Gaming

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the game fit for those who dare

A hands-on look at the story of the Shinobi warrior

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I have to admit: I hardly hear much about games that focus on the Eastern side of the world that aren’t Pokémon or Dragon Ball. But, I do like games that have some sort of historical background to them, say folklore or modern history. And wouldn’t you know it, FromSoftware and Activision pull out one from underneath all of us.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice dives into the world of a reimagined 16th century Japan, ravaged by countless wars. It is an open-world, action-adventure game made by the same guys behind Dark Souls. I got the chance to see what this game is all about, and here are some of my initial thoughts.

We start with an insightful backstory

I did appreciate that the first ten minutes of the two and a half hours worth of gameplay gave a good backstory on Sekiro and his humble beginnings. He started out as a simple boy, found at the crossroads of war. A samurai offered to nurse him in his early years, until he grew old enough to be a protector of his lord. However, gameplay picks up on a much older Sekiro, so playing through a childhood with lots of fighting didn’t seem to be that important.

The overworld of early Japan is breathtaking! FromSoftware really did a good job with the visual presentation of the whole game. What stood out to me the most was the detail not just on Sekiro, but also on all his enemies.

It plays well into the whole open-world aesthetic, in that it allows you to explore everywhere and grab as much as you can, including extra items to use for healing or fighting. And you probably want to do that to prepare for all the tough battles ahead.

Waking up a one “good” armed man

After 30 minutes of trying not to die, I arrive at this garden with a mysterious samurai who basically challenges Sekiro to a duel. After the duel you’re supposed to lose, the samurai not only takes your master but he also slashes your arm off. You then wake up in an old temple, and the first thing you gaze upon is a wooden arm attached to your shoulder.

That wooden arm is called the Shinobi Prosthetic, and you can actually do some crazy stuff with it. I was only able to try the prosthetic arm with a Grappling Hook that allows you to travel much faster. It’s a simple press of the L2 button on any “hook” you can sling onto, whether it’s a tree branch or a rooftop. It’s like being Spider-Man minus the webs!

Apart from the Shinobi Prosthetic, Sekiro also carries his trusted katana to slice and dice enemies. It’s his only form of defense, but at least it doesn’t break! Pressing R1 multiple times lets you continually attack opponents until they are too weak to fight back. On paper, combat looks easy to do, right? Well…

Nothing comes easy for a shinobi

Let’s be real: This game has a difficulty spike that rises faster than the sun does in Japan! Although, this isn’t necessarily surprising from the developers that brought you Dark Souls. The whole deal is having the right amount of aggressiveness when dealing with enemies. You use Circle to dodge incoming attacks and L1 to block strong attacks (mostly with weapons). But even that won’t stop your opponents from beating the living hell out of you if you don’t fight back.

Of course, you are alerted when the enemy is about to strike you heavily, giving you a chance to block the attack properly. It’s a healthy dose of combat, mind games, and reading the situation accordingly. I can’t even count how many times I’ve died, then resurrected but still died trying to fend off strong enemies. And some of them even have guns and cannons shooting at you, dealing heavy damage.

Is it worth playing through and through?

In the short amount of time I got to play it, I really think that Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a great game. It’s got great visuals, fast-paced and aggressive gameplay, and an enjoyable open-world experience. But again, I really can’t stress enough that this game is difficult. If you enjoy a challenge, you will definitely enjoy this game.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice will be available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The game will be released on March 22, 2019, priced at PhP 2,799 in the Philippines, SG$ 69 in Singapore, MYR 219 in Malaysia, and THB 1,790 in Thailand.

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Gaming

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes now for pre-order

And more from 505 Games

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September 21, 2023

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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

After its showcase at Nintendo Direct, 505 Games quickly followed up details on Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes at Tokyo Game Show 2023.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a JRPG. It’s made by legendary game developers Yoshitaka Murayama’s (Suikoden I & II) and Junko Kawano (Suikoden I & IV). The game features a finely crafted six-character battle system, meticulously created 2D sprites and 3D backgrounds, a riveting story with over 100 playable characters and engaging gameplay designed to bring players a modern take on classic JRPGs.

The game is slated for global release on April 23, 2024. It will come to the PlayStation 5 (PS5), PlayStation 4 (PS4), Xbox X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC on Steam, Epic Games Store and the GOG.

Standard Edition — Digital edition available for US$ 49.99 / SG$ 58.90 / PHP 2,150 / IDR 499,999 / MYR 149 / THB 1,204. Physical copies may differ in price from digital editions.

Digital Deluxe Edition — Digital only for US$ 79.99 / SG$ 69 / PHP 2,300 / IDR 604,999 / MYR 177 / THB 1,449.
Includes multiple in-game bonuses such consumable items, season pass, digital mini artbook, digital soundtrack, 48-hour early access and an exclusive trinket of Rabbit & Bear

SEE ALSO: Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising Review

More 505 Games announcements

Ghostrunner 2

This punishing, first-person cyberpunk-action thriller by One More Level will be available worldwide on Thursday, October 26. It will be playable on the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on Steam, Epic and GOG. If you like pain and want to feel it right away, you can get the Brutal Edition which grants you 48 hours of early access. The Demo is out now.

Nivalis

Want more Cyberpunk in your gaming life? Nivalis offers that in a slice-of-life simulation kind of way. TGS attendees can go hands-on with Nivalis’ neon-bathed world at Hall 7, booth 07-N04, ahead of its 2024 release on PC (Steam, Epic Games Store). 

The Magical Mixture Mill

I’m sure we’re all familiar with Subway Surfers. Guess what? It’s co-creator, Jonas Georgakakis founded Glowlight and is bringing us a cozy automated potion brewing game. As a former adventurer adapting a post-questing life, become a witch’s assistant at a potion shop. Gather exotic components, fashion complex brews, and perfect production through clever automations.

Crime Boss: Rockay City

This just launched its Expansion Pack – Dragon’s Gold Cup. Take on a daring heist and make an unlikely ally with Dollar Dragon (Danny Trejo). Enjoy further refinements and improvements with the fourth free update released alongside the Expansion Pack.

SEE ALSO: Crime Boss: Rockay City review

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Gaming

TEKKEN 8 Closed Beta Test is coming this October

Giving you a taste of the battle before next year

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September 21, 2023

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If you missed out on having exclusive access through the Closed Network Test, don’t fret! As the launch date draws near, BANDAI NAMCO is giving players another chance to experience TEKKEN 8 before it hits the shelves. From October 20-23, TEKKEN 8 will have its Closed Beta Test available on all next-gen consoles and PC.

Similar to the CNT, the Closed Beta Test will give players a glimpse of all the exciting features within TEKKEN 8. In particular, the CBT will now showcase all the customization options for your Avatar/Player on top of the new Battle System in place. In turn, this allows players to get a feel of these options and provide feedback for the actual launch.

Apart from the Customization options, the CBT expands its fighter count to nineteen and even added a Quick Match option this time. This will give players a chance to try out the newest addition to the crew in Azucena, while mastering every character that has been announced so far. Speaking of which, BANDAI NAMCO also took this time to announce that Feng Wei will join the roster upon launch.

Registration for the TEKKEN 8 Closed Beta Test started last September 19, and will run until October 11 through the CBT website. If you have already gained access to the Closed Network Test before, you’ll automatically gain access to the CBT, as well.

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Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord now available for pre-order

To release on October 26

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September 20, 2023

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Ghostbusters

Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord will launch on October 26 with pre-orders now available on the PlayStation and Meta Quest stores, as revealed during the PlayStation State of Play.

Players may get a first look at the title’s PlayStation VR2 gameplay and features through its newly-released trailer:

The game lets players team up with up to three more allies as they take on a variety of missions, solving puzzles and trapping ghosts to stop the March of the Malevolent.

Under solo mode, players can also take on the Ghost Lord with the help of a ghostly companion.

Thanks to PlayStation VR2’s capabilities, fans can step into the role of a ghostbuster while enjoying 4K HDR graphics, eye tracking for accurate navigation and interaction, both headset and haptic feedback, and adaptive triggers.

Price, availability

Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord is available for pre-order via the PlayStation Store with a limited-time 10% discount at just US$ 31.49 for the base game and US$ 49.49 for the Full Containment Edition.

The Full Containment Edition is also available for pre-order on the Meta Quest Store for a limited time at US$ 49.99.

 

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