Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is unmistakably the work of FromSoftware. It tells a story about the curse of eternal life and how loyalty can break the chains of a man bound by mortality.

Though FromSoftware's Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has relentlessly kicked my ass, I can't put it down. Hidetaka Miyazaki and company have once again succeeded at injecting their Soulsborne formula into a title that's both fresh and familiar.

Challenging and satisfying combat; Excellent traversal mechanics; Beautiful setting; Effective storytelling

Relatively dumb AI; Lackluster stealth mechanics; Minor graphical hiccups

After the stunningly good Dark Souls series and the masterpiece that is Bloodborne, FromSoftware have made quite the name for themselves. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the latest game from FromSoftware – the one downside to the company is forcing me to type "from FromSoftware" – and it's making some...

Fantastic combat; Varied enemies; The grappling hook is amazing; Ninjas that don't run with their arms back; Fantastic combat; Varied enemies; The grappling hook is amazing; Ninjas that don't run with their arms back

A very harsh and unforgiving start

An intense, challenging realization of the ninja fantasy comes to life in From Software's latest offering.

Got this promptly today and installed it for an hour of gameplay before going to work. First impressions are that of beauty and struggle. The scenery is absolutely stunning! The controls are fluid, quick, and more responsive than expected.

The release of a new FromSoftware game is always met with a lot of excitement and anticipation. Will it fit within the framework established by the

Set in the late 1500s Sengoku Japan, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is an action-adventure game with RPG elements where players experience a brutal period of constant life and death conflict as they come face-to-face with larger-than-life foes in a dark and twisted world.

Sekiro is a demanding and rewarding game. Harrowing to the point of emotional exhaustion, some players will bounce off after a few of the meaner boss encounters without the now-classic FromSoftware multiplayer.

Blood and blossom

Wonderfully rhythmic combat; Grappling hook is cool af; Characteristically incredible world design

Punishingly hard; There's a "Blight Town; Progression feels more linear

Sekiro is a great game. Despite my complaints with its boss fights and the elimination of the equipment system Dark Souls was known for, it was a challenging and exciting adventure through Feudal Japan.

Combat is furious and rewards skill; Good enemy variety keeps it from getting boring between bosses; Great world design; Best story in a From Software game yet

Lock-on and camera sometimes go haywire; Tags