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. epicalyx
    Apr 14, 2019
    7
    The best parts of this game are when you are exploring environments, dealing with regular enemies.

    The worst parts are the innumerable mini bosses with multiple health bars that you barely do any damage to and can take you out in two hits. In fact, I find these mini bosses to be so overwhelming that I instantly look online for a strategy. I've never felt so little about cheesing a game    The best parts of this game are when you are exploring environments, dealing with regular enemies.

    The worst parts are the innumerable mini bosses with multiple health bars that you barely do any damage to and can take you out in two hits. In fact, I find these mini bosses to be so overwhelming that I instantly look online for a strategy. I've never felt so little about cheesing a game as I have for Sekiro, because Sekiro is just too much! These mini bosses are brutally unfair - spamming with damn near unavoidable moves. Each time I see one my heart sinks as I anticipate the coming war with this damn thing.

    From software makes technically poor games. Their design and premise is good, but they're rife with technical flaws that have been with us since Demon's Souls and really should have been fixed by now. Input lag, bad lock-on, superfluous loading, attacks through walls, poor AI pathing, misleading conversation prompts, bad inventory management and so on. The point is, that if the design and balance isn't good then the game comes out very poor.

    It's all about balance. Whilst not a souls game, Sekiro clearly uses a modified version of the same engine behind bloodborne and DS3, and as such retains a lot of "soulsborne" feel whilst dropping a lot of the RPG mechanics of prior games - leaving the combat as the main focus of the game. This leaves you with only one way to "do" things - the way from intended - if you try your own strategy against a boss then you're just going to be punished. You have to deflect this guy or counter that guy, but you cannot dodge or run around as they have moves to punish that. So the entire game ends up being a parry fest, and you eat death after death until you find out the pattern for this boss and then do it all over again half an hour later.

    Excuse me for finding this infuriating.    … Expand
  2. Phrett
    Apr 13, 2019
    4
    Once you get past the fairly above-average art direction, this game is nothing more than Simon... with a flashier outfit. The combat system forces you into very restricted playstyles, and there's not much variety or replayability.
  3. nostormo
    Apr 12, 2019
    10
    I have never been a hardcore gamer wanted to play on the hardest difficulty and do all what game have to offer. Played 4/5 Bloodborne, Finished Dark Souls 1 & 2 with a little grinding and work. Sekiro has changed my mind. Satisfaction, when I defeat a boss or hard sub-boss in Sekiro, is gratifying. Gives me a feeling of achievement and satisfaction. Even the mobs or when methodically II have never been a hardcore gamer wanted to play on the hardest difficulty and do all what game have to offer. Played 4/5 Bloodborne, Finished Dark Souls 1 & 2 with a little grinding and work. Sekiro has changed my mind. Satisfaction, when I defeat a boss or hard sub-boss in Sekiro, is gratifying. Gives me a feeling of achievement and satisfaction. Even the mobs or when methodically I pick and deathblow enemies one by one. Do not watch videos just play the game. The game is surprising, enemies inventive and requires thinking and strategy. If you can't beat some boss or enemy...try harder there is always the way and you got means to do that. Sekiro is all about skill, practice and finding the right way to do it. Gameplay is almost perfect and satisfying, the world is fantastic, graphics are excellent and perfectly accompanies atmosphere and tone of the game. The sound is brilliant and you can even relly to time deflect or attack on sound alone. As a seasoned player with playing games on a daily basis from 1986 (i know I am 47 old gamer and hope it will continue to be :) ) Sekiro has brought me to another level and made me the person that wants to hone skills until I am a Master of Sekiro. Hands down FromSoft - Sekiro for me is masterpiece!… Expand
  4. Gohax
    Apr 12, 2019
    9
    SEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE took me so much time to finish just because of the hard bosses especially the final one which was a huge pain to kill anyway this game is just one of the best from software games there is just because of the fact that there is no co op like in dark souls or bloodborne so the game is ten times harder because there is no help which i like because it makes you trySEKIRO: SHADOWS DIE TWICE took me so much time to finish just because of the hard bosses especially the final one which was a huge pain to kill anyway this game is just one of the best from software games there is just because of the fact that there is no co op like in dark souls or bloodborne so the game is ten times harder because there is no help which i like because it makes you try harder and appreciate the bosses you defeat the story is kinda basic and not your main focus but it is cool in a way also using shields or dodging is basically instant death in this game you have to learn how to parry because only then you can defeat your opponents

    pros:
    - graphics are amazing

    - the adding of stealth is awesome you can kill enemies from the shadows and ease your game play

    -the fact that this game is a lot harder makes me proud because its all about skill now and you cant cheese bosses with your co op friends

    -the adding of the prosthetic tools is awesome there are ten of them and each one is cool at its own way

    -bosses are really awesome and most of them are really cool tributes to the bosses from the soulborne games

    -the more agile approach from software took with this game is awesome your character is more agile and flexible unlike the the previous ones your character can double jump slide crouch basically giving him a big advantage in battle

    -the whole revive mechanic is really cool and i really dig the here's a second chance now go finish your opponent off

    - the skill tree system is a cool add on it really gives you more edge in battle as you unlock more skills the more you progress in the game

    -areas are really beautiful looking and you can really see from softwares style shining

    cons:

    - i don't know if its me but it kinda bothered me that you cant create your own character and you gotta play with the one that the game gives you i really love the character creator in the previous games

    -the fact that you only have one sword although later obtaining another one that's it for your weapons yes there are prosthetic tools but its a bummer there is no greatswords axes and other weapons in the game and its just get used to this katana because its your only weapon of choice

    - the areas where there are new bosses feel a little bit recycled like for example you can fight different bosses in the same area which is kinda lame because in dark souls every boss has its own map and area so in this game to put bosses in the same areas where you killed other ones feel a little bit lame for me

    - why does it take spirit emblems ( your ammo) to use your second sword that you unlock later in the game i understand its spouse to be really strong and you cant use it a lot but still it felt like you obtain this sword for only a small number of enemies and that's it kinda lame if you ask me

    - the fact that the game punishes you if you die a lot by giving your characters dragon rot (basically cancer) and you cant do quests with them is really annoying i understand them wanting you to die less but still its really not fair at the beginning at least the game does give you a cure that you can buy from different vendors but still the whole system is annoying and dumb in my opinion

    in conclusion:
    this game is really hard and rewarding it took me a whole month to finish it only because of how hard it was even more then dark soui's and bloodborne if i might say this game is one of the best from software titles i played and my final score to this game is a nine out of ten and i do recommend it if you like the soulsborne series and you want a harder game to play    … Expand
  5. SOLIDSNAKEN64
    Apr 12, 2019
    10
    Best Fromsoft game I have played! I really enjoyed the Japanese sitting, and i was happy to see that they decided to add story cut scenes compared to BB that left me wanting more story. The graphics are the best I've scene from fromsoft, alot of the environments are beautiful to look at and I enjoyed discovering every book and cranny. The gameplay is tight and fluid, was nice not toBest Fromsoft game I have played! I really enjoyed the Japanese sitting, and i was happy to see that they decided to add story cut scenes compared to BB that left me wanting more story. The graphics are the best I've scene from fromsoft, alot of the environments are beautiful to look at and I enjoyed discovering every book and cranny. The gameplay is tight and fluid, was nice not to worry about stamina. The cam was good enough there was times that it got wonky on me which was probably my biggest complaint. I really like the fact that they let let you remap the button layout which made it alot easier to customize my playstyle. Sekiro is definitely a hard ass but very rewarding, but not impossible to beat. The only real hangups I had was with the final boss which probably took me 10 hours to beat so definitely **** that jerk. Overall the game took me like 50 hours to finish and i beat most the bosses and got 3 of the endings. If you want a challenge pick up sekiro!… Expand
  6. Josiah425
    Apr 11, 2019
    10
    Miyazaki has created his best IP yet. The Souls series was my favorite gaming series by far, but Sekiro came and somehow managed to be a few levels higher than any Souls game. There is only one thing I enjoy more about the Souls game over Sekiro, the variable worlds you explore in Dark Souls are among the best in video games. Sekiro has less variety in terms of land scape, but man isMiyazaki has created his best IP yet. The Souls series was my favorite gaming series by far, but Sekiro came and somehow managed to be a few levels higher than any Souls game. There is only one thing I enjoy more about the Souls game over Sekiro, the variable worlds you explore in Dark Souls are among the best in video games. Sekiro has less variety in terms of land scape, but man is the gameplay superior in every way.

    Sekiro manages to have one of the best progressions in any game I've played. Defeating each boss teaches you new mechanics in the game and familiarizes you with how the combat works. Each boss is a step up from the last all the way up until the end of the game.

    Let's talk about the combat, how has no other game had a posture style combat system before? This seems like it should be the standard for a sword fighting game. Sekiro gives you three options when it comes to killing enemies, stealth, vitality hits on person, and building up posture by supplying a lot of blows that aren't direct hits and parrying at the right time to stagger your enemy for a death blow. This posture system is so good I am shocked no games done it before (at least as far as I'm aware). There are really 8 key parts to combat besides the three ways to kill, there is blocking / parrying slashes / parying thrusts / attacking / jump kicking / prosthetic use / deflecting lightning back at the opponent / and dodging grabs and other unparryable / blockable moves. Each enemy gives you a split second to decide which of these 8 things you want to do at any given time, some bosses have combos that can combo with any other one of their combos allowing for near infinite combability. This means some bosses require to learn every individual combo and be able to identify which combo is coming up on the fly because bosses could use 2 or 3 combos directly in a row. This kind of fast play makes it feel too good when you pull it off and makes you want to master it to do so.

    In FromSoft fashion we also have plenty of secret areas to explore and numerous bosses / minibosses that are optional. I look forward to DLC and more games in this IP to come, it has become my favorite for sure.    … Expand
  7. OKE27
    Apr 11, 2019
    9
    I love soulborne series, I can be very bias on this one. The disappointing part for me is it does not have multiplayer mode. It isn't like someone say the hardest game ever made, honestly I think Mario is harder than this game.
  8. Pathfinder37
    Apr 11, 2019
    9
    People who buy this need to understand that it's a story-driven action game, not an rpg. It's a story about a shinobi with the power of resurrection, saving his master. That means there is no character creation, no character builds, and you must play as one person in the same clothes all game. Imagine ninja gaiden iwith a souls twist. Blocking, while it works, is much less effective thanPeople who buy this need to understand that it's a story-driven action game, not an rpg. It's a story about a shinobi with the power of resurrection, saving his master. That means there is no character creation, no character builds, and you must play as one person in the same clothes all game. Imagine ninja gaiden iwith a souls twist. Blocking, while it works, is much less effective than parrying, LIKE AN ACTION GAME WOULD DO. This is an action game. not an rpg. You get permanent damage buffs when you beat main bosses, so don't worry about dying. Your healing flasks are permanant so don't worry about dying. Your skill points and money that level up skill trees can be grinded back in 5 minutes SO THERE IS NO REAL PENALTY FOR DYING. you know why? BECAUSE IT'S AN ACTION GAME. LIKE NINJA GAIDEN. IF YOU GOT YOUR BUTT KICKED IN NINJA GAIDEN THEN YOU DO THE RUN AGAIN. yes, this game is an endurance test. like ninja gaiden. the action game.… Expand
  9. SkaerKrow
    Apr 11, 2019
    7
    The most frustrating part about Sekiro isn’t the tedious combat or the numerous missed opportunities for greatness, it’s the fact that this is an unlikable game that most people will desperately WANT to enjoy. FromSoftware has delivered some amazing action RPGs in the past, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice resembles those games enough to evoke an immediate affinity. You’ll want to like thisThe most frustrating part about Sekiro isn’t the tedious combat or the numerous missed opportunities for greatness, it’s the fact that this is an unlikable game that most people will desperately WANT to enjoy. FromSoftware has delivered some amazing action RPGs in the past, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice resembles those games enough to evoke an immediate affinity. You’ll want to like this game, you’ll tell yourself that you’re having fun. Even as you slog through the mediocre, tedious gameplay, you’ll try to convince yourself that this game is just as good as (if not better than) From’s other Soulsborne games. For some people this will true, but for many the game’s numerous shortcomings and regressive elements, combined with some truly punishing difficulty, will make for a singularly unenjoyable experience that no amount of FromSoftware magic can overcome. Sekiro is a frustrating game, not because it’s hard, but because it’s a mediocre game surrounded by elements of a great game. Like wax fruit, pretty to look at, but don’t try to consume it.… Expand
  10. needtohavefun
    Apr 10, 2019
    4
    Ridiculous difficultly. Not as in " you need to practice to get better" difficulty, but the "you must memorize poorly constructed button inputs" difficult that makes the game less fun.
  11. tmillet2017
    Apr 10, 2019
    10
    From Software has done it again. In my opinion, no developer better delivers the tense, heart-pounding, yet rewarding action that From Software has provided in each of its major titles over the last decade. Is it challenging? Absolutely. However, at the same time it is extremely fair. If you die, it wasn't due to bad luck, it was due to your poor performance. The game requires you toFrom Software has done it again. In my opinion, no developer better delivers the tense, heart-pounding, yet rewarding action that From Software has provided in each of its major titles over the last decade. Is it challenging? Absolutely. However, at the same time it is extremely fair. If you die, it wasn't due to bad luck, it was due to your poor performance. The game requires you to brush yourself off, get back up, and try again with the knowledge you just gained. I prefer games that respect my intelligence and ability, while making available all the tools and hints I need to piece together a strategy to overcome a difficult situation. Sekiro does exactly that.

    I've spent approximately 30 hours or so in the game and have achieved one of several endings. I'm already looking forward to jumping back in for a second run to find everything I may have missed the first time around. Since this is not a full-fledged RPG like previous titles, customization is not at as high, which may hurt replay value some. However, it still provides excellent enemy variation, skill trees, and prosthetic tool upgrades to spice things up. The story is much more defined. The world and level design is incredible, as you'd expect from From Software.

    Ultimately, it's an incredible game. However, if you don't like challenging games or are a person that gets frustrated easily, you might be better off steering clear of this game. Or i'd at least make sure you have Youtube handy to find tutorial videos as needed.    … Expand
  12. Terium
    Apr 10, 2019
    7
    Daisukereds review sums up exactly my feelings on this game. I really want to like it more but it's a poorly balanced game and I don't mean just in terms of difficulty. The shinobi tools can be good (and even gamebreaking) on some fights but on the harder ones, they're pretty useless and the ones focused on dealing damage/posture damage are ridiculously underpowered even to the extent thatDaisukereds review sums up exactly my feelings on this game. I really want to like it more but it's a poorly balanced game and I don't mean just in terms of difficulty. The shinobi tools can be good (and even gamebreaking) on some fights but on the harder ones, they're pretty useless and the ones focused on dealing damage/posture damage are ridiculously underpowered even to the extent that it's likely better to just press R1. There's no builds, no armor, no weapons and the upgrades you get is pretty worthless except for some that should've been baseline anyway (Mikiri Counter). The environments are okay but they don't come close to the diversity of the other "soulsborne" games (hesitating to include Sekiro in this genre). The story is overall easier to understand but it somehow just takes away from what I love about the other games. Exploration can sometimes be rewarding but 99% of the time you only find some **** consumable that can be bought from the merchant for cheap anyway. The upgrade materials for your tools don't generate the same feeling that finding a blood shard or titanite chunk does since the upgrade won't do much anyway. Unlike all the other soulsborne games, I just can't wait to be done with this one and I probably won't be replaying it ever again once I'm done with all the trophies. I've seen a lot of people saying this game is even more satisfying than the other games but I never felt satisfied after beating a boss, I just felt annoyed and wanted to stop playing. I genuinely hope that people giving this 10/10 are just high on the fumes of hype. For me, it's WAY to repetitive and it's missing a lot of what makes the soulsborne games so good. I'll hold out hope for Bloodborne 2 since this game has left me with very mixed feelings. I do admit that I'm somewhat biased as this is a game made by From Software, I was expecting more and as a result my final score may be somewhat low compared to if this was made by another developer.… Expand
  13. MrFlankster
    Apr 10, 2019
    5
    It was great until Genechiro Ashina. I fought him 103 times. I can't get past him. I consider myself great at Demon/Dark Souls, Bloodbourne, and Nioh. This has gotten obonixious.

    The great thing about FromSoftware is that they have always made their games EXTREMELY challenge, but never punished the player. There was always a feeling of accomplishment what FS games when you finally    It was great until Genechiro Ashina. I fought him 103 times. I can't get past him. I consider myself great at Demon/Dark Souls, Bloodbourne, and Nioh. This has gotten obonixious.

    The great thing about FromSoftware is that they have always made their games EXTREMELY challenge, but never punished the player. There was always a feeling of accomplishment what FS games when you finally beat that boss you really had to work toward beating. THAT HAS CHANGED. If you get better and defending, you get punished. They speed up the patterns. You learn that, and they give a delay in your reaction times when buttons are pressed. I thought this was all in my head. Apparently, I'm not the only one that has figured this out.

    I'm severely disappointed in this one. I feel like its a giant MIDDLE finger to devoted fans. There is so much potential, but please don't punish devoted fans. I love FS games of past because they break up the monotony of the same ol' same ol', but come on.

    The only reason I give it a 5 and not lower is because there are moments of greatness, but they need to balance out some of the boss battles.    … Expand
  14. Puike
    Apr 10, 2019
    10
    This game is what Video Games used to be. It builds up your skill to overcome the challenges it presents. Can't wait for From Software next game implementing what they have learned from Sekiro.
  15. Prenner
    Apr 10, 2019
    10
    Easily the best souls-like ever made, the combat is finally the way I wanted it, bosses are **** dope, aesthetic is amazing, story is way better than anything before it, traversal is awesome, the best souls-like to date. People giving this game a low score are just bad at it, how can you judge a game by YOUR skill rather than what the game brings? Doesn't make sense, its not a review ofEasily the best souls-like ever made, the combat is finally the way I wanted it, bosses are **** dope, aesthetic is amazing, story is way better than anything before it, traversal is awesome, the best souls-like to date. People giving this game a low score are just bad at it, how can you judge a game by YOUR skill rather than what the game brings? Doesn't make sense, its not a review of your personal skills, its a review of the game.… Expand
  16. GodianX
    Apr 9, 2019
    2
    Версия для PS4 крайне ужасная. Множество игроков данной консоли по окончанию моего отзыва могут сказать: "Не знаю о чем ты говоришь, у нас такого не было". А все просто, они не видели и не играли в версию на PC. Игра строится полностью на таймингах, даже если ты увернулся по анимации, но не попал в тайминг, то противник тебе все-равно нанесет урон. И я не говорю об автонаводке, об огре иВерсия для PS4 крайне ужасная. Множество игроков данной консоли по окончанию моего отзыва могут сказать: "Не знаю о чем ты говоришь, у нас такого не было". А все просто, они не видели и не играли в версию на PC. Игра строится полностью на таймингах, даже если ты увернулся по анимации, но не попал в тайминг, то противник тебе все-равно нанесет урон. И я не говорю об автонаводке, об огре и сломанных хитбоксах. Я говорю о таймингах. Не успел нажать нужную кнопку в отведенные пол секунды, значит ты проиграл. Так вот, представьте. В вас летит катана, вы нажимаете на парирование и тут фпс дропается. На немного, но этого достаточно, чтобы игра не засчитала нажатия. Я два дня пытался вынести финального босса на PS4 и не выходило. И после десятков попыток полных ненависти к импут лагу в этой игре, я решил поставить на PC. И в итоге я вынес финального босса на компе с пятой попытки
    А теперь кратко о минусах и плюсах данной игры, и да оценка 2/10 - это только на PS4, игре в целом я бы дал 7/10.
    Плюсы:
    1. Атмосфера. Играть только с японской озвучкой. Иначе атмосфера будет слабее.
    2. Боевка, да она однообразная и сложная пока ее не освоишь, но от нее получаешь удовольствие.
    3. Последняя открываемая локация при не казуальных концовках великолепна.
    4. Геометрия уровней, их хочется изучать, но..
    Минусы.
    1. Изучать их смысла нет, игра не дает интересных предметов, элементов одежды, которые бы раскрывали игру, как это было в других играх мастера. Ты будешь получать лишь бусты и камешки...
    2. Музыкальное сопровождение однообразное и не запоминается.
    3. Нет эпичности, лишь один босс удивил.
    4. Крайне мало боссов
    5. Минимальная грань между боссами и минибоссами. Вначале игры минибосы намного сложнее боссов
    6. Фарм, я не понимаю почему в этой игре нет микротранзакций с ресурсами для улучшений и деньгами. Ибо баланс идеально построен под фарм. Если хочешь открыть все навыки и протезы, добро пожаловать в часы зачистки тех же самых локаций.
    7. Протез, его применение - это дело вкуса. Но его минус в другом. Эмблемы духа могут закончиться на финальных боссах и тогда нужно возвращаться к 6 пункту.
    8. Навыки, из них полезные для перового прохождения лишь 1/3 остальные дают минимальный прирост к полезности, либо его можно вообще не заметить.
    9. Лор - он минимальный. Эту игру точно фромсофтвере делали?
    10. Сюжет. Лютая банальщина.
    11. Камера. Шел 2019 год, товарищи японцы не знают, что при приближении к стене персонажа, ее надо делать прозрачной, а не переводить игру с третьего лица в "первое".
    И знаете, при том сколько я перечислил минусов, данной игре на PC я бы поставил 7/10. Так как от игры можно получить удовольствие и насладиться ею.    … Expand
  17. DamyanDG10
    Apr 9, 2019
    9
    As a newbie to the Souls genre I must say - Sekiro is a great game overall !
    Didnt expect it to go that way, I was about to leave it 2 hours into the game after dying for the 30th time, just like i did with Bloodborne.. This game tho I find quite interesting with the fight mechanics, story, progression, art style, setting, high replay value, multiple endings, and even tho I died no less    As a newbie to the Souls genre I must say - Sekiro is a great game overall !
    Didnt expect it to go that way, I was about to leave it 2 hours into the game after dying for the 30th time, just like i did with Bloodborne.. This game tho I find quite interesting with the fight mechanics, story, progression, art style, setting, high replay value, multiple endings, and even tho I died no less than 500-600 times i finished it enjoying it all the way.
    I hear Sekiro is the hardest of all the Souls games and Bloodborne, which is funny cuz Bloodborne almost made me go mad for two days until I deleted it. Sekiro is fair to the gamer, giving him chance to stay a bit longer until loving it for what it is.
    Artistically it is quite beautiful with all the places having their own unique charisma, all the enemies and bosses are done really good too.
    Only negative i can say is the camera that goes nuts in tight spaces and locked enemies or worse - bosses unlock from your stance and go HAM on you...
    Gameplay is enjoyable with the Deathblows being quite the fun.
    I would definitely recommend Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
    - from a new FromSoftware fan    … Expand
  18. Ryhelia
    Apr 9, 2019
    10
    Another home run from From Software. Some of these negative reviews are absurd. One person complained that there are no "wall stealth kills" and rated the game a 0. There ARE wall stealth kills. You have to hug the wall and wait for the exact moment the red dot flashes.
  19. Anersan
    Apr 9, 2019
    9
    This game might not be for everyone, but I'm really enjoying it. The difficulty definitely requires some getting used to, but once it clicks and you understand the mechanics it makes the fights so much more enjoyable. It's one of the few recent games that rewards patience and practice very well.
  20. cottandy
    Apr 9, 2019
    9
    The most annoying game, I have ever played. And the controls are most uncomfortable.
    And at the same time, it's good.
    But return my nerves.
  21. Illumi_Zoldyck
    Apr 9, 2019
    10
    Wow. Just wow. They really nailed it this time. Combat is tight, fluid, rewarding. The world is breathtaking and exploration is engaging, exciting and tense.

    If there is anything I miss it is customizing the appearance of my character, finding clothing and armor is a lot of fun, and something I would have enjoyed even in this game. All in all, Sekiro is an amazing accomplishment. It    Wow. Just wow. They really nailed it this time. Combat is tight, fluid, rewarding. The world is breathtaking and exploration is engaging, exciting and tense.

    If there is anything I miss it is customizing the appearance of my character, finding clothing and armor is a lot of fun, and something I would have enjoyed even in this game.

    All in all, Sekiro is an amazing accomplishment. It has quickly, yet safely, become one of my favorite games of all time (especially if I put down my nostalgia glasses). I admire the bravery of FromSoftware to dare stepping out of the mold, trying something new and completely owning it. Well done, and thank you!    … Expand
  22. lgndsgn
    Apr 9, 2019
    6
    I don't think Sekiro is bad, I just beat the game, but... I can't give it anything past a 6 simply because it's.... well, mediocre (for FromSoft). As much as I wanted to fall in love with this game I have to admit that Bloodborne is better in almost every way. The story was extremely predictable though I won't explain exactly why b/c I don't want to spoil it for you. It's basically theI don't think Sekiro is bad, I just beat the game, but... I can't give it anything past a 6 simply because it's.... well, mediocre (for FromSoft). As much as I wanted to fall in love with this game I have to admit that Bloodborne is better in almost every way. The story was extremely predictable though I won't explain exactly why b/c I don't want to spoil it for you. It's basically the equivalent of mario trying to save/protect the princess. The game just didn't captivate me... like at all. I never had a sense of wonder and excitement or FEAR in seeing what's next like I did with BB. The fear is artificial. It's "oh great, another tedious battle". I remember when people were speculating that the game would have a crazy horror twist and that got me excited, unfortunately the game has none of this. Only 1 enemy in the whole game was a little creepy. The combat, while fun for a while, becomes boring. You're given ONE play style for the entire game. You get prosthetic tools but, honestly... you DON'T REALLY USE THEM. Parrying is what you'll be doing 99% of the time. I almost never used prosthetics or items the entire game.

    As far as the difficulty goes, a lot of it just comes from learning how to block/parry and timing. If you suck at reflexes this game you will struggle. But you WILL get better (if you want to progress). In fact I found the game to be in general EASIER than BB or DS. The ONLY area that is harder are certain bosses which took me more tries than some BB or DS bosses. Regular enemies and mini-bosses become trivial once you learn how to parry, block and respond to perilous attacks. There were a lot of poorly designed bosses... really glaring ways to cheese but also repetitive in nature. You will fight the same type of "boss" multiple times throughout the game. Also, Mini-bosses get in the way of the suspense and build up to a big boss. A lot of times you fight a mini-boss RIGHT BEFORE a big boss. But it just feels like 2 boss fights in a row. And all the bosses have a lot of health, which just FEELS tedious, but again... the game really isn't that hard, just reflex-intensive. So you will be doing constant parrying and attacking along with quicktime-like events for perilous attacks.

    Sekiro overall feels uninspired. Like it was lacking the soul that DS and BB have. Part of the reason for this is they reused so many elements from BB and DS that nothing seemed new. The only new aspect was the combat. Many enemies and locations are direct re-skins of previous enemies/locations in other FromSoft games. The story reuses certain plot-lines and styles.

    What bugs me the most is that very little is "memorable". The NPCs and their quests, the boss fights, the locations, or the atmosphere. It's all just mediocre, feels too safe. And I hate saying this b/c the game is automatically better than most games, b/c it is a FromSoft game afterall. But don't we want something that will blow us away like Bloodborne? BB was a perfect example of how to keep the Dark Souls formula but mix it up with genius storytelling and exciting gameplay in a new dark/mysterious universe. Unfortunately, Sekiro just doesn't match this "leap" as well.

    OK so what do I think they could have done to improve this? Allow us to loot weapons/armor. Add more RPG elements. Give us the ability to change how or character looks, what they wear. Adding multiplayer or something chalice dungeons to help replay-ability. Give us REAL reason to use prosthetics and weapon arts. The weapon arts and prosthetics are rarely used aside from early on in the game on rare enemies. Create a story that is more subtle/interesting/creative/unique. Make the story darker, more gritty; improve the atmosphere. That said, i don't think it's awful. It's still better than a TON of games out there. But it really doesn't meet the quality that Bloodborne put out there. And that's the big problem in a nutshell.    … Expand
  23. xBonet
    Apr 8, 2019
    10
    Game of the year!!!!! a masterpiece from From Software. Its difficult in a beginning, but when you understand the mechanic of the game, its just another souls games. I love it.
  24. LeCarbonator
    Apr 8, 2019
    8
    I went into this game expecting to be able to play through it without worries, since I played all 4 Soulsborne games. I was wrong ... very wrong.

    The combat is punishing, requires you to constantly be aware of your health, posture and the health of enemies. It is like Dark Souls, but it isn't. The parkour and stealth aspects allow you to skip enemies if you please, or you can rush in    I went into this game expecting to be able to play through it without worries, since I played all 4 Soulsborne games. I was wrong ... very wrong.

    The combat is punishing, requires you to constantly be aware of your health, posture and the health of enemies. It is like Dark Souls, but it isn't. The parkour and stealth aspects allow you to skip enemies if you please, or you can rush in and deflect your way through with fast-paced, intense combat.

    Unlike Soulsborne, it also has a very vibrant colour palette to it. While there aren't many areas that stick out significantly, the various green and sometimes pink mixed into the gray, dark environments that FROM used to make really help motivate you to continue on, no matter how often you fail at a boss. And as usual, the end boss is really great.

    However, I should point out that if you don't have a lot of patience, this game is NOT for you. Memorizing a moveset from a boss takes time and effort. And you will die a lot.

    Sadly, one of the downsides is that this game lacks replay value. If you want to get all trophies, you will have to either play through the game 5+ times or grind. I felt like the NG+ and further became worse and worse throughout the series, with Dark Souls 3 only changing item locations. In Sekiro, it only affects items that can increase your health or healing items, the rest stay the same. This combined with the lack of different builds made me despise playing through NG+4 in order to get the last trophy needed.    … Expand
  25. SnowProblemo
    Apr 8, 2019
    7
    Honest opinion from a FromSoftware geek. I love Dark Souls and Bloodborne. At first glance this is very similar. After putting 50+ hours and finishing the game I feel this game has very limited replayability. I was actually relieved when I was finished because the last parts were mostly frustrating boss battles and reused areas. Don't get me wrong, I love FromSoftware bosses, but I alsoHonest opinion from a FromSoftware geek. I love Dark Souls and Bloodborne. At first glance this is very similar. After putting 50+ hours and finishing the game I feel this game has very limited replayability. I was actually relieved when I was finished because the last parts were mostly frustrating boss battles and reused areas. Don't get me wrong, I love FromSoftware bosses, but I also enjoy the exploration and lore, which is scant in comparison to other Soulsborne games. Also, the absence of co-op play is a letdown and the frequent use of recycled areas, mini-bosses and even main bosses made me a bit weary. I gave a 7 because, although it's a good game, I feel it's below FromSoftware standards and after a few days of play the joy ran out, something that didn't happened so quick with their other titles.… Expand
  26. Vaxkang
    Apr 8, 2019
    7
    Great at times, tedious at times. After 45 hours or so I would have to admit this game is a step back from previous games. The game itself is punishing to start but you do get better, gamers will typically get to a point where it starts to feel tedious though.

    The combat is all about the timing and deflections and it is hard, very hard. That in itself is not a bad thing but the    Great at times, tedious at times. After 45 hours or so I would have to admit this game is a step back from previous games. The game itself is punishing to start but you do get better, gamers will typically get to a point where it starts to feel tedious though.

    The combat is all about the timing and deflections and it is hard, very hard. That in itself is not a bad thing but the payoff is very poorly done. You really get nothing for your hard work, all those deaths and trying over and over....no armour, no new weapons. The skill tree just eventually gets full, there is no real build to try.

    Most people will just look up cheese strats, so many online to choose from. The combat has some depth but there will be zero depth in replayability. I like the game, I do not love it like I have with other From Software games.    … Expand
  27. MaxDBlack
    Apr 8, 2019
    7
    The game is awesome! New mechanic is finally really differs from what SoulsBourne had to offer. It is much more focused on skill and precision. Every hit, block, parry and counter has to be carefully executed. Mechanic is pure joy.

    Enemies and bosses are hard, but fair. Every main character death is a result of player mistake but not an unfair AI actions. The variety and amount of    The game is awesome! New mechanic is finally really differs from what SoulsBourne had to offer. It is much more focused on skill and precision. Every hit, block, parry and counter has to be carefully executed. Mechanic is pure joy.

    Enemies and bosses are hard, but fair. Every main character death is a result of player mistake but not an unfair AI actions. The variety and amount of bosses is tremendous, though some of them appear couple of times during playthrough.
    Game world is big and leveldesign on a big scale is magnificent! You can reach any point in the world that you can see and sometimes it is just fascinating to observe from a distant places you've visited half game ago.

    The plot is kinda simple. In oppose to SoulsBourne games deep multy-layerd LORE, in Sekiro we have a staright forward story with very few unexpected twists and no underlying lines whatsoever. The world itself is just something I personnaly not interested in. Middle age Japan is not my thing, so I have nothing to say about it.
    Visually game is ok, but nothing out of the ordinary. There are couple of beautiful locations, but in oppose to dark and mysterious Bloodbourne atmosphere Sekiro can't offer anything spectial.

    But in the first place the game is about mechanics and it works great.
    The thing they've left character stats and loadout out of the boat is totally ok with me. Game is much closer to slasher than to an action RPG now. Still there are quite some tricks and combat movements player can aquire during game and prosthetic arm improvements make Sekiro's arsenal even bigger.

    There are a lot of dispute around Sekiro's difficulty lately. The game is hard. It took me 77 hours to beat it and I had a lot of trouble with some bosses. But it's not unbeatable and it is certainly becomes quite easy once you master it. The easiest way to check how it works is get back to bosses, that troubled you some time ago and beat them once more. It'll be super easy, because knowing mechanics and boss movement basically everything you need to be good at. So people who ask for an easy mode, are just lazy and refuse to learn game rules. And what's the point in playing a game if you don't want to follow the rules?    … Expand
  28. ardademirel1990
    Apr 8, 2019
    8
    this games are supposed to be challenging. Thats why they are great pieces of art. However throughout the game there are moments where it gets from hard to f*cking bullsh*t. Especially the last boss! I was expecting to conclude my experience by facing off with a worthy opponent but i was forced to fight against a guy with four phases (its third one being the hardest off all game). Afterthis games are supposed to be challenging. Thats why they are great pieces of art. However throughout the game there are moments where it gets from hard to f*cking bullsh*t. Especially the last boss! I was expecting to conclude my experience by facing off with a worthy opponent but i was forced to fight against a guy with four phases (its third one being the hardest off all game). After numerous tries when I defeated Ishhin there wasnt the feeling of triumph but just relief that the game was finally over. All in all Sekiro is a fine and polished game however at some parts it takes its difficulty to extremes therefore ruining the games memory.… Expand
  29. Quina
    Apr 8, 2019
    8
    How to enjoy Sekiro:
    1. Deflect
    2. Deflect 3. Realise that this is NOT a soulsborne game 4. DEFLECT As a huge soulsborne player, after Dark Souls 3 I was actually aching for something new by FromSoft, and that's what I got. Sekiro takes the learnings from the recent FromSoft games and makes them into a classic stealth-action game with a twist. It repeatedly puts the player in    How to enjoy Sekiro:
    1. Deflect
    2. Deflect
    3. Realise that this is NOT a soulsborne game
    4. DEFLECT

    As a huge soulsborne player, after Dark Souls 3 I was actually aching for something new by FromSoft, and that's what I got. Sekiro takes the learnings from the recent FromSoft games and makes them into a classic stealth-action game with a twist. It repeatedly puts the player in positions where you feel absolutely hopeless in defeating a boss/miniboss, but through trial and error and not giving up (and 'getting gud') it is eventually possible, and success feels like sweet sweet FromSoft goodness. Graphics and designs are top notch of course.

    Why is this not a 10? Music is a meh. I was hoping for a lot more replayability. Sadly there are not many varieties to play Sekiro in terms of builds etc. Combat arts would have potential for this, but sadly they are mostly underwhelming.

    FromSoft shines when they make a new type of game, new world, new IP. We saw it with Dark Souls 1 and Bloodborne and now we're seeing it with Sekiro. Great game.    … Expand
  30. jrskub
    Apr 7, 2019
    10
    Absolutely loved Sekiro. In the from soft pantheon, I would it put it behind Bloodborne and Dark souls 1, but that is likely based on nostalgia. I truly enjoyed how this game forced me to learn. There are no summons, no over powering your character, and no obvious methods of cheesing tough encounters (they are definitely still there if you look though). I haven't felt this kind ofAbsolutely loved Sekiro. In the from soft pantheon, I would it put it behind Bloodborne and Dark souls 1, but that is likely based on nostalgia. I truly enjoyed how this game forced me to learn. There are no summons, no over powering your character, and no obvious methods of cheesing tough encounters (they are definitely still there if you look though). I haven't felt this kind of personal progression since my first encounter with dark souls 1.… 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

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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.
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  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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