Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Ongoing Review Series

Check out our detailed article series on FromSoftware's foray into the Sengoku period of Japan.

By Chris Morse
March 31 2019, 2:00 PM EDT

With the recent release of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, we have found ourselves taking a deep dive into the latest world created by FromSoftware. This time, the studio has taken us into the Sengoku period of Japan. Stripped away are the RPG and multiplayer elements of the previous titles, but rest assured, the trademark difficulty is still very much alive and well. In fact, this game turns everything you knew about playing these titles upside down.

Gone are the days of playing defensively, where you take a couple of swings before retreating away and planning your next attack. In Sekiro, you are punished for using the very strategies and habits picked up from playing other "Soulsborne" games. It requires you to be new, reactive, and aggressive, but those hard-fought feelings of satisfaction remain a staple of this revamped experience nonetheless.

Because of the sheer detail present in FromSoftware games, Sekiro is a title we wanted to really get into and felt that rushing through for a single review wasn't going to cut it. As such, we kicked off our review series with Part 1, an in-depth look at what sets the game apart, all the while diving into our impressions on the overall gameplay.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Ongoing Review Part 1: Something Familiar, Something New

Challenge, freedom, and death highlight our first weekend with FromSoftware’s newest title.

Next, Part 2 takes a look at the story, characters, and bosses, while we analyze how our feelings have changed now that we have seen more of what this world has to offer. A game like this can certainly stumble along the way, but let's see where we stand after a bit more time with the game.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Ongoing Review Part 2: Storytelling Through Characters

This game strays from the path of previous FromSoftware titles, which relied less on characters and narrative in favor of deeper world-building.

We will wrap things up with Part 3, which will take us to the end of the game and bring together our final thoughts and impressions on the finished product. You will be able to find our overall conclusion on this title here, along with some additional thoughts on what this game means for the studio going forward as well as our key takeaways from it.

Coming soon...

Additionally, we also put the title in the hands of someone who has never played a game from this studio, leading us to a separate, three-part playthrough diary full of fun. Have a look at that completed "FromSoftware Noob" blog series below!

Diary of a FromSoftware Noob Part 1: Shadows Die Many, Many Times in Sekiro

Let’s find out what these super-challenging games are all about, shall we?

Diary of a FromSoftware Noob Part 2: Becoming the Shinobi in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

The student is becoming the master, slowly but surely, as the journey steadily approaches its end.

Diary of a FromSoftware Noob Part 3: This Sekiro Journey Reaches Its End

The endgame is here at long last, but are the skills learned thus far enough to see the credits roll?

From the studio behind games such as Dark Souls and Bloodborne, FromSoftware, comes the very-different Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Unlike the previous titles listed, this game focuses more on stealth, tools, and utility in what is certainly a refreshing change of pace for fans of the studio’s work, which is typically known for having more RPG elements and multiplayer features.

Set in Sengoku Japan during the late 1500s, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice follows a shinobi named Sekiro, nicknamed the one-armed wolf, who embarks on a journey of revenge after a samurai attacked and took his lord as prisoner. Armed with a katana and a handy prosthetic, he sets off to rescue his lord and put an end to those responsible for the kidnapping.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is now available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

Obligatory Disclosure: Activision provided Dead Entertainment with a copy of the game for review and article consideration.

About the Author

Chris Morse

Thanks to his friends and family, Chris grew up surrounded by plenty of horror movies and video games. From self-taught web design as a teenager to a formal education in computer science, he has always had a passion for web technologies and has channeled all of those interests into building this website platform. Chris opted to dive straight into horror with this project and is joined by some of those very same influential friends and family here on the staff. When not programming or gaming, you can find him heading to the midwest to cheer on his favorite football team, the Green Bay Packers. Go Pack Go!