Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Reviews
An outstanding game that take the esence on the Soulsborne games and brings it forward to make one of the most compelling game experiences that we have played in a while.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The introduction of new traversal ideas, proper stealth and a more focused narrative mark this out as different enough to warrant true merit, and prove that From Software still have a trick or two up their sleeves.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a truly new expression of the design philosophy that FromSoftware has spent years refining. Shifting gears a bit in the setting, story, and gameplay, the spirit of Dark Souls is still clearly the driving factor here.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the work of a studio at the height of its powers – beautiful, cruel, and moving.
I’m here to see if Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice can click for someone who does not have the reverence for the “Soulsborne” games. If you are looking for validation of your tastes or how this game compares to Dark Souls, plenty of other reviews will cover that.
Yes, Sekiro hurts. But look at this smile as well. Shadows Die Twice is a beautiful, masochistic misadventure. Some of its boss fights are so stupendous, I dare not speak about them. It is a test of mettle and nerve that proves From Software are still winning the arms race against us cheesey rats.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice manages to live up to its monstrously high expectations in nearly every way. Its high-risk combat system is as satisfying as it is punishing, and its level design begs you to explore every inch of the world. While its locations and enemies aren't as varied as in previous From Software games, you'll hardly notice when you're locking swords with opponents across several beautiful settings. Sekiro tells an intriguing tale about loyalty and mortality packed with surprises and easy-to-miss side stories.
This often breathtaking game of serial assassination in 16th-century Japan is a treasure chest for players able to commit to learning its secrets
Few games task you so harshly or dare to drive you to such frustration, but few games are as rewarding or exhilarating when you succeed.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a captivating experience given its setting and lore. There are so many mysteries to uncover, and I can't wait to play it even more.
The joyous sense of freedom in being able to engage and disengage a situation as I effortlessly transitioned between stealth and combat- the feeling of excitement as the awe-inspiring bosses and set pieces set the bar to new heights both in spectacle and design, Sekiro is a masterpiece that will influence future games to come for generations.
"I just want you to know: I hate-respect you." I think about Alec Baldwin saying these words to a dramatically lit Will Arnett on an early episode of 30 Rock approximately 82,000 times a day. It's a little Zen Buddhist koan I use to rein in my critical brain when I experience revulsion. Two things...
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has FromSoftware's typical brutal difficulty, but honestly that's beside the point. What matters is the thoughtful, precision-based combat, smart use of stealth, and a skill tree that's trimmed of fat. This game shows what you can do with game design if you dispense with the extraneous and focus on strong core mechanics. It's a punishing, rewarding, and beautiful experience.
Sekiro is an extremely challenging, beautiful game that's very much worth the time to learn. Just prepare to die even more than you probably thought.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice proves that FromSoftware studio is able to innovate while retaining the fundamentals of its fame.
Review in French | Read full review
We're only at the end of first quarter 2019, but Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is pulling out all the stops as a heavy hitter. Minor issues aside, Sekiro will occupy thousands of PlayStations for a long, long time.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is not a soulsborne, and it's not another Tenchu. However, the breathtaking landscapes of a war-torn Japan and a mysterious but compelling story make a perfect outline for a rhythmic, stimulating and particularly challenging gameplay.
Review in Italian | Read full review
You can tell From Software was happy to try something a little different with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The game has a few mechanical issues, which can be largely chalked up to new series jitters, but its energy and excitement mostly make up for its flaws. While I haven’t finished my journey through Sekiro yet, I’m fairly confident those with the Bushido to face its challenges will have a bloody good time.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a fiercely challenging, yet highly compelling action adventure. The posture-based combat is tricky to learn but wonderfully rewarding to master, and all the nips and tucks to From Software's usual tropes make for a game that's surprisingly accessible for new players. Despite some slightly ropey traversal and occasionally dodgy performance, this game will keep you hooked from start to finish with its built-in "one more go" death mechanic and a bleak yet gorgeous world to explore. This is a fresh new spin on From's formula that fans and newcomers alike should definitely give a stab.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a beautifully crafted game. The combination of excellent story-telling and world-building, gorgeous visuals and sound design along with an outstanding combat system will make it one of 2019's best games. The one aspect that keeps it from being a must-play for everyone is the sheer level of difficulty that some players will find off-putting.