Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (rel. 22nd March)

[Dungeoncrawler]

Originally Posted by ozzy1

Anyone know what the two circles above the health bar are for. Thought it was a clock of some sort but there are no day[night cycles so I'm clueless

They are your resurrects you have available.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/81438...3802576809813/

Regarding difficulty, I'm a novice playing soul games. But 1v1 I do pretty well in this game. The addition of the grappling hook makes the game easier imo. But if you get surrounded, and you don't retreat via the grappling hook, you are going to die. Speaking of...

Sekiro tips and tricks for beginners and returning experts

Unlearn what you have learned
Observe and Attack
Items are significantly more important now
Descend
Be unseen for as long as possible

Be careful when you resurrect
Check for other paths
Don't be afraid to run
Master the basics of Posture
Parry and Riposte

Check in at the temple
Dip, Dive, Deflect, Dodge

https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2...nd-tricks-6009

[ozzy1]

Sweet....thanks,
Felt like an animal playing DMC5.
Now I feel like a hamster playing this....very humbling experience.
Appreciate the tips for us struggling (first boss demo's me everytime)

[Meteor_of_War]

The master of From Software environmental storytelling analysis has started his playthrough:

[Drexion]

Played for a few hours, and no doubt this game's difficulty is off the charts, even for a From software game. Some of the mini-bosses scattered around the world feel more difficult than some Soulsborne bosses. I'd wager less than 10% of the people who buy this game will complete it. Even seen some streamers rage quit a couple times. I always thought that there was no need for a difficulty slider in Soulsborne games, but this game is getting me to think differently about that, as I love everything else about it.

You can modify the game's FoV (and some other tweaks like ultra wide screen support), instructions are in the wsgf thread (link).

Default, and +40% FoV:

[Meteor_of_War]

I still haven't played it yet but I'm not worried about the harder difficulty. My guess is a lot of it may be due to players trying to play it like a Souls game and need to unlearn that style and get used to the gameplay mechanics of Sekiro. If anything I'm happy to hear they've got new challenges for us rather than same old same old.

I'd suggest to anyone struggling with the difficulty to look up some current playthroughs to gather strategies from the community. Just like all From's other games I'm sure this one is also just a matter of learning its intricacies.

[Drexion]

Originally Posted by Meteor_of_War

I'd suggest to anyone struggling with the difficulty to look up some current playthroughs to gather strategies from the community.

This advice would work with other Souls-like games, but not with this one. It's like saying "watch some videos of 'guitar hero expert through the fire and flames' and you will eventually be able to do it too". Reality is no matter how much you research/watch/learn, only maybe 5% of the playerbase will have the reaction time and rhythm to pull it off.

I read someone say that Sekiro feels like a combination of a Soulsborne and a Rythm game, I can see how that comparison makes sense. We're in the honeymoon stage of this game, it's going to be interesting to see if the playerbase opinion changes as time goes by.

[KAC]

I saw a video of a streamer trying to kill one of the early chained Ogres. It took him like 9 tries and then he did kill the idiot. Was enough to remove this game off my wishlist.

[SD-[Inc]]

This video seems helpful:

[Meteor_of_War]

Originally Posted by Drexion

This advice would work with other Souls-like games, but not with this one. It's like saying "watch some videos of 'guitar hero expert through the fire and flames' and you will eventually be able to do it too". Reality is no matter how much you research/watch/learn, only maybe 5% of the playerbase will have the reaction time and rhythm to pull it off.

I read someone say that Sekiro feels like a combination of a Soulsborne and a Rythm game, I can see how that comparison makes sense. We're in the honeymoon stage of this game, it's going to be interesting to see if the playerbase opinion changes as time goes by.

OK I'll wait and see. From the videos I've been watching it seems fun as hell. I'm hoping to start it one night this week.

[Brainstew]

I've beaten every From game since Demon's multiple times and I have to say this is by far their hardest game yet. The boss and "mini-boss" fights are ridiculously punishing.

[Meteor_of_War]

Lobos making the game look easy as per usual.

[Meteor_of_War]

Originally Posted by SD-[Inc]

This video seems helpful:

That was actually a very informative video, thanks.

Definitely seems a challenging game for sure, but as always From Soft does provide the player with tools to make the going easier and in time I'm sure I'll be able to get through the game easily, just like I eventually beat Dark Souls at SL1 even though that seemed impossible first time i played it. We just need to discover the strategies and utilize them.. and forget your Soulsbourne muscle memory (stop trying to dodge away for invincibility frames, and learn to parry).

[Drexion]

I've been thinking in what way could From 'tweak' the game without the bad publicity of "omg they nerfed the difficulty thanks to the whiners!", and I think if they just made the time-window for a successful deflect/parry/block *slightly* longer (and nothing else) it would be acceptable to both the casual and hardcore crowds.

Originally Posted by Meteor_of_War

I'm sure I'll be able to get through the game easily

[Brainstew]

I'd be annoyed if they dumb it down without any options to play it as originally intended. The game is very hard, but it also feels less punishing to die than Dark Souls. My only big complaint so far is that the first boss has some serious artificial inflation of difficulty going on, simply because From is terrible at grappling animations. Just like every Souls game, you can get grabbed when you really feel like you shouldn't be.

[Dungeoncrawler]

Originally Posted by KAC

I saw a video of a streamer trying to kill one of the early chained Ogres. It took him like 9 tries and then he did kill the idiot. Was enough to remove this game off my wishlist.

that chained ogre was rather easy if you know its weakness. hell if you approach it fast, you get in half a dozen hits before it even breaks loose. this game cannot be played like any other previous soul games. if its approached in this manner, it will be an extremely frustrating game.

[shrike126]

This game is harder than any of the Souls games I've played before including Demon's and Blood.

**** Lady Butterfly.

And **** MYYYYYY NAAAAAAAME IS
..

[globalist]

Am I the only one who has played almost 8 hours but haven't even engaged the Shinobi hunter properly yet?

[shrike126]

Originally Posted by globalist

Am I the only one who has played almost 8 hours but haven't even engaged the Shinobi hunter properly yet?

Is he... the spear boss guy in the walkway past the 2 shield bros in the Hirata Estate?

[Meteor_of_War]

Originally Posted by Drexion

Sounds like KAC.

Seriously though, I am no stranger to tough From Software games and I relish the challenge of extreme difficulty.

The thing about their games, is the difficulty has ALWAYS been unforgiving and brutal when you first play them. But after a couple playthroughs and enough time has gone by for the community to learn the strategies they can be easily beaten. This is a testament to good game design. I am expecting Sekiro to be no different, but at the same time I of course expected From to up the difficulty from their previous games. Obviously they know their reputation and the expectations of their audience, and wouldn't want to disappoint them with a game that's easier than previous games.

Seems like with this one the difficulty curve might just be a bit steeper than their others. Plus with the addition of not being able to customize your character as much as in their previous RPG type games, makes it even harder for every player to find their groove.

But its only been out a few days. No doubt we'll be seeing speed runs, no death runs, and all manner of others soon enough once players had enough time to get used to the game.

[globalist]

Originally Posted by shrike126

Is he... the spear boss guy in the walkway past the 2 shield bros in the Hirata Estate?

Yep that one.

[globalist]

Originally Posted by Drexion

I've been thinking in what way could From 'tweak' the game without the bad publicity of "omg they nerfed the difficulty thanks to the whiners!", and I think if they just made the time-window for a successful deflect/parry/block *slightly* longer (and nothing else) it would be acceptable to both the casual and hardcore crowds.

The guy's twitter wall pic is hilarious in the context

https://twitter.com/thekingogx

[Cyko]

Originally Posted by globalist

Am I the only one who has played almost 8 hours but haven't even engaged the Shinobi hunter properly yet?

Eff that guy. The key (for me...after 15 tries) to beating him was to get the counter skill for one of his unblockable attacks. Once I got that thing it was sneak up on him, deathblow, bait him into using that skill - counter, rinse repeat until I got another deathblow.

Now the purple ninja guy at the 3 level tower thing...screw that guy even harder. Luckily there is an easy "cheese" method to beating him

[Meteor_of_War]

Started playing it finally. Lives up to the hype so far, awesome!

From what i can tell in the hour or so I've played, it's essentially as if they've made a rhythm game out of their patented tight combat mechanics. Its all about recognizing enemy tells to use deflect then being as aggressive as possible to kill your opponent quick.

I got the timing down pretty fast from all those years of parrying in Souls games, but yes this game's margin for error is quite tight, at least until you learn each enemy's moves. Can't wait to see the upgrades and new techniques that can be learned in the game, and how the difficulty scales as you acquire them.

Looking forward to playing more, this is going to be a good one. Lazy8s where are you?

[Lurk]

incredible, I'm 3/4 of the way through DS3 and haven't been able to parry ONCE. I don't understand how you guys can cut it.
Considering the last Souls game has turned me into a nervous wreck, after going through this thread I think staying clear from Sekiro is something I owe to my coronaries

[Silent-Runner]

Originally Posted by Lurk

incredible, I'm 3/4 of the way through DS3 and haven't been able to parry ONCE. I don't understand how you guys can cut it.
Considering the last Souls game has turned me into a nervous wreck, after going through this thread I think staying clear from Sekiro is something I owe to my coronaries

It's sure enough not for the faint hearted. Tests your patience a LOT.

[Andy22]

Originally Posted by Cyko

Eff that guy. The key (for me...after 15 tries) to beating him was to get the counter skill for one of his unblockable attacks. Once I got that thing it was sneak up on him, deathblow, bait him into using that skill - counter, rinse repeat until I got another deathblow.

Now the purple ninja guy at the 3 level tower thing...screw that guy even harder. Luckily there is an easy "cheese" method to beating him

Do tell! He's wrecked me more than once.

[Meteor_of_War]

Originally Posted by Lurk

incredible, I'm 3/4 of the way through DS3 and haven't been able to parry ONCE. I don't understand how you guys can cut it.
Considering the last Souls game has turned me into a nervous wreck, after going through this thread I think staying clear from Sekiro is something I owe to my coronaries

There's plenty of parrying videos online to help you. Just don't be afraid to die a bunch learning it. Find a good spot not too far from a bonfire and just practice. Its all about patience and timing, and learning the enemy attack pattern.

[Arioch]

does SLI work in this game?

[Cyko]

Originally Posted by Andy22

Do tell! He's wrecked me more than once.

Lure him off the tower and then when he’s chasing you dive into the river. Wait a few seconds and jump back up to the area. If you time it right he’ll be walking past the area back up to the tower. Go stealth, sneak up behind him and deathblow his @ss.

[theshadowcult]

Friend of mine had this to say about the game mechanics.

the normal dudes are easy peasy
but then the bosses
have non explained mechanics
or too much HP
and not like actual bosses
just champion type dudes
randomly thrown in
to the point that i can't really hurt them

so you gotta break thru their poise to deal damage
but poise recovers over time
parrying and striking them builds it up
but these minibosses recover it so quickly i can never wear them down, hence no daage

they also have super fast no damage dealing, but posture breaking kicks and punches that you can't block
so swinging into them can be dangerous as they counter you with a quick kick or punch, then start dealing damage. you have a dodge but it's not the souls dodge
screw up a parry's timing and you take damage to your posture, but if you time it perfectly you damage theirs instead and take none to yours
but they spam attacks, all at different timing
seems unfair rather than hard and you can only take a few hits before you die and a single hit leads to chain stuns
and then death
it's a hard game bc you never have a chance to practice
bc practicing requires death
so the uptie on practiciing is too small

Hows that to how you guys are finding the game?