Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Will Teach You How to Fight, Whether You Like It or Not

Anyone jumping into Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice expecting another Dark Souls adventure is in for a rude awakening. Dodging away from every attack won't get you very far, and there's no powerful weapon or armor set to rescue you from a difficult boss.

Released in March 2019, FromSoftware's samurai-inspired action game demands that you face enemies head-on and learn how to fight on their terms.

Sekiro has some of the most satisfying sword combat FromSoftware has ever created, largely because there's no easy way around mastering it. Certain bosses can be exhausting, and the camera occasionally makes things harder than they should be.

But once the timing finally clicks, fights that once seemed impossible become some of the most rewarding encounters in the game.

Forget Rolling Away, You're Going to Have to Learn to Parry

Sekiro's combat revolves around Posture, which builds up as enemies take damage or have their attacks deflected. Once you break their Posture, you can land a devastating Deathblow. Against ordinary enemies, that usually means the fight is over.

The tricky part is learning to deflect attacks rather than constantly dodging away. Timing your blocks correctly puts pressure on your opponent, and a well-executed series of deflections can turn a dangerous enemy's attack into an opportunity to finish them off.

What makes this so satisfying is that you gradually learn to stand your ground against enemies that once seemed impossible to approach. Stronger opponents won't go down quite so easily, though. You'll also need to damage their Vitality to slow their Posture recovery, keeping up the pressure until you finally break through their defenses.

Every Dangerous Attack Has an Answer, If You're Quick Enough

Sekiro doesn't let you deal with every dangerous attack in the same way. A thrust calls for a well-timed Mikiri Counter, while sweeping attacks are best avoided by jumping over them and striking back.

Grabs are another story. You'll usually need to get out of the way quickly, and mistaking one attack for another can ruin an otherwise promising boss fight.

It takes a while to stop instinctively dodging everything, especially if you're used to Dark Souls. But once you start recognizing these attacks, the combat becomes much more manageable. What initially feels like an overwhelming series of attacks gradually becomes something you can anticipate and counter.

Ashina Is a Wonderful Place for a Shinobi to Explore

Sekiro follows Wolf, a shinobi sworn to protect a young lord named Kuro. Their story takes place in a fictionalized version of Sengoku-era Japan, where war-torn castles and ancient temples hide some rather unpleasant supernatural threats.

Wolf's grappling hook makes exploring Ashina feel very different from earlier FromSoftware games. You can climb onto rooftops, swing between trees, and approach enemies from above instead of fighting your way through every group.

Stealth is particularly helpful when you're outnumbered. Sneaking up on an enemy for a quick Deathblow can make a difficult encounter much easier, although getting spotted can quickly ruin your plans. I like how Sekiro gives you these options without forcing you to sneak through every area. Sometimes it's simply more satisfying to draw your sword and fight.

Your Prosthetic Arm Is More Useful Than It Looks

Wolf's Shinobi Prosthetic has a few tricks up its sleeve. As you progress, you'll unlock tools like shuriken and a flamethrower, each giving you another way to deal with troublesome enemies.

The Loaded Axe is great for smashing through shields, while shuriken can knock airborne enemies out of their attacks. Figuring out which tool works against a particular opponent can make a difficult fight considerably easier.

Still, these gadgets won't carry you through the game. Spirit Emblems limit how often you can use them, and even the most effective tool won't help much if you can't handle an enemy's sword attacks. I think Sekiro gets the balance right here, giving you ways to gain an advantage without letting you avoid learning how to fight.

Some Bosses Will Test Your Patience More Than Your Skill

Sekiro's bosses can be absolutely brutal, and Genichiro Ashina is where the combat really puts you to the test. He punishes hesitation and forces you to get comfortable with deflecting his attacks. Once you start matching his rhythm, the fight becomes much more manageable, although getting there can take quite a few deaths.

Unlike traditional RPGs, you can't simply grind for better equipment when a boss gives you trouble. That makes victory especially satisfying, but some fights are frustrating for the wrong reasons. The camera can lose track of enemies in tight spaces, and getting trapped against a wall can make an already difficult encounter feel unfair.

Dying also means potentially losing Sen and experience, while repeated deaths can spread Dragonrot among other characters. Being able to resurrect during combat gives you another chance, but it doesn't make those long boss fights any less nerve-racking.

The Best Victories Are the Ones You Had to Earn

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is at its best when everything you've learned finally comes together. A boss that once seemed impossible can suddenly become manageable, simply because you've learned when to stand your ground and when to strike. Few FromSoftware games make improving your own skills feel quite this rewarding.

The steep learning curve won't appeal to everyone, and some encounters are made unnecessarily frustrating by awkward camera angles. But for players willing to put in the practice, Sekiro offers some of the finest sword combat in gaming.

It's a demanding adventure that rarely gives you an easy way out, which makes finally overcoming its toughest challenges all the more satisfying.