There are a lot of Soulslike games that have taken from plenty of From Software's standard-setting works. Games like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order have used the format of the Soulslike and thrown in Metroidvania-styled exploration, while also doubling down on a parry mechanic despite being released before Sekiro.

Still, despite the popularity of Soulslikes, it has not felt like e??nough games have taken inspiration from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Many fans of From Software's games, as well as those who simply appreciate a well-made video game with fleshed-out combat mechanics, tend to refer to it as a masterpiece.

So, why a Sekiro-like instead of Soulslike?

It's important to lay out what separates Sekiro from the rest. The game places a special emphasis on its parry mechanic and haste within its combat's pacing. The Dark Souls games, as well as Bloodborne and Elden Ring, will reward players for a well-timed parry. Usually, players get time to breathe and the opportunity to land a high-damage hit, but Sekiro throws in the Posture mechanic.

Posture is the ability to withstand a hit. Properly attacking and parrying damages an enemy's Posture, and fully breaking an enemy's Posture provides the player a chance to pull off a Deathblow. The lower an enemy's health is, the slower their Posture rebuilds. Sekrio did not create the parry, nor did it popularize it, but plenty of gamers look to the game as an exam??ple of how to do it best.

Before the release of new titles like Stellar Blade and Nine Sols, not many titles took inspiration from Sekiro, even though new Soulslikes continue to pop up. This could be attributed to the fact that games just take a long time to make. It could also take developers even more time to structure an entire game around combat as polished as Sekiro's.

Many gamers just end up going back to Sekiro?? because it's hard to find a similar experience, but with so many upcoming releases, those seeking to scratch ?that itch may not have to wait much longer.

Games that are definitely Sekiro-likes

Nier: Automata and Bayonetta were the primary comparisons people made to Stellar Blade when they first saw Stellar Blade. Despite that, th?is game features a strong focus on its parry me?chanic.

It may take Sekiro players some time to adjust to the way that inputs register. Dodging, parrying, and movement have a significantly different weight in Stellar Blade. Still, gamers do agree that the Sekiro influence is there. Stellar Blade even includes its own s??pin on Posture, called Balance??, though it does differ in areas like its skill trees and additional ways to tune combat to the player's liking.

Nine Sols is different in a couple of ways, namely that it has a hand-drawn 2D art style and features platforming. Regardless, developer Red Candle Games has gone all-in on the Sekrio inspiration.

Nine Sols' combat is based on deflection, with enemies putting enough pressure on the player to force them to consistently deflect. Deflection in Nine Sols allows players to store Chi energy to use in charged attacks in??stead of having a Posture bar to maintain.

Games that focus on parrying

Where Winds Meet is a Wuxia-inspired game? that offers versatility in weapon choice and combat approach, though countering appears to be?? central to its gameplay.

In each gameplay showcase so far, trailers have featured its protagonist swiftly parrying an enemy attack. Everstone Studio seems ambitious with the many different features it plans to incorporate into Where Winds Meet. The game will feature a picturesque open world alongside a narrative that is said to be influenced by player choice. Where Winds Meet is slated for a 2024 release.

Then there's Phantom Blade Zero. The combat in this game's original trailer looked too good to be true, and people insisted that it must be scr??ipted in some way. But the more footag??e fans see of it, the more the game shows its hand.

There are plenty of gaps for player input. Some animations appear to cancel very well into the other, allowing for a wide range of player expression. There is risk, though, as the game seems to force players to commit to their actions. At IGN's hands-on demo, Developer S-Game pushed back a bit against the haste to lump Phantom Blade Zero in with every other Soulsborne. S-Gam?e noted a feature on "old-fashioned combo-driven traditional action" while using a map design aki??n to Souls games.

Phantom Blade Zero appears to share plenty in common with Assassin's Creed and Ghost of Tsushima, but this doesn't mean it has nothing in common with Sekiro. In Phantom Blade Zero, players and enemies have a Sha-chi meter, which functions similarly to Postu?re and depletes when guarding. Taking consecutive hits breaks this defense and leaves the target wide open. There is a block stance, but pulling off a parry or perfect dodge can reward players with a counterattack ca?lled a Ghoststep.

Games that may continue Sekiro's legacy

Black Myth Wukong has gamers excited for a couple o??f reasons. Those who like a good story are excited to see a big-budget video game put a spin on the story of Sun Wukong, while others are here for the combat.

The combat system in Black Myth Wukong appears to be somewhat different from Sekiro. The game appears to put a heavy emphasis on agility, an?d while it does occasionally show a player blocking an attack, it does not seem nearly as consistent. ??That being said, there appears to be a similar emphasis on an aggressive play style.

Lastly, there's Ballad of Antara, which g??amers are waiting to see ?more about, but one thing seems certain—guarding against enemy attacks matters.

Each segment of action shown feels demanding. In the announcement trailer for Ballad of Antara, combat comes off as dynamic and weighty. The game appears to reward aggressive gameplay and consistent guarding. For those searching for something closer to Sekiro than Souls, this game? appears to show off more guarding than it does dodging, whi??ch could be promising.

Some of these games may take even longer than expected to release, and by the time they all come out, they could end up being closer to Dark Souls or something entirely different. N??o matter what, there appear to be plenty of interesting action games in the works.

The post This could be the Year of the Sekiro-likes appeared first on Destructoid.

Co-op and invasions

Sekiro was fine as it was. 

I don't need every single From Software game to offer an expansive co-op and PVP online suite, and the idea of forcing people to play through Sekiro's trials and tribulations alone made it stand out??. You are a lone wolf, after all. Naturally, I'd also be okay with online play eventually making it in.

This mod from LukeYui speeds that process along.

Simply put, the mod adds "unofficial online features to the game." LukeYui says that the PVE experience is "akin to playing Dark Souls with 5000 ping," but "isn't an identical online experience" to the Souls series. The creator says they ?lack the prowess to make it "completely flawless," which makes absolute sense as studios sometimes have entire teams dedicated to that sort of thing. They further clarify that the mod is in beta form and runs on P2P (makes sense).

However, after all those provisos, it's actually a pretty fleshed out mod. There's support for six players at once, as well as the option to take on bosses in co-op if you're having issues. Invasions can also happen via matchmaking, keeping you on your toes like a classic Souls experience. You also can't pause with the mod enabled, adding an extra layer of authenticity. You'll find instructions on how??? to actually create host sessions and invade/join players here.

I'd say they did great!

Sekiro Online [Nexus Mods]

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But are you up to the challenge of every enemy becoming the final boss?

For months on end, Sekiro ruled my PS4. I poured over it until I had every single last nuance down, then put it on ice for a bit, then picked it back up again. It's kind of like....every From Software game or Zelda: Breath of the Wild in that way.

Mods have made that decision to put it back in the spotlight easier, especially this item and enemy randomizer mod by Thefifthmatt. It's simple enough to install, and lets you customize pretty much every aspect of th??e game, including miniboss, boss, enemy and item r?andomization. Get a good look at how in-depth it is below!

The mod is perhaps shown off best by YouTuber Gb, who replaces every single enemy with Isshin: the final boss of the game. Isshin happens to be one of the biggest challenges in Sekiro, with multiple forms and a large damage output.

Of course, yo??u don't have to go this hardcore. You can also literally randomize everyth?ing to give yourself a fresh run every time.

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Like, Zoinks, I leveled up, Scoob

Although folks started experimenting with Shaggy mods in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice late last year, this recent video from JustTrevor cleverly mixes together a string of odd mods and creates a sort of story video for?? the Scooby gang memb?er.

Complete with a cartoon intro, Shaggy is zapped with a laser and transported into the world of Sekiro, where he wiel??ds a baguette weapon with grace. JustTrevor's vid??eo shows off the serpent sequence (with a swapped Thomas the Tank engine model), a Chained Ogre fight (swapped with Shrek) and a few boss battles (the intro and Shigenori Yamauchi).

For me this is the game that keeps on giving, alongside of pretty much every recent From Software joint and Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It's something I can go back to at any point get comfortable with. Nioh 2 recently joined those ranks!

The post Finally, S??haggy gets his due as the Sekiro protagonist appeared first on Destructoid.

Shadows sell twice as well

Sekiro has been doing exceptionall??y well for Activision and FromSoftware. Kadokawa, parent company of FromSoftware, has confirmed that the samurai action title sold around 3.8 million copies as of June 30, 2019. That puts?? it in the range of being one of the most successful new IPs of the current generation.

It's hard not to see why Sekiro has sold that well, either. Whether or not you believe the game is "too difficult," From's previous games have built up a pretty massive cult since Demon's Souls released in 2009. With the prevailing idea that From games are "brutal as hell," people looking for more challenging titles flock to each release to get their masochistic fix. It also doesn't hurt that samurai titles seem to be coming back in vogue, what with Nioh 2 and Ghost of Tsushima still in the pipeline.

This is a well-deserved victory for FromSoftware. ??I'm happy to see the company go from creating niche titles to well respected old-school hits. Whatever the future brings, I hope their pedigree for quali??ty continues.

Sekiro Shadows Die Sold 3.8 Million Copies As Of June [WCCFTech]

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'Reach for the sky'

Another Sekiro mod has been making the rounds (man PC gaming rules),  and this one is a little less straight-forward than "easy mode" or "boss rush" add??????????????????????????itions. It's a simple character model re-skin on the surf??ace, but adds so much more depth on a psychological level.

In a very timely release given the recent arrival of Toy Story 4, the mod swaps the main character with none other than Sheriff Woody. The model was ported to the game by modder Huckleberrypie, who used the "Disney Dream Treats" app to get it into the game. Huckleberrypie says their inspiration came from watching Toy Story 4 in theate?rs and "decided to join in on the fun" of mod creation.

They also want to make? another thing clear: "I am not responsible for any ruined childhoods that may en??sue from this mod." Indeed!

Sheriff Woody from Toy Story [Nexus Mods]

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— 👾ã™ã‘ãŠðŸ‘¾ (@nunswa08) July 26, 2019

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I'm thinking it's time to double-dip on PC

From Software's Sekiro is home to some incredible bosses, and I'd go so far as to say the final confrontation should go down as an all-time classic. The journey from my first bewildered playthrough to New Game+ and beyond sure was cathartic. If you put in the time, you'll eventually reach this all-powerful point where you're an unfazed aggressor – you're the one di??ctating the pace, not your foes.

I had no qualms about playing Sekiro to completion several times in a row, and a big part of that replayability can be attributed to the bosses. Outside of a few pesky areas here and there, most of them are a joy to revisit on subsequent playthroughs. One player – a modder who goes by thefifthmatt – seems to agree. They've whipped up a boss rush mod to make it easier to orchestrate rematches.

_{Don't watch this video if you're wary of boss spoilers!}

Given the circumstances, it's pretty darn elegant. The mod lets you warp to bo?sses using the Sculptor's Idol at the Dilapidated Temple, and there's even a new reward system with important items and upgrades, like Gourd Seeds, available for sen. "You can get to full healing and prayer beads over the course of a run without the challenge modifiers if you don't lose money on death, but not enough to invest heavily in prosthetics or consumables. With challenge modifiers, you can get everything."

Graciously, the boss rush mod also streamlines certain aspects of Sekiro that you probably won't care to see?? again. For instance, you can skip the opening sequence at Ashina Reservoir, and those dreaded recurring tutorial pop-ups are out of the picture. It's also possible to manage all of Wolf's permanent upgrades, Kuro's Charm, and the Bell Demon right from the Dilapidated Temple. Convenient!

Even if it's not From Software's usual style, I would've gotten down with an official boss rush. At high levels, Sekiro is breez?y enough that it's not too much of a slog to replay the critical path just for the chance to fight your favorite? bosses again. That said, I appreciate the heck out of this mod.

Boss Rush [Nexus Mods via PC Gamer]

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Shura, why not?

Modders have transplanted countless characters, and while the results are often little more than a chuckle-inducing novelty, sometimes their move just fundamentally works. I don't know how NieR: Automata's 2B would end up on a hard-fought quest sneaking through picturesque Ashina, but in my mind – if I don't think too hard about the particulars – this mash-up makes a weird sort of sense.

Thanks to Sekiro modder Forsakensilver, you can put Wolf on the bench and play as 2B instead. Before you race to start up this video, a note on spoilers: the first minute and a half are safe, as only the introductory sequence is shown. After that, there's a montage of boss after boss until the game's final fight. I don't want to be the jerk who inadvertently spoiled Sekiro's coolest encounter for you.

With that in mind, dang, this 2B montage makes me want to play Sekiro again, and I say that?? as someone who's lost count of how many times they've beaten it. The new-game-plus loop is too fun!

Now that we're properly pumped to pull off some shinobi deathblows as 2B, here's how to get the NieR: Automata mod running in Sekiro as relayed by Nexus Mods user asasasasasbc:

• Install and configure Mod Engine as described on its page.
• Install DS3 & BB material pack.
• Copy the parts folder inside the zip file into your mods directory.
• Bonus: For a makeshift female voice to replace Wolf's, there's this mod.

2B is too strong a character to star in a single game. Automata fans clearly aren't ready to say goodbye, and with four million sales and counting, who knows what the future holds for Yoko Taro and co.

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