Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (new From Software game)

[cvv]

Sure, agreed. I wouldn't say they aren't ever needed, fighting the bull without firecrackers or the demon without the umbrella or the ogre without fire is incomparably more annoying but those moments are very rare.

I'd say they didn't handle their "let's make an action game for a change" decision well. Instead of a pure-blooded action it still feels like an RPG only lightweight and kindda sparse. As if they set out to actually make an RPG but then ran out of time, money and manpower and just threw together a small handful of shit they did manage to finish.

It's really bizarre how immaculately crafted and simultaneously incredibly half-assed and slapdash basically all FromSoft games feel, maybe with the exception of Bloodborne.

 

[Silva]

It's really bizarre how immaculately crafted and simultaneously incredibly half-assed and slapdash basically all FromSoft games feel, maybe with the exception of Bloodborne.

..and Dark Souls pre-Lordvessel.

 

[Parabalus]

The firecrackers def. seem the most useful prosthetic to me so far. They work on all (mini)-bosses, and some bosses can be chain stunned (e.g. Raging Bull can't, but Corrupted Monk can be stunlocked).

Sabimaru is good vs a few mini-bosses, it stuns the female gunners.

 

[sullynathan]

It's really bizarre how immaculately crafted and simultaneously incredibly half-assed and slapdash basically all FromSoft games feel

It's the effect of making games that dip in multiple genres. It's like that thing matthew said, the closer from gets to action games, the less impressive their games are because their combat systems aren't very good.

 

[Machocruz]

From is a veteran developer, which explains the extremely well crafted parts of their games, but I still consider them "AA" . Which is fine, that's where a lot of the most interesting and satisfying games are.

 

[DemonKing]

Managed to knock off Genicho last night - probably took me about 20 tries but the last stage took less than 5 as the lightning reverse knocks incredible amounts of posture off him if you can pull it off. Really enjoyed this fight even though I had to go through it so many times - it's really a great "skill check" for that stage of the game. Also I think fighting human sized foes is inherently less intimidating to a player than some of the more monstrous From Software bosses.

For good measure I then took out one of the Snake Eyes twins before bedtime. Feeling confident my aging reflexes might actually make it through this.

 

[Agame]

Managed to knock off Genicho last night - probably took me about 20 tries but the last stage took less than 5 as the lightning reverse knocks incredible amounts of posture off him if you can pull it off. Really enjoyed this fight even though I had to go through it so many times - it's really a great "skill check" for that stage of the game. Also I think fighting human sized foes is inherently less intimidating to a player than some of the more monstrous From Software bosses.

For good measure I then took out one of the Snake Eyes twins before bedtime. Feeling confident my aging reflexes might actually make it through this.

I grinded Genichiro for an afternoon when I first met him just to get used to him, then got kind of frustrated. So the next morning I went back and did Lady Butterfly who I had pretty much ignored, killed her first go, I guess all the work I did since early game really paid off. Then went straight back to Genichiro and beat him down first try... I was actually really disappointed as he is by far the most enjoyable fight I have found in the game, and I was expecting to take at least a couple of hours. To be honest I did kind of cheese him, for some reason if you continuously run at him and to the right you can get a ton of free hits on him that he doesnt block. No idea why he is designed like this, seems like a massive oversight? I guess if I do another playthrough someday I will fight him properly head on.

Anyway I seem to have this weird thing with Souls games where I get "in the zone" and smash bosses that the previous day were impossible, and then the next day I am back to flailing around like a retard. Must be some kind of focus thing. I find I often do better in the mornings.

 

[DemonKing]

Anyway I seem to have this weird thing with Souls games where I get "in the zone" and smash bosses that the previous day were impossible, and then the next day I am back to flailing around like a retard. Must be some kind of focus thing. I find I often do better in the mornings.

Not just you - that's pretty much how I play too.

 

[Jasede]

That's everyone. Your brain is making new neural pathways to help you, but it takes some rest to form them.

 

[Agame]

That's everyone. Your brain is making new neural pathways to help you, but it takes some rest to form them.

Very true, but its more than that, for me if I am stressed or tired then playing a Souls game ends very quickly with much screaming of abuse and the controller being hurled across the room. I know its kind of cheesy but I need to be in a semi meditative, zen state of relaxation to really enjoy and be 'gud' at these games.

 

[Multidirectional]

Sure, agreed. I wouldn't say they aren't ever needed, fighting the bull without firecrackers or the demon without the umbrella or the ogre without fire is incomparably more annoying but those moments are very rare.

I killed both bulls (assuming I didn't miss any more) without firecrackers. Just parry its charge attack, it gets stunned, few slashes in, back away to create distance for it to charge again, repeat. But maybe I should retry Demon of Hatred with the umbrella.

*edit* Fuck DoH, he's super annoying with or without umbrella and I just ran out of fucks to give. Majority of this game felt like endless headbashing against the wall and I cannot be arsed anymore. Barely have patience for Isshin left. Last attempt I got so frustrated I even started dying to Genichiro phase over and over, when he should be easy by now.

 

[Cromwell]

Very true, but its more than that, for me if I am stressed or tired then playing a Souls game ends very quickly with much screaming of abuse and the controller being hurled across the room.

Thats why I cant play these games after work which in turn means I still havent finished sekiro. I just cant concentrate enough and dont have the reflexes when coming home after 10-12 hours which ends in frustration and makes me play even worse : (

 

[cvv]

It's really bizarre how immaculately crafted and simultaneously incredibly half-assed and slapdash basically all FromSoft games feel, maybe with the exception of Bloodborne.

..and Dark Souls pre-Lordvessel.

Well that's my point - DS1 one feels like a timeless masterpiece pre-Lordvessel and at the same a half-assed shovelware in most of the second half.

Not as pronounced for DeS but the world tendency mechanics is fucking bananas, there's an unfinished stone and nobody apparently beta tested magic. But it's also one of the most revolutionary games ever made.

Everybody knows what a shitshow DS2 development was and how haphazardly the world is thrown together. Still, when it comes to systems, itemization and scale, it's FromSoft's best work.

And DS3 is a bungle of half-assed features, slipshod mechanics and uninspired levels but sometimes it does shine, especially in the DLCs that, unlike the base game, don't look like they were outsourced to a Chinese sweatshop while Miyazaki was busy with Bloodborne.

Bloodborne is the only game that doesn't feel slipshod in any major respect. There is no obvious cut or half-assed content, all the mechanics make sense, none of the weapons or tools is unusable garbage (afaik) and both the world and the levels are actually finished.

 

[Multidirectional]

Bloodborne is the only game that doesn't feel slipshod in any major respect. There is no obvious cut or half-assed content, all the mechanics make sense, none of the weapons or tools is unusable garbage (afaik) and both the world and the levels are actually finished.

Eh, if the only way to play it wasn't some horribly aliased mess at 30 FPS on console... It might as well not exist as far as I am concerned.

 

[Biscotti]

Bloodborne is still From's magnum opus if you ask me. What a damn shame it's in exactly the same position DeS is in: Being funded and published by Sony, thus dooming it to forever be locked to a shitty console that can barely manage to maintain 30 FPS without any action going on. Maybe we'll get a proper version once we have stable PS4 emulation in a decade or so.

 

[cvv]

Don't worry we'll get a 60 FPS "remaster" for PS5. With a 40€ price tag.

 

[Wunderbar]

Don't worry we'll get a 60 FPS "remaster" for PS5. With a 40€ price tag.

just like we got 60 fps Demon's Souls remaster.

 

[Sentinel]

Bloodborne is the only game that doesn't feel slipshod in any major respect. There is no obvious cut or half-assed content, all the mechanics make sense, none of the weapons or tools is unusable garbage (afaik) and both the world and the levels are actually finished.

This statement becomes evidently false once one takes a peek at the cut content and dialogue. Specifically in the story department, the cut content actually would've made it make sense, as opposed to the borderline schizophrenic shit the released version is.

 

[cvv]

Don't worry we'll get a 60 FPS "remaster" for PS5. With a 40€ price tag.

just like we got 60 fps Demon's Souls remaster.

Myeah. Then again the remaster craze only began a few years back. Maybe Sony figured they'll wait for the next generation. Or maybe they thought DeS was a bit too niche to pay for itself.

And anyway, let me have my hope ok? It's all I have in life.

Specifically in the story department, the cut content actually would've made it make sense

That's why it was cut, silly. Working as intended.

 

[cruel]

Am I the only one so disappointed with this game? I reached second Idol in Ashina Castle and could not believe I'm presented with more of the same - similar area, same enemies, same method of disposing them. The game just feels... repetitive as fuck? I know this is not Dark Souls, but it's even hard to me to think that same company did both games - I don't see any genius here at all. Atmosphere is nothing spectacular, music almost nonexistent, gameplay severely limited by constant parry spam. Combat is fine, but gets boring fast. Does it change later in any way, or should I assume that game is not for me?

Also, what's interesting - Nioh was getting a lot of (valid) complains for enemy variety, and it seems Sekiro managed to make it even worse...

 

[Lutte]

Does it change later in any way, or should I assume that game is not for me

The only time exploration isn't complete garbage in this game is in the absolute last area of the game, right before the ending, where enemies and area layout are designed, for once, to somewhat deal with your enhanced mobility. And that's an area you could miss if you picked the wrong choice and get locked into a certain 'early' ending.

Yes, this game is a snorefest outside of the boss fights.

 

[TheHeroOfTime]

Fucking weaaboos

Spoiler

 

[Multidirectional]

Anyway I seem to have this weird thing with Souls games where I get "in the zone" and smash bosses that the previous day were impossible, and then the next day I am back to flailing around like a retard. Must be some kind of focus thing. I find I often do better in the mornings.

It's normal. I get the same thing with PvP games too. Sometimes if I stay up late enough I actually get this "second breath" thing, past midnight, when I become gud again. One weekend not very long ago I was winning Starcraft II 2v2 games with top scores for 5 matches in a row past 3AM. Those powers disappeared the next day, was playing like shit again.

 

[Villagkouras]

Corrupted Monk can be stunlocked

Probably a bug, but a patch hasn't been out yet.

I saw a speedrunner (who beat the game at around 27 minutes using 3 snapseeds, then firecrackers another 3 times and then jump for a stealth deathblow. In general the run was pretty fun, it involves a lot of skill by the streamer who isn't the most likable person in the world, but whatever...

https://youtu.be/mTqyYsJNL4c

 

[Sentinel]

https://streamable.com/l0g9m