Sekiro is From Software's purest distillation of a game design philosophy that values skill-based combat and isn't afraid to challenge the player at nearly every moment. Eschewing big weapons, flashy magic and "jolly co-operation," Sekiro is squarely focused on timing and the sometimes imperceptible...

FromSoftware created a genre with Demon's Souls, a formula that was catapulted to superstar status with Dark Souls and continues to grow, evolve and innovate with bold new changes.

Every combat encounter is brutally satisfying; The world is gorgeous and brimming with deep; dark secrets; Doesn't hold your hand and is all the better for it; A wonderful setting filled with fascinating tales and characters

Camera can prove frustrating at times

a stripped and scarred masterpiece

A beautiful, hand-crafted action-adventure experience with challenging combat, rewarding exploration and an intriguing story.

We're only at the end of first quarter 2019, but Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is pulling out all the stops as a heavy hitter. Minor issues aside, Sekiro will occupy thousands of PlayStations for a long, long time.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is one of my favourite games of this generation. From it's absolutely perfect combat to the rich world brimming with secrets, I can see myself coming back time and time again. From fans are in for one hell of an amazing ride.

Incredible combat; Outstanding boss battles and designs; Beautiful soundtrack; Does not hold your hand at all; Secrets aplenty; Carries From Software's classic signature throughout; Much better focus on story than previous 'Souls-Borne' games; Japanese voice acting adds a great layer of authenticity

Occasional frame rate dips; No character cosmetic customisation or armour; Will be too difficult for some; Should probably have a health warning on the box for those with heart problems; I died a lot more than twice..

I Ordered Sekiro in advance as I had read about it and it's the style of gaming I like. Be warned it isn't easy and you will need to invest time playing to beat it. If you like a challenge, buy it, you won't be disappointed. The price was really good as well.

I've been fighting this boss for about two hours now. I don't even know how many times I've died to him. I've s...

Challenging; yet rewarding; Deeply satisfying combat; Gorgeous setting

Exploration feels limited; Difficulty might be off putting to some

The makers of Dark Souls and Bloodborne return with a ninja-themed game that is exactly as difficult, and rewarding, as you'd expect.

Intense combat is as thrilling as it is punishing, with versatile stealth mechanics and an interesting array of unlockable gadgets and special abilities; Typically excellent level and art design

The punishment for death is extreme, even for a FromSoftware game; Some questionable artificial intelligence and no multiplayer

I don’t think this is a game for everyone. Light on hand-holding and big on heavily punishing players for the slightest mistake, Sekiro is a major test of reactions, skill and patience. The pay-off is that you’ll feel like a true katana master when you do finally nail a flurry of perfect deflections, plus get to explore more of the wonderful environments created by FromSoftware, advancing the story and meeting yet more colourful characters who are going to smack you around. Despite dying hundreds of times (spoiler: you will certainly die more than twice in Sekiro), bellowing obscenities at my TV as Wolf crumples to the dust once more, I've had so much fun with this game and attempting to meet its challenges that I'm going to play through the whole thing again right away. As with Dark Souls, Demon’s Souls and Bloodborne, there’s a certainty that every obstacle can be vaulted with the right combination of skill, timing and yes, a little bit of luck. If you value a game that makes you work for its rewards, Sekiro is worth its weight in gold. But if you view your gaming time as a means to relax and gently work your way through a compelling story, you may find its challenges simply too demanding.

Deep, challenging combat system; A welcome twist on the Soulsborne games; Heart-pumping boss battles; Intricately designed game world;

The camera can be tougher than any boss;