Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

First of all, I love the Soulsborne / FromSoft games. They're probably my favourite type of game. I love the challenge and the satisfaction you get from beating a boss that has killed you 20 times. I can be a very stubborn person, so I don't let these games defeat me... easily but Sekiro...Sekiro almost did...here's how my long gruelling journey to the Platinum trophy went...

First, I played the game once and achieved the 'secret good ending'. I had a tough time with a majority of the boss fights. In all honesty, I had a terrible time all around initially. I loved the game. The bosses destroyed my confidence after making a little progress each session. But I found myself keeping on coming back for more. And the more I did, the more I understood how to play. It wasn't until after the second Genichiro fight that things clicked; I realised that this is actually a Rythmn game!

I hadn't done my research before going for the platinum. I had thought it must be a case of completing all endings. Forgetting the game will also get more difficult with each NG+ run. That was the first of my mistakes.

I get to the guardian ape; I love/ hate this fight, it seems impossible at first, but if you remember two golden rules, you can block almost all attacks, even from a giant bloodthirsty goliath ape. The second is remembering this game is a rhythm game. If you keep this in mind, the second phase becomes quite fun. The rematch, however, is RNG hell. FromSoft thought that one giant headless ape wasn't much of a challenge the first time around and instead let it summon its mate to make it fair for the ape, of course.

I progress through my NG+ save, knocking the bosses off one by one. #2 Mistake, I had no idea about the rematch with Owl back in the Hirata estate. I found the first Owl fight in my original playthrough impossible. I do not know how I got past it. I describe it as seeing the matrix. I was so in the zone that I had no idea where I was. I just saw 1's and 0's. In the end, I had bested Owl. So you can imagine my face when I learn there's a rematch with him, in his prime AND it's in a smaller area, AND he has more attacks AND can summon a flaming spirit owl to rain death on you at a moments notice... This one took me a while. I felt confident in my abilities but relearning Owl was difficult. Then making sure you have a flawless run and dodge the correct way each time was a lot to master. After a few long hours, it clicked. It really clicked. I saw the matrix again. Boom! Owl is dead, for real this time.

The rest of the bosses didn't really put much of a fight. In fact, they just made me love the game more. FromSoft really made a special game here. I've never played a game like it! The bosses are mostly all humanoid and a duel to the death. Your character is as equally equipped as they are minus the flaming spirit owls! BUT it's very much the boss fears Wolf as much as you fear the boss. I love the formula.

I've already done the Demon of Hatred, a TRULY miserable fight and one I got lucky with during the original playthrough, where he got stuck; I was able to cheese him, so I cowardly avoided it this time. I choose the basic ending, sacrificing Wolf to the cause to free Kuro from his curse and start again.

This next run I do in a day, I repeat the process, gather the precious Lapis Lazuli and mow down all the bosses. The game is still very difficult, but I'm playing at a new level at this point. I defeat most bosses without losing a life. Another new ending this time, allowing Kuro to die to sever the curse.

This next and final playthrough NG+++, I think? I mow through the game, thinking I'm indestructible at this point. I've collected most of the skills. The only trophies I need now are to defeat all the bosses and to craft all Lapis Lazuli weapons. Easy I thought. Fast forward to the Demon of Hatred again. I'm sharing my gameplay with a friend. I do that during lunch breaks now I'm working from home. Mistake #3. I was so used to duelling bosses! that the rhythm of combat that this fight threw me. This thing wouldn't look out of place in Bloodborne or Dark Souls; at NG+++. It was a nightmare. A couple of times, I had thought I'd got it figured out. It took so long waiting for opportunities to strike. I ran out of healing items.

The next time I got close, karma struck back; he got stuck again. I thought my luck was in; then it was his turn to cheese me! He spammed AOE attacks; I just died multiple times and shed a little tear. 5 hours later (I'm not kidding). I did it! The correct way this time! I took my time and chipped away at his health until all 4 health bars were gone. Farewell Orangutan, you won't be missed.

I'm on the home stretch now. Of course, I left the Shura ending for last. NG+++ Emma and Isshin. Bring it on. In truth, I had no idea what to expect here. Emma kicked my arse. She was so quick and hit like a truck. But it's a duel; I love that #$^@. I beat her relatively easy. Then Isshin kicked my arse instantly. I was forced to say hello to Emma again, like some sort of bad dream. Of course, you have to fight them back to back how very Fromsoft of you. So here we go, Defeat Emma, die to Isshin. It went a bit like that for a while. I couldn't get the hang of the fire attacks against Isshin. I had PTSD of when I first fought Owl thinking I'd be here a while. As soon as I got into that thought process. I did it without having to take a healing gourd, so there's that.

The actual end to my platinum journey wasn't so exciting. It involved me grinding EXP to unlock all of the skills; dying repeatedly to reset, which is quite fitting for the name of the game, it's not all that exciting to write about, so I won't.

After the platinum trophy popped, I uninstalled the game and took a breath. The last few playthroughs happened over a few days. It was very intensive and one of the best gaming experiences of my life. Sekiro really is a must-play and one of my all-time favourite games.