Gaming

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

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

Published

March 7, 2019

Gab Orlina

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.

Related Topics:Activision PlayStation 4 Sekiro Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Gaming

2026’s The Game Awards will stream live on Disney+

Published

November 13, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Annually, The Game Awards have become a sort of second Christmas for gamers. Besides a celebration of the past year in the world of videogames, the event hosts trailers for games of the upcoming year and beyond. Though it’s already free on several platforms, viewers can now tune in to Disney+ to watch this year’s Game Awards.

Hosted as always by Geoff Keighley, 2026’s The Game Awards will happen on December 10 at 7:30pm ET. Most of the event will award the best titles of various categories for the year. Several publishers and developers also use the event to announce their upcoming titles. It’s for these reasons that a lot of gamers catch the event every year.

This year, The Game Awards is streaming live on Disney+. This is in addition to its usual platforms including Twitch and YouTube. The Disney+ stream will be available in the United States and select territories internationally.

For now, gamers can also vote on their picks for various categories via the event’s website.

On the other hand, Disney+ has been pushing live events more adamantly. In the Philippines, for example, the platform is the home for live NBA coverage. Though it’s not as strong as Netflix’s gaming push with its assortment of free games, Disney+’s addition of the annual awards show is a worthy go for gamers.

Accessories

Secretlab brings Pikachu, Gengar, and Eevee to its Pokémon gaming chair collection

Pokémon-themed gaming chairs

Published

November 13, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Secretlab is bringing some iconic Pokémon to your gaming setup. The Secretlab Pokémon Collection introduces three new TITAN Evo gaming chairs inspired by Pikachu, Gengar, and Eevee.

Each chair features distinct design elements inspired by its respective Pokémon. The collection also incorporates microsuede and velour detailing for added texture and depth.

Fans can find several hidden details throughout the designs. These include each Pokémon’s Type symbol and Pokédex number on the backrests. The collection also pays tribute to the original 151 Pokémon.

Three Pokémon, three distinct designs

The Secretlab TITAN Evo Pokémon Pikachu Edition puts everyone’s favorite Electric-type Pokémon front and center.

Pikachu appears in plush velour detailing against bold Electric-type symbols. The chair features 11 unique Pikachu motifs across its side wings. A black-to-yellow gradient completes its overall design.

Fans can also spot the differences between male and female Pikachu.

Meanwhile, the Secretlab TITAN Evo Pokémon Gengar Edition embraces a darker aesthetic. Gengar takes center stage on the backrest alongside Ghost- and Poison-type symbols.

Gastly and Haunter also appear across the side wings. A spectral purple gradient ties the entire design together.

Finally, the Secretlab TITAN Evo Pokémon Eevee Edition celebrates Eevee and its eight evolutions.

Eevee appears on the backrest with plush velour detailing. The chair features warm cream-and-brown gradients and a Normal-type symbol. Its design also incorporates all eight Eeveelutions, from Vaporeon to Sylveon.

The TITAN Evo experience

Beyond their Pokémon-inspired designs, all three chairs retain the Secretlab TITAN Evo’s ergonomic features.

The chair uses medium-firm, patent-pending cold-cure foam. This material contours to the body while providing weight distribution and pressure relief.

Its sculpted pebble seat base features gently sloping side wings. These guide users toward the middle while leaving room to switch sitting positions.

The TITAN Evo also features 4-way L-ADAPT lumbar support. It moves up, down, in, and out to accommodate the natural curvature of the lower back.

Secretlab’s SoftWeave Plus fabric provides a soft, breathable knit surface. Its construction also allows detailed Pokémon motifs to appear throughout the material.

Availability

The Secretlab Pokémon Collection features the Pikachu, Gengar, and Eevee Editions of the TITAN Evo.

Interested buyers can learn more about the collection through Secretlab’s official website, Shopee, and Lazada.

Gaming

How to change your Nintendo eShop region

Hint: You can’t find it on your Switch.

Published

November 11, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

With Nintendo finally opening the eShop and Nintendo Switch Online in the Philippines, you might be wondering how you can switch your account’s region to the right country. After all, before today, you might have set your shop to the neighboring Singapore or other countries that aren’t named the Philippines. If you’re in the same boat, here’s a quick how-to, so you can enjoy paying for services in Philippine peso.

First, you need to log into your Nintendo Account. Take note: you can do this only through their website via a browser, so don’t fiddle around with your Switch or Switch 2 just yet.

Upon logging in, you’ll be redirected immediately to your profile’s information, including your country or region of residence. Just click Edit and select your desired country in the drop-down menu.

Nintendo will then present you a few notices regarding changing your region. The important bit is that you can’t carry over your account balance to the next region. So, if you have a hefty sum tucked away in your current region, it might be wise to spend it before switching. Likewise, your credit card might not work if it was issued from the current region.

Once you agree to the terms, everything’s set!

All you need to do is access the eShop on your console and sign in again. Afterwards, the corresponding services should be in your currency of choice.

For a list of detailed changes and prices, check out our coverage here.