In a recent Q&A on Twitch at E3 2018, From Software’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice received a ton of new information. What’s going on in this Sengoku Era Japan game and is it all that different from Souls?
First off, though it’s set in Japan, the world is original and based on themes from the era (fictional castles and the like will be encountered throughout). There aren’t a number of classes to choose from but there are different play-styles and you can make decisions throughout to determine your character’s demeanour.
Stealth was briefly showcased and while it’s a viable option, it’s not the main goal. You won’t be punished for getting into fights. Instead, you can use stealth to tip the scales in your favour, turning unfavourable fights around, and executing some “really cool moves” that can provide some strong advantages. As for Resurrection, it’s possible to resurrect wherever you die but won’t be possible all the time.
The game won’t be made easier because of this though. The Resurrection mechanic has limitations in and of itself with From Software promising some “interesting” details about penalties. Still, if you want to sneak attack a group of enemies that thinks you’re dead, it’s pretty good for that.
No multiplayer is included in Sekiro since a different design philosophy is required. Instead, From Software wants to push the boundaries of the single-player experience and provide many different ways to fight bosses and tackle situations. The story may be easy to understand – rescue the young lord, take revenge upon the mysterious samurai – but it’s still “packed with lore”. There aren’t tons of cinematics guiding the action here.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice will release for Xbox One, PS4 and PC in 2019. What are your thoughts on the game? Let us know in the comments.
