Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice — a hardcore third-person action-adventure game from the creators of Dark Souls Remastered and Bloodborne. The game's story tells of an ancient cult that sacrificed local residents and conducted experiments on them. The main character of the game is a ninja equipped with a special hook attached to his prosthetic arm. The character can use the hook for jumping and in battles with enemies.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a single-player third-person action-adventure game with stealth elements. It is built on a strong storyline, and replayability is encouraged by non-linear elements and four different endings. Unlike the Souls series, in Sekiro we immediately play as a well-developed and detailed main character, rather than creating a no-name from scratch.

The events of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice take place in an alternate reality, in late 16th century Japan. The developers take the Sengoku era and add elements of dark fantasy.

A well-known historical period, when central authority weakened and a massacre between the provinces began, is mixed with demons, spirits, and strange creatures like a skeletal Baba Yaga, a giant snake, or a huge white monkey.

Players will encounter accurately recreated Japanese architecture, traditions and rules, and the climatic features of that time. There will also be a lot of strange things – eerie battlefields filled with spears and impaled bodies, frightening swamps with unusual creatures, and structures in the Souls style. Locations will often be ablaze.

The action begins in one of the central regions of Japan and unfolds over several acts in various locations across the country. Sekiro does not have an open world; instead, there are fairly wide linear locations filled with vertical platforms and tough enemies. At the end of each level, there is a very powerful boss.

Shinobi – also known as the Wolf – is a ninja warrior and the main character of Shadows Die Twice. From a young age, he was trained by a mentor named Owl in the use of all types of cold weapons, stealth movement, and combat tactics.

The game begins with the meeting of the Wolf and his master – a young divine heir of an ancient lineage, who is about to be kidnapped. In the first battle after becoming a bodyguard, the Wolf loses to a mysterious stranger, losing his left arm and (almost) his life.

However, fate itself comes to his aid in the form of his master, thanks to whom he survives and gains near-immortality. From his mentor, Shinobi receives a powerful prosthetic.

Now he must save the kidnapped child from death and avenge his enemies for his disgrace, thus cleansing himself. In addition to the main plot, Shadows Die Twice will have mysteries that only a curious player can solve.

Initially, the opponents will be ordinary people. But later on, enemies suffering from various deformities will appear, allowing players not to feel pity for them. All bosses are larger than the main character, but the number of huge enemies is significantly less than in Dark Souls.

In Sekiro, the studio FromSoftware deviated from the concept of Souls-like games. The hero moves faster and more abruptly, jumps high (!), and performs unusual acrobatics in the air. The stamina bar has been removed.

Instead, there is now a "concentration" bar – it fills up from successfully landed hits and proper blocks, and when full, you can perform a special move on the enemy's vulnerable point. Such a strike, if it doesn't kill, will reduce the enemy's "life" – some bosses and just thick enemies can have two or even three "lives," and until you remove them, the enemy won't die.

The main highlight of the gameplay is the Shinobi prosthetic, which can be equipped with various gadgets that change the combat style and tactics. For instance, the grappling hook allows you to climb roofs and ledges, making the character a silent killer. The axe breaks shields and blocks, turning the Shinobi into a tank. The spear is useful for finishing off, as it pulls enemies towards the ninja. The flamethrower – the most expensive upgrade – sets enemies on fire and deals continuous damage to them.

Defeating enemies with simple button mashing or the "hit-and-run" tactic from Dark Souls will no longer work. In Shadows Die Twice, to win, the player needs to know each regular enemy and boss – how they move, act, attack, and defend. Some moves cannot be blocked, and then you have to parry at the risk of your life or retreat. In some ways, Sekiro's gameplay resembles Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.

Stealth plays an important role in the gameplay. In some cases, it is more advantageous to climb higher and eavesdrop on enemy conversations or sneak past guards at night than to fight through a crowd. Fortunately, the hero can crouch behind obstacles, move silently, and even hide in the grass.

Parkour elements diversified the gameplay, allowing you to climb buildings and landscape ledges; the hero learned to cling to edges with his fingertips and even move along sheer walls or cliffs.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice features an RPG system; by killing enemies, the character gains experience, which accumulates into levels. The higher the level, the more skills the main hero acquires, and the more he can upgrade them.

Skills are divided into active and passive, can be improved, and belong to different schools of martial arts, covering various aspects of gameplay – stealth, combat, counterattack, evasion, and prosthetics. All this allows for stronger attacks and easier defense.

An attentive player will discover new gadgets for the prosthetic, such as those allowing teleportation or sliding under enemy arrows. To enhance them, you will need to collect materials. The prosthetic's toolkit can also be upgraded, as well as health, the "concentration" bar, and the number of potions.

There is no option to upgrade swords, armor, and equipment – as the character progresses, they automatically equip better items. There is a developed dialogue system, making interactions with NPCs interesting.

Death does not mean defeat. The Wolf received a special resurrection ability from his master – he can rise only once, but it should be enough for a disarming strike on the enemy. If the enemy is executed, the Shinobi gets another chance to rise from the dead in the next battle. Or he can "recharge" at a special idol.

В случае повторной смерти в одном и том же бою, игра не закончится, но Волк потеряет половину своих ресурсов, опыта и снизит мораль местных NPC. То есть чем чаще умирает персонаж, тем больше простых героев заражаются «Драконьим поветрием» — хворью, которая может их убить. А это уже скажется на прохождении и концовке.