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I put over 130 hours into this, beat it 4 times, got all the achievements. Now is the time to write a review on this masterpiece. In short, it's one of the best games I ever played. Great story, amazing gameplay, challenging battles, memorable moments, and superb graphics. This is a masterclass in game design.
Sekiro represents a refinement and evolution of the Dark Souls/Demon Souls genre. It has all the DNA of Dark Souls/Demon Souls, but with added mechanics that make it a much better game in many regards. The biggest evolution is that the game opens up vertical gameplay; now you can jump, swing, climb and hookshot your way to higher parts of the map. I can't overstate how liberating this is compared to older games in the series. It offers so much freedom of movement and adds another strategic layer to the gameplay and action.
The next big evolution is the fighting. This is where the game gets it challenge. Unlike Dark Souls or Demon Souls, you must learn your enemies. You simply cannot power your way through levels of bosses. If you don't time your parries or learn the enemies' patterns, you're dead, plain and simple. And dodging won't save you, either. You literally need to get good to survive.
In terms of the game itself, the big things that make this so special is the setting and the story. The game is faithful to it's Japanese inspiration and presents it story of betrayal, revenge, and salvation with great deference to the setting and characters. The game plays out over the course of a day and you see your surroundings change with significant developments in the story. It's very compelling and interesting.
Another great thing is the graphics. This game is stunning. The backgrounds and architecture are so beautiful, I had to stop many times and just marvel at how well crafted it all looked. And the character design is smart and dramatic. I especially loved how the game plays with the scale of some characters, giving the player an added dimension to their personalities. It's masterfully done.
Keep in mind, this game is very hard. Learning the enemy patterns and perfecting your parry takes time and patience. I can see some people getting frustrated and quitting. I almost did, myself. But as you play and learn, you will overcome any obstacle the game has in store. This is testament to how well crafted the developers made the game.
Honestly, I can go on and on about all the great things about this game. It's really that good. In fact, this definitely goes on my list of greatest games ever played. If, for whatever reason, you haven't played this, I recommend buying it and diving in. It's wonderful.