. Exploring its atmospherically engrossing levels is a treat, from a visual, musical, and atmospheric standpoint. Even if exploration and character storylines are sometimes hampered by Dragonrot, repeatedly severing the immortality of bosses with brutal “Shinobi Executions” and discovering the ritual secrets of eternal life offers a captivating experience that stands out as one of FromSoftware’s best and most distinctive titles.
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  2. Gamers' Temple
    May 15, 2019
    90
    Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is an enjoyable, yet deeply challenging game. It's not really a Dark Souls with samurais game, but whether or not you enjoyed the difficulty level of the battles in Dark Souls will be a good benchmark in gauging how much you'll like Sekiro. If you're persistent, up for a challenge, and don't become frustrated easily, then Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is an easy game to recommend.
    Read full review
  3. Daily Star
    Apr 28, 2019
    100
    Though Sekiro feels impossibly hard at times, the level of euphoria you experience when delivering a death blow to a tricky boss or when you finally clear a castle grounds of all enemies is almost unparalleled.
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