Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Retr0gamer

Only got a bit of time for this last night. Beat Owl daddy after a few attempts then continued the story events and got to the corrupted monk again. Nearly beat her first go and called it a night.

Retr0gamer

Second fight with owl down and demon of hatred down. I'm a shinobi wrecking ball. Off to the final boss to show him the pointy end of my sword

Penn

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Second fight with owl down and demon of hatred down. I'm a shinobi wrecking ball. Off to the final boss to show him the pointy end of my sword

Just remember, hesitation is defeat. Enjoy!

Mr.Fantastic

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Second fight with owl down and demon of hatred down. I'm a shinobi wrecking ball. Off to the final boss to show him the pointy end of my sword

Best of luck, final boss is nuts.

Retr0gamer

Done. Final boss wasn't too bad once you learn his moves. Might jump back in for the shuro ending.

All in all one of the best games ever made.

nix

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Done. Final boss wasn't too bad once you learn his moves. Might jump back in for the shuro ending.

All in all one of the best games ever made.

You blew through it all a bit quick, you didnt go in blind i take it?

Retr0gamer

nix wrote: »

You blew through it all a bit quick, you didnt go in blind i take it?

Nope, just played the **** out of it last few weeks.

Retr0gamer

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Done. Final boss wasn't too bad once you learn his moves. Might jump back in for the shuro ending.

All in all one of the best games ever made.

Where would you rank it amongst other from software games?

Retr0gamer

Up at the top with bloodborne and dark souls. Could be my favourite but need time to digest it.

Retr0gamer

Going for the shira ending. So weird to go through this game from the start again. Absolutely decimating everything. Up to getting the mortal blade now. Took me days to get here last time.

Mr.Fantastic

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Going for the shira ending. So weird to go through this game from the start again. Absolutely decimating everything. Up to getting the mortal blade now. Took me days to get here last time.

Yeah on NG+ , there is also an item that allows you to use the exp you get to up attack power instead of techniques.

Azza

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Going for the shira ending. So weird to go through this game from the start again. Absolutely decimating everything. Up to getting the mortal blade now. Took me days to get here last time.

New game + is a doddle if you keep Kuro's charm. Give it back to him and its much tougher. Without the charm all enemy attacks do vitality damage even when blocked, you must learn to parry pretty much everything to avoid taking damage. Its still not as challenging as the first run through but it keeps new game + from being a walk over.

Retr0gamer

I'm kind of ready to take a break from the game. Finish these two bosses and then take the PS4 out of storage and start on 13 Sentinels and get back into deception 4.

Retr0gamer

And I'm done. Was worth doing the Shura endings, final boss fights were excellent.

Done with the game now and time to move on.

Azza

But the games true ending still eludes you, without reaching it your credentials as a true gamer are in question!

Retr0gamer

Azza wrote: »

But the games true ending still eludes you, without reaching it your credentials as a true gamer are in question!

I got the apparent true ending. My gamer cred is intact in my mind.

I'd say I'll fight you if you say otherwise but you'll just beat me at any fighting game.

Penn

Retr0gamer wrote: »

And I'm done. Was worth doing the Shura endings, final boss fights were excellent.

Done with the game now and time to move on.

"Gentle Blade"...

Gentle blade me hole!

I also love how different the final boss is in the Shura ending compared to the others. Provides a very similar challenge but with those differences that still keep you on your toes no matter how comfortable you are with him from the other endings.

Definitely some of the best boss fights in any game. I enjoyed Bloodborne, but most of the boss fights were disappointing imo. Tough as hell, but most were just large monsters, stick to their rear side and hit them. That was it. The likes of Lady Maria and Gerhman were some of the best fights in that game, or even just some of the other NPC hunter enemies you encounter.

Demons Souls, a lot of the bosses have some sort of puzzle element or specific strategy. It was just always more of a pain in the hole getting back to them if you died, even with shortcuts.

Sekiro was just a fantastic mix of everything when it came to bosses though.

Retr0gamer

The only bad boss is the bull and even then it's far from terrible. Every other boss is fantastic.

Bloodborne I found very easy once I beat Amelia. Loved the Amelia boss fight but I blitz the rest of the game after that with only the DLC getting back to that level of greatness.

Azza

Even the bull is not so bad after you learn how to stay behind him and you can also use the fire crackers to startle him.

In the best ending paths you have another flashback sequence to the Hirata Estate and face another version of Lone Shadow Masanaga, where he call in packs of dogs, another fight with Jozu the Drunkard but this time he's supported by an Interior Ministry Loneshadow with a poison ability and finally a second confrontation with the the Owl, this time the version known as Father Owl, aka the Owl in his prime.

I think its worth going back to play that sequence.

Retr0gamer

Azza wrote: »

Even the bull is not so bad after you learn how to stay behind him and you can also use the fire crackers to startle him.

In the best ending paths you have another flashback sequence to the Hirata Estate and face another version of Lone Shadow Masanaga, where he call in packs of dogs, another fight with Jozu the Drunkard but this time he's supported by an Interior Ministry Loneshadow with a poison ability and finally a second confrontation with the the Owl, this time the version known as Father Owl, aka the Owl in his prime.

I think its worth going back to play that sequence.

Completed it

The bull wasnt a bad boss just not as satisfying as the others as it was more a dark souls type boss than sekiro.

Penn

The blazing bull was grand. The sakura one was a nightmare due to the tighter space making the camera control harder.

Azza

Penn wrote: »

The blazing bull was grand. The sakura one was a nightmare due to the tighter space making the camera control harder.

If you approach the Sakura Bull from the roof and drop down behind him undetected then throw a fire cracker you will panic him into running into the wall , which causes him to fall over which allows you to insti-kill him via a death blow.

Retr0gamer

Penn wrote: »

The blazing bull was grand. The sakura one was a nightmare due to the tighter space making the camera control harder.

First time :cool:

Blazing Bull on the other hand

Guardian Ape also still gave me trouble on my second playthrough. His first form is just very unlike any other fight in the game with its reliance on quick hits and throws. Second form is handy. The first form is just very different from any other boss.

Retr0gamer

Azza wrote: »

If you approach the Sakura Bull from the roof and drop down behind him undetected then throw a fire cracker you will panic him into running into the wall , which causes him to fall over which allows you to insti-kill him via a death blow.

That would have been nice to know.

Penn

Retr0gamer wrote: »

First time :cool:

Blazing Bull on the other hand

Guardian Ape also still gave me trouble on my second playthrough. His first form is just very unlike any other fight in the game with its reliance on quick hits and throws. Second form is handy. The first form is just very different from any other boss.

Yeah I never minded his second phase, even with the double apes later. Much easier to fight. I think it has a bad reputation due to people thinking he only had that first phase though, which is a tough fight.

I have no idea how but I beat the Blazing Bull on my first attempt. I was streaming at the time and a friend was waiting for me to get to that point to watch me die. Wasn't sorry to disappoint.

TitianGerm

Retr0gamer wrote: »

The only bad boss is the bull and even then it's far from terrible. Every other boss is fantastic.

Bloodborne I found very easy once I beat Amelia. Loved the Amelia boss fight but I blitz the rest of the game after that with only the DLC getting back to that level of greatness.

The Bull is only a mini boss. Deflect, fire cracker, hack, repeat.

Zero-Cool

I haven't got this game yet but i enjoy reading the posts. However, the post above just reminded me that i actually had a dream about the bull boss fight last night. I've never seen any footage of it but in my dream, you are in like a bull fighting arena throwing fire crackers like a madman and a bull getting all confused with cartoon cross eyes for effect.

I think i need a break from this thread.

Retr0gamer

Zero-Cool wrote: »

I haven't got this game yet but i enjoy reading the posts. However, the post above just reminded me that i actually had a dream about the bull boss fight last night. I've never seen any footage of it but in my dream, you are in like a bull fighting arena throwing fire crackers like a madman and a bull getting all confused with cartoon cross eyes for effect.

I think i need a break from this thread.

Not far off it really, but the bull is way too mad to be cartoony.

Penn

Zero-Cool wrote: »

I haven't got this game yet but i enjoy reading the posts. However, the post above just reminded me that i actually had a dream about the bull boss fight last night. I've never seen any footage of it but in my dream, you are in like a bull fighting arena throwing fire crackers like a madman and a bull getting all confused with cartoon cross eyes for effect.

I think i need a break from this thread.

I think you need to play Sekiro. Oh the wonderful dreams you'll have then...

Zero-Cool

Penn wrote: »

I think you need to play Sekiro. Oh the wonderful dreams you'll have then...

Finishing Life is Strange 2 today, then onto ghost of Tsushima and Sekiro will be after that

Retr0gamer

Zero-Cool wrote: »

Finishing Life is Strange 2 today, then onto ghost of Tsushima and Sekiro will be after that

I'd prioritise Sekiro before Ghost. Sekiro is so good it just makes something as simplistic as ghost seem obsolete. Very different games but the combat in Sekiro is so much better.

Penn

Retr0gamer wrote: »

I'd prioritise Sekiro before Ghost. Sekiro is so good it just makes something as simplistic as ghost seem obsolete. Very different games but the combat in Sekiro is so much better.

Sekiro is great
Not enough fox petting though
Or writing haikus

I'm playing GoT and enjoying it a lot, but I'm almost sure Sekiro would still be the better game by the end

Zero-Cool

Retr0gamer wrote: »

I'd prioritise Sekiro before Ghost. Sekiro is so good it just makes something as simplistic as ghost seem obsolete. Very different games but the combat in Sekiro is so much better.

I had a feeling it might so gonna blast through ghost first in case Sekiro ruins it and i can't go back.

Retr0gamer

I'd say Ghost is extremely basic compared to Sekiro but then again nearly every other game is.

Ghost has that mechanic where you have to change stance depending on the enemy you face which I find a very lazy unsatisfying mechanic. It's just arbitrary rather than adding any sort of complexity. It's still ahead of the likes of Assassin's creed and looks and feels nice initially even if you have that nagging feeling that the kills are never really earned like they are in Sekiro.

Then again it's probably a huge ask to transplant Sekiro's combat into an open world with much more variables.

SomeSayKos

Do folk think we'll get a sequel?
My head says no but my heart says 'please please please please please!'.

heebusjeebus

SomeSayKos wrote: »

Do folk think we'll get a sequel?
My head says no but my heart says 'please please please please please!'.

I'd definitely prefer a sequel to Sekiro over another Dark Souls but I need Elden Ring first!

johnny_ultimate

I won’t object to a sequel, but would prefer them taking on original projects instead. They definitely exhausted Dark Souls over the course of the series, good games though they all are (DS2 included).

But honestly I think I’d prefer every developer to tackle original projects more often - From being one of the few studios that actually does it fairly regularly.

Retr0gamer

It's open for a sequel but also wouldn't want them to run the game into the ground. The gameplay systems are still open to a lot more interesting gameplay and bosses and they are far from tired.

However Sekiro was their first step away from the Dark Souls formula and it just showed how far ahead From Software are from everyone else in level design, game design and world building. I'm more open to them carrying that over and experimenting with it with new systems and worlds.

SomeSayKos

I definitely would prefer new games from FromSoftware as their world/character design is some of the best in the biz. That being said, as much as I love the souls games, Sekiro really resonated with me and it's definitely my favourite game FromSoftware have made to date. The combat is so frenetic and addictive. I guess I just greedily want more.

That being said, I respect that they don't want to just play it safe and churn out sequels the whole time. For example, as much as I loved Bloodborne I really don't think that game needs a sequel

heebusjeebus

NIghtmare fuel here. Sekiro but every enemy is the Guardian Ape :pac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On06WNcAdHs

SomeSayKos

heebusjeebus wrote: »

NIghtmare fuel here. Sekiro but every enemy is the Guardian Ape :pac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On06WNcAdHs

That's brilliant

Zero-Cool

Bollox, have my games going off to CEX tomorrow and was buying this as soon as i got the credit and they're now out of stock. Hard to get anywhere but now my credit is tied up with cex so just gonna wait for it to come back in. Disappointing.

Penn

Zero-Cool wrote: »

Bollox, have my games going off to CEX tomorrow and was buying this as soon as i got the credit and they're now out of stock. Hard to get anywhere but now my credit is tied up with cex so just gonna wait for it to come back in. Disappointing.

Last year I missed getting it on sale price of about 15euro off by about 2 days. Ended up paying full price for it. Still worth it.

Zero-Cool

Penn wrote: »

Last year I missed getting it on sale price of about 15euro off by about 2 days. Ended up paying full price for it. Still worth it.

You might have answered already but since we both cleared Ghost recently, which do you think is better? (I know they aren't similar games but similar settings)

Retr0gamer

Zero-Cool wrote: »

You might have answered already but since we both cleared Ghost recently, which do you think is better? (I know they aren't similar games but similar settings)

Arguably the best of the From Software games versus standard Ubisoft open world shlock.

Do you need to ask?

Zero-Cool

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Arguably the best of the From Software games versus standard Ubisoft open world shlock.

Do you need to ask?

Yes since he played both But really, I kinda know the answer.

Also, Ghost was far better any recent Assassins Creed, Ubisoft 'em up. Not very fair to lump it in with those.

Retr0gamer

Zero-Cool wrote: »

Also, Ghost was far better any recent Assassins Creed, Ubisoft 'em up. Not very fair to lump it in with those.

It's one of the better ones like Spiderman. It's the ubisoft standard formula done well but it's still the Ubisoft standard fomula and no where near Breath of the Wild levels of greatness. Still has a huge amount of time wasting.

And even then I'd put Sekiro over BotW.

Zero-Cool

Retr0gamer wrote: »

It's one of the better ones like Spiderman. It's the ubisoft standard formula done well but it's still the Ubisoft standard fomula and no where near Breath of the Wild levels of greatness. Still has a huge amount of time wasting.

And even then I'd put Sekiro over BotW.

Maybe one day I'll get a Nintendo and finally play BotW to see what the big deal is but probably not. My Ninty days died with the Snes

If I knew this would be out of stock, I'd change my choice to cash instead of credit and just buy it new somewhere. Actually my games are being collected today so maybe I can still change it...to the CEX site!

Penn

Zero-Cool wrote: »

You might have answered already but since we both cleared Ghost recently, which do you think is better? (I know they aren't similar games but similar settings)

Sekiro. Harder to get into (or maybe more so for me as it was my first FromSoftware game, even though it's notably different in many ways to the others), but once you do get into it it's an absolute joy.

Ghost beats it in all the ways you'd imagine it would; story, presentation, graphics, etc. But gameplay, level design, enemy design, boss fights... Sekiro all the way. Hell I even enjoyed the stealth in Sekiro more than Ghost.

Obviously it comes with some of the usual small annoyances I have with some FromSoftware games, of "How the f*ck was I supposed to know that?", "Why am I getting so many of these consumables that seem to have either zero or very limited use unless in very particular circumstances?", and of course "Why am I having more trouble with this one normal base-level enemy than most of the bosses?!", but it never ruins your enjoyment. Whereas Ghost, as much as I enjoyed it a lot, is just very typical open-world stuff with a great combat system and great storytelling and presentation. It's nothing special though. Sekiro is.