FromSoftware has developed quite the impressive catalog of video games over the last few decades, but while the first 15 years or so of its output was filled with fondly remembered titles, it’s the last decade that’s brought FromSoftware the most amount of attention. Followingthe surprise success ofDemon’s Souls, FromSoftware then released its now-iconic, challenging action-RPGDark Soulsin 2011, and it became a smash hit for the developer. It seemed FromSoftware had found its formula for success, a formula that earnedElden Ringthe top spot at last year’s Game Awards. But there’s one game in FromSoftware’s library that doesn’t quite follow this formula, and that’sSekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Originally released back in 2019,Sekiro: Shadows Die Twicestill contains a lot of FromSoft’sSoulsDNA, but it makes some significant changes in just about every department, from visual style to combat mechanics to story. And though hordes of FromSoft fans continue to desperately ask for aBloodbornesequel, aSekirosequel might actually be more deserved.
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Why Sekiro Deserves a Sequel More Than Bloodborne
Released back in 2015, and coming betweenDark Souls 2and3,Bloodborneis widely considered to be one of FromSoftware’s strongest games. To many fans, it’s their favorite ofthe Soulsborne saga.Bloodbornetook the FromSoft action-RPG formula in an exciting new direction, giving players a different setting, fresh themes, previously unseen enemy types, and unique systems to explore. But when playingBloodbornetoday, there’s no denying that it’s still a Soulsborne game through and through.
ThoughBloodborneputs a much greater emphasis on perfect dodges, parrying, and playing offensively, its combat is still extremely similar to that ofDark Souls, albeit with a much faster pace. And whileBloodborne’s Lovecraftian horror setting does help it to stand out from the rest of FromSoft’s library, a lot of the same architecture and general vibes can be felt in FromSoftware’s later titles likeDark Souls 3andElden Ring, makingBloodborneretroactively less unique.Bloodborneis still an excellent game, but it might not be quite as unique asSekiro.
Coming out a few years afterDark Souls 3,Sekiro: Shadows Die Twiceis a true departure from the usual Soulsborne formula that FromSoftware had used consistently up until that point. Though theSoulsDNA can still be found in elements likeSekiro’s menu UI and its controls, just about every system and mechanic inSekirois an evolution or twist on what FromSoftware’s past action-RPGs offered.Sekiro’s combat, for instance, takes the general ideas ofBloodborne’s faster-paced, parry-centric combat and runs away with them, creating a whole new posture system that completely relies on perfectly timed parries, dodges, and counter-attacks.Sekiro’s story is another example of a twist on the usual FromSoft formula, still maintaining a mysterious plot but delivering exposition and core story beats in cutscene and dialogue as opposed to solely through item descriptions and context clues.
ThoughBloodbornefans are desperate for a sequel,Sekiromight be the game more deserving of one. WithElden Ringacting as the perfect culmination of everything FromSoftware has learned during the Soulsborne series, aBloodbornesequel might feel a bit redundant at this point. But withSekiro’s mechanics being mostly absent fromElden Ring, there’s a stronger desire to see the return of those systems in a sequel and a desire to see them improved upon. ASekirosequel could really double down on the original’s unique posture mechanic and introduce some new features alongside it, further cementing the series as one of FromSoftware’s most unique.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twiceis available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
