Sekiro Shadows Die Twice (PS4)

Another excellent From Software game.Pros:Beautiful graphicsGreat combatWell designed boss fightsEngaging and easier to follow storySlightly easier than other soulsborne games (once you get the hang of the combat)Cons:Mainly humanoid boss fights means slightly less spectacular boss encounters visuallyCan be slightly difficult to get the hang of the combat initiallySlightly less replayability than previous souls games due to the lack of RPG elementsNotes:A lot of reviews here seem to be suggesting that this game is impossibly hard (both in a positive and negative way). While I too felt this way initially once you get that hang of the combat the game actually becomes very simple. I am now on ng++++ with the platinum trophy and can beat the game only dying once or twice. Something I have never been able to say for any other soulsborne game.Tips:RED MEANS BAD I cannot stress how many people don’t seem to understand this you need to move. Watch all of their perilous attacks and learn whether to jump, dodge left, right or backCOUNTER this is an unlockable move early on the exact name escapes me. I cannot stress how important it is I think really it should be a base skill. It allows you to dodge into a thrust attack to deliver extreme posture damage and get a few hitsTIMING IS FOR SUCKERS if you are really struggling with the game disregard everything the game tells you about timing deflects and just spam the L1 button you will perfectly deflect a good 60% of attack and block everything with the exception of perilous attacksEXPLORE like all From Soft games explore and find upgrades, they will make hard boss fights become much easier allowing you to take more hits and heal moreTHIS IS NOT DARK SOULS OR BLOODBORNE now this is a difficult one to explain but dodging left and right to avoid attacks will get you murdered and I don’t mean dark souls murdered where the enemy clips you just as you were about to win I mean brutally pummelled into the ground without even getting a hit on the enemy. Blocking is what you always need to do unless it is a perilous attack, the only fight where dodging is occasionally the best course of action for some non-perilous attacks is the final boss.ATTACK UNTIL THEY DEFLECT if you hit an enemy and they block you don’t stop attacking them. Keep hitting them until they deflect you which is signified by a flash of light and a slight TING sound. Then immediately switch back to the L1 spam and most enemies with weapons are solved.Obviously there are a few enemies and bosses that don’t work with these tips but these should cover 70-80% of the game. Honestly to beat this game you just need the mentality of a souls player but completely disregard every lesson you’ve learnt from the previous games.

So ive never left a review for anything. Got better things to do with my time..... but on this occasion i really feel this is necessary. I genuinely cannot believe that anybody can rate this game below 5 stars ... its 4 at the least. Yes the game is difficult. Doesnt mean its a 1 star game. All this game requires is patience and an understanding that unless you become good at the combat aspects of this game, which requires practice ... you wont succeed. This game forces you to adapt a style of play for a reason. Its not bloodborne, and its not dark souls and its nothing like it. Ive played them all and completed them all and im not a serious gamer by any means. This is one of the best games available for the ps4 since its release. Yes there is a little feel with some aspects of the game that are similar to the aforementioned games but it should not be compared. Not remotely. Why would you want another game thats like the rest?? If you want a game that allows you to build characters then this is not it and it doesnt have to be. There is plenty in the game for you to upgrade. Prosthetic arm upgrades which are a wicked tool to use in a variety of ways during combat and really fun. The grappling hook makes you feel like a shinobi spiderman. HP, posture and attack power can all be upgraded. The sword play with the different skills that can be set and unlocked. The combat that people are complaining about is because its not a hack and slash, run through enemies type of game. Its real combat. Underestimate an enemy and you're dead. I loved the soulsborne games but if you got to a difficult bit, all you had to do was farm xp and upgrade which then made the game easy. This game forces you to get good with repitition and to use all aspects of combat which includes DEFENSE! ... and on a side note, this game plays a lot faster aswel, In combat and in free roam. As for the rest of the game, the story line is basic but easy to follow. The graphics are exceptional, the variety in enemies is a little basic but is made up with the amount of mini bosses and main bosses that you meet throughout. The scenery changes, from grassy lands, forests, and pagoda towers to poison swamps and icey mountains. For me this game has all it needs and im just as excited to do a second playthrough as i was when i picked it up from my porch floor. Exceptional game.