PlayStation 4 Critic Reviews

Sekiro is a game that, for better and worse, lays down an almost belligerent challenge. Keep playing, by all means, if you can handle it. Such fierce difficulty will not come as a surprise to veterans of From’s previous games Dark Souls and Bloodborne, of course, and will likely relish Sekiro’s propensity to kill you often and without mercy. Few games task you so harshly or dare to drive you to such frustration, but few games are as rewarding or exhilarating when you succeed.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the work of a studio at the height of its powers – beautiful, cruel, and moving.

FromSoftware proves yet again that they’re masters of their craft. Every aspect of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is just so lovingly crafted that any flaw feels like a droplet in an ocean of brilliance. Sekiro is the full package with immensely satisfying combat and an intriguing world to explore and discover.

Though Sekiro feels impossibly hard at times, the level of euphoria you experience when delivering a death blow to a tricky boss or when you finally clear a castle grounds of all enemies is almost unparalleled.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice perfectly represents the solemn atmosphere of samurai fighting. It's much more difficult than any of the souls series games and offers a great challenge to your gaming ability.

Sekiro evolves From Software’s formula into a stylish stealth-action adventure that, naturally, emphasizes precision and skill in its combat. It walks the line between deliberate and patient stealth and breakneck melee combat against threats both earthly and otherworldly. Its imaginative and flexible tools support a more focused experience that shaves down some of From Software’s overly cryptic sensibilities without losing its air of mystery. Sekiro is an amazing new twist on a familiar set of ideas that can stand on its own alongside its predecessors.

Untethered from the expectations that come with a Dark Souls or Bloodborne game, FromSoftware was able to create a game that maintains the studio's unique identity while allowing them to explore interesting new mechanics and ways of telling the story. Sekiro is challenging, but fair—a game with the goal of allowing the player to grow, rather than the avatar. It blends mechanics and narrative in a way that is too rare in games today, allowing for a deep level of immersion that begs for just one more clash of blades no matter how difficult the encounters get. Seeing each one to its bloody finish is well worth the trials it takes to get there.

I had never played a title in which the mechanics of using a sword felt so organic and, at the same time, that it made all the sense in the world using traditional controls. No matter how familiar you are with the work of this Japanese study, Sekiro is something you've never experienced. Sekiro is the game that everyone who loves this medium should have among our priorities. Sekiro is a new step for the genres and subgenres it represents. Sekiro is a new standard that will surely continue to influence other developers. Sekiro is not a Dark Souls anymore with ninjas and samurais. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a masterpiece that you cannot miss.

From Software has created another fantastic game, and this time it's the perfect balance between action, platforming and stealth. If you like the Souls concept, you’ll find it here with a very interesting twist.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is undoubtedly one of the best video games of 2019 and perhaps of the entire generation...Sekiro is the next step by FromSoftware, a game that brings about a ‘new land’ in-between Dark Souls and Bloodborne, and that is both original and accesible without giving away its natural essence. A new masterpiece by Miyazaki which is a must-have for any gamer.