After effectively creating the Soulsborne genre and having a wild amount of success with it, one of the most celebrated developers of the 21st century decided to tinker the formula once more. And, again, to great success. We're going back to 2019, to a stealth action game that picked up so many game of the year awards that particular year. We're talking Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
On this episode of Stealth Boom Boom, we take a look at the early days of FromSoftware and how it took the studio close to two decades to achieve overnight success. We also discuss a YouTuber making the Loaded Axe and Loaded Umbrella in real life, as well as the link between this game and Tenchu. Of course, there's some chat on the differences between this game and Dark Souls / Bloodborne that were highlighted in pre-launch interviews... and there's some talk on the dreaded difficulty discourse that comes up around every From Software game launch.
In our review, you'll hear some chat on the advantages of taking a stealthy approach and then giving a boss a Shinobi Deathblow, luring moronic enemies away from the herd, the sheer relief after you've stabbed an enemy and downed them, the frustratingly good peripheral vision of enemies, trying to pick off a group one-by-one, lobbing bits of pot off a wall, eating sweets to remain unseen, being a Sengoku Spider-Man with the grappling hook, The Last Samurai starring Tom Cruise, feel the rhythm to break the other guy's Posture (and the joy when that happens), nonstop trial-and-error, Perilous Attacks, breaking rhythm with the Mikiri Counter, the Nighjar's acrobatics and woo, dirty tactics with the Shinobi Prosthetic, Dragonrot and resurrection, the sheer amount of items and skill trees and menus, grinding for skill points, Genichiro Ashina (and then Genichiro, Way of Tomoe), the autumnal environs of Senpou Temple and immortality, a story that's out of time (and has cutscenes), micro narratives, and one nasty sword.
After all that, we take you through what some of the critics were saying about the game around the time it came out, and then we give you our final verdicts on whether Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a Pass, a Play, or an Espionage Explosion.
For those who would like to play along at home, we'll be discussing, reviewing and dissecting Hitman GO on the next episode of Stealth Boom Boom.
IMPORTANT LINKS TO THINGS
🎧 Subscribe to Stealth Boom Boom
📸 Stealth Boom Boom on Instagram
🌤️ Stealth Boom Boom on Bluesky
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes present: Aubrey O’Day, Covering the Diddy Trial
Introducing… Aubrey O’Day Diddy’s former protege, television personality, platinum selling music artist, Danity Kane alum Aubrey O’Day joins veteran journalists Amy Robach and TJ Holmes to provide a unique perspective on the trial that has captivated the attention of the nation. Join them throughout the trial as they discuss, debate, and dissect every detail, every aspect of the proceedings. Aubrey will offer her opinions and expertise, as only she is qualified to do given her first-hand knowledge. From her days on Making the Band, as she emerged as the breakout star, the truth of the situation would be the opposite of the glitz and glamour. Listen throughout every minute of the trial, for this exclusive coverage. Amy Robach and TJ Holmes present Aubrey O’Day, Covering the Diddy Trial, an iHeartRadio podcast.
Good Hang with Amy Poehler
Come hang with Amy Poehler. Each week on her podcast, she'll welcome celebrities and fun people to her studio. They'll share stories about their careers, mutual friends, shared enthusiasms, and most importantly, what's been making them laugh. This podcast is not about trying to make you better or giving advice. Amy just wants to have a good time.