Is Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice a Souls Game? The Truth Revealed
With the release of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice in 2019, gaming enthusiasts were left wondering, is this game part of the Soulsborne franchise, a series known for its notoriously challenging gameplay and lore? The answer lies deeper than a simple yes or no. In this article, we’ll dive into the world of Sekiro, exploring its unique game design, mechanics, and Hidetaka Miyazaki’s own revelations.
The Basics of Sekiro
Released as an action-adventure title by FromSoftware, developers of the Dark Souls trilogy, Sekiro is not a direct part of the Souls series, contrary to popular opinion. It’s a new narrative experience set in feudal Japan during the Sengoku period. The game still bears the FromSoftware magic, but with significant shifts in gameplay and focus, as we’ll explore soon.
What Sets Sekiro Apart
Unlike earlier Souls games, Sekiro introduces a more aggressive playing style, emphasizing strategy over raw memorization. We see the introduction of posture system, where overwhelming enemies with successive sword attacks can leave you open to counterattacks (highlighted in bold). This dynamic pitting of offense against defense raises the stakes and compels players to adopt various combat strategies.
Here is a table summarizing Sekiro’s key features:
| **Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice** | **Key Features | **Shift from Soulsborne** |
|---|---|---|
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FromSoft’s Vision: Not Simply an Evolution of Souls
FromSoftware’s creator Hidetaka Miyazaki has explicitly stated Sekiro was designed from scratch, not as a mere evolution of the Souls series. This statement signifies the game’s divergence and reinforces the notion that Sekiro is its own entitywithin the FromSoftware family
Here are some points which may help to better visualize Miyazaki’s ideas about Sekiro and where it stands in the FromSoftware franchise:
- Miyazaki views Sekiro as not an evolution of the soulsborne series, but
a new beginning from the ground up. - Sekiro doesn’t take the same narrative beats or gameplay mechanics
in which the Soulsborne sequence relied. - He explains, “it may look like a Dark Souls,
but it’s actually going down a different route."
In essence, Miyazaki intends for Sekiro as
a game different enough to stand alone under its own banner
While these statements may
answer many questions, some potential criticisms
remain for users still
unsure with what to expect
before taking the plunge.