Charity speedrunning extravaganza Games Done Quick has kicked off its first week-long event for 2024. Among the highlights are speedy plays of 2023 highlights including Starfield, Baldur’s Gate 3 and Lies of P, along with a marathon from the world’s first canine speedrunner.
]]>Headless enemies aren't exactly a new concept in games, so I'm not sure why the Headless in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice instills such dread in me. It's so terrifying to face that I almost didn't write this post, because I knew I'd have to drop into its heinous lair in order to take the screenshot you see above.
But I'm a brave boy, so I dropped in, and of course died almost instantly. Sekiro is still one of the toughest soulslikes around, absolutely filled with extremely dangerous bosses and twisted body-horror monstrosities that can carve you up with just a couple of hits, sending you back to the last checkpoint bereft of all your XP. But the Headless scares me so much, I actively avoid facing it until I have absolutely no choice.
]]>Sony Interactive Entertainment and Chinese conglomerate Tencent have bought a combined 30% of stock in Elden Ring and Souls series developers FromSoftware, parent company Kadokawa Corporation have announced today. The transaction leaves Sony with a 14% stake in FromSoft, and Tencent acquiring 16% of the company’s shares. Kadokawa remain the largest shareholders, holding almost a 70% stake in FromSoft.
]]>Elden Ring has revived the familiar talking points around FromSoftware games: are they too hard? Should they have an easy mode?
Hidetaka Miyazaki, the director of all of these games, spoke about the subject in a new interview with Simon Parkin in the New Yorker. "We are always looking to improve, but, in our games specifically, hardship is what gives meaning to the experience," he says. "So it’s not something we’re willing to abandon at the moment. It’s our identity."
]]>The speedrunning fundraiser festival Awesome Games Done Quick ended in the wee hours on Sunday, with one of its most spectacular runs coming in the final stretch. A speedrunner beat Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice in just over two hours, which frankly is impressive enough to me. More than that, the runner known as "Mitchriz" was blindfolded from start to finish, guided by a combination of memory and feeling-out environments. In two hours! Ludicrious.
]]>Time moves so fast now that I remain convinced Games Done Quick happens once a fortnight. True or not, it's definitely happening this week, beginning tomorrow, Sunday January 9th, and running through until Sunday January 16th. This time, the charity speedrunning marathon features several recent games including Deathloop and Death's Door, among many others.
]]>The clocks have gone back and the cold is creeping in, so now it's time for me to get too excited too early for the winter speedrunning event Awesome Games Done Quick. While it's too early for the full schedule right now, organisers have revealed the current list of accepted games, and there are already some absolute belters. A race to beat every Dark Souls boss and Deathloop's first GDQ outing are amongst the highlights. But the one I'm most looking forward to is a blindfolded Sekiro run. I couldn't finish that game even using my eyes.
]]>Let’s start our day with a little bit of hope, shall we? I’ll cuddle up with any rumour that suggests that PlayStation samurai sim Ghost Of Tsushima could be on its way to the PC, and the faint wisps of a rumour storm started to gather last night. The game’s official box art has dropped the "only on PlayStation" branding. Could it be? Is it possible? All signs point to mayyyyyyybe-ish-but-probably-not. Eh, I’ll take it.
]]>The stabbing worlds of Dark Souls 3 and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice come together in Blades Of Ashina, a DS3 mod which adds a number of Sekiro-inspired weapons. Mods swapping in weapon from other games are common, but these are full additions: they have unique moves, adding complex setups and combos with the speed and variety of Sekiro. Looks dead fancy. Come check out these sweet clips of upcoming murders with Owl's sword.
]]>While next year's Awesome Games Done Quick won't be held in-person, the charity speedrunning event is still going ahead, and it looks like it has some brilliant runs in store. AGDQ 2021's game list was revealed over the weekend, and oooh January can't come soon enough. From the new mythological roguelike Hades and charmingly difficult platformer Celeste, to old favourites like Half-Life and Left 4 Dead 2; there are some absolute belters in the lineup.
]]>For so long has Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice's One-armed Wolf been running and jumping around in the same drab clothes, it's about time he jazzed up his wardrobe. In the new free update that dropped yesterday, From Software have done exactly that, and added three new outfits. They're not just giving them to you that easy, though. To unlock two of them, players will need to have a go of the game's new Gauntlets: a boss rush-style game mode that'll pit you against a series of Sekiro's most punishing enemies.
]]>Surprise! FromSoftware's most recent very difficult action game Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is getting a big free update on October 29th. Because of who I am as a person, the immediate thing I'm drawn to in said update is the fact that there are some cool new outfits for everyone's favourite Shinobi. But there are two other very exciting things on the way, too - a boss rush-style mode, and a recording feature that allows you to send ghosts of yourself to other players' worlds (kind of like the ones you see wandering around in Dark Souls).
]]>Unlike its Souls siblings, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has no multiplayer. No wrong'uns invading your game to murder you, no friends helping you or hanging out. If you'd like that, good news: a new mod is out, adding multiplayer in both cooperative and antagonistic flavours. It's an impressive achievement, even if the mod's creator does warn it might be a little rough. It's nice to play a nice game and have a nice chat with your nice pal.
]]>So I've not actually played Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. It's not strictly because there's no co-op. Given that I've played all three Dark Souls games and Bloodborne, I suppose it's not not because there's no co-op either. Behold! Modders have come to my rescue. Here are three players attempting to fight through a section all playing as the One-Armed Wolf.
]]>Let us wish a blessed Good Friday to all the Catholics in the house. Now, get out. Your fish-sharing magician cannot compete with these 9 videogame characters who see death as nothing but a passing nuisance. These 9 heroes of reanimated flesh. These 9 unkillable beings of limitless power and mystery. Where is your precious Holy Spirit now, loser? Look at these 9 luminous freaks who have monstered sinew and reality to their will. Read my list feature, disgusting mortal, and repent.
]]>Whether or not famously difficult games should have an optional easy mode has long been a point of contention. But many already do, albeit unofficially, thanks to modders taking things into their own hands.
Take the fella who goes by "n00bplatformer", for example. He recently created an “Assist Mode” for run 'n’ gun action game Cuphead. It makes simple tweaks to some of the game’s systems, like granting players six hitpoints instead of the usual three, and boosting weapon damage an extra 50% so that boss battles don’t drag on so long.
]]>Rarely have I felt so powerful as I did the second time I defeated Lady Butterfly in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. During my first playthrough, Lady Butterfly was the boss that forced me to really learn how to play the game, to spend time internalising all the movements and steps of the intricate dance of metal and death that makes the game what it is. I was determined to beat her fair and square, rather than engaging in any kind of underhanded cheesy tactics like stunlocking. It must have taken me twenty attempts to finally triumph, and it wasn't anything like as clean as I wanted it to be.
In my second playthrough, I defeated her on my first attempt, without hesitation or injury. Like all the best moments in Sekiro, it was relentless and beautiful. It showed me exactly how far I'd come.
]]>Everyone loves a good action game. It's the driving force behind so many of our favourite PC games, but only a few can lay claim to being the best action games of all time. That's why we've compiled this list - to sort the pulled punches from the bestest biffs that PC has to offer. Whether it's the joy of pulling off a perfect combo, riding the wave of an explosive set-piece or the hair-raising thrill of dodging enemy attacks in slow-motion that gets you going, there's an action game here for you.
]]>I have spent the winter holidays making a list, checking it twice, trying to find who is naughty on ice. But unlike the popular red-clad demon of the north, my list is reserved for terrors, demons and critters larger than 4 feet tall. I’m talking about cold monsters. They’re very chic this week. You see, while Nic has been battering majestic species of endangered giganto-moose in our Monster Hunter World: Iceborne review, I have been working hard to catalogue the frostiest freaks this side of video gaming. Here you go, the 8 coldest monsters in PC games.
]]>2019 was a great year for PC games - aren't they all? - but you might not yet know what the very best PC games of 2019 were. Let us help you.
]]>HDR on PC hasn't improved much in 2019. Despite there being more HDR gaming monitors than ever before, the very best gaming monitors for HDR continue to be quite expensive compared to non-HDR monitors, and the situation around Windows 10 support for it is still a bit of a mess. However, provided you're willing to fight through all that, then the next step on your path to high dynamic range glory is to get an HDR compatible graphics card.
Below, you'll find a complete list of all the Nvidia and AMD graphics cards that have built-in support for HDR, as well as everything you need to know about getting one that also supports Nvidia and AMD's own HDR standards, G-Sync Ultimate and FreeSync 2. I've also put together a list of all the PC games that support HDR as well, so you know exactly which PC games you can start playing in high dynamic range.
]]>Sorry, definition nerds. 'Soulslike' is a word now. Disgusting, I know, but this is how genres are made. Along comes a giant like Dark Souls that everybody won't stop bleating about and soon it has copycats. Before you know it, a swarm of games like Dark Souls with sparse checkpoints and lethal attacks are scuttling around, leaving slime trails and biting your ankles for surprisingly massive damage. Ugh, Soulslikes. But stoop low to appreciate these little monsters, and among them you'll find some very good games about dying.
]]>Hi, it's me! Yeah! No, nothing's wrong, all's good. I was just calling to see if you wanted some Steam Charts? ... STEAM CHARTS ... Yeah, that's right. No, no it's not. You don't? Oh, um, I already sent them over.
]]>A new mod for From Software's slasher lets you cut straight to the point. Swords, yeah?
I haven't gotten around to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice myself (it's the lack of a fashion endgame, I'm afraid). But I'm told it has some absolutely killer fights, what with all those stylish parries and flying head kicks. The sort of combat I imagine you'd want to just dive back into again and again, plot be damned. Modder Thefifthmatt's Boss Rush mode now allows exactly that.
]]>Summer. The heat age. Scorch season. Spring's hangover. It's the mid-point of the year and you know what that means. No, not "mojito time", Geoff, put those away. It's time we told you what the best games of the year are so far. There are quite a lot of them. Just look how many videogames have escaped from their developers in the past six months and are now running amok through the blistering streets, getting stuck in the melting tarmac, like ants in jam. It's unsanitary. So allow us to round up these unruly games and trap them in a handy list. Here are our favourite sword swingers and space 'splorers so far this year (and a couple of DLCs for good measure).
Okay, Geoff, now bring the mojitos.
]]>Yes, yes, it's me. I know, I know, but calm down. While it's obviously very exciting to have a celebrity as handsome and excellent as me writing you some Steam Charts, I'm still just a regular ordinary guy underneath it all. I leap into my trousers both legs at once, same as anyone else.
]]>If there's one thing that's guaranteed to sweep through the Steam Charts like a giant fart, it's a Steam Sale. Blowing out all the fresh, original or interesting new releases, the mid-year discount warehouse (Junction 45 off the M91) ensures it's a top 10 of games you already bought or decided you don't want to buy.
So who is buying them? Baddies. You lot are the goodies. It's the baddies who do this to us.
]]>Fantastic creatures are as important to Sekiro as its samurai and shinobi. For every deftly fought duel against a venerable warrior there’s a slug-fest with a headless ape that hurls toxic poo. It’s a fine balance between the real and the romantic. Whereas Dark Souls had everything to do with “lore”, Sekiro more delicately pulls from folklore. Lordran is almost purely imaginative, but Sekiro’s Ashina is set securely in Japan during the Sengoku period, and closely draws from surrounding legends and myths.
Almost all its creatures are a play on yōkai, for example, a diverse group of strange, supernatural creatures. Many can be traced back to ancient tales, but it was the natural history encyclopedias and bestiaries of the Edo period that helped popularise them (most famous is Sekien Toriyama’s The Illustrated Night Parade of a Hundred Demons, which catalogs over two hundred of them). Ever since, Japanese art and literature has built upon this legacy of monsters, demons, gods and animal spirits, especially in Japanese woodblock printing. It’s a rich artistic tradition, and its influence on Sekiro is clear.
]]>From Software's latest game - Sekiro: Shadow's Die Twice, has made a massive impact, and a recent patch was released that fixed one of the boss fights to how it was intended. There's plenty to discover about From Software's latest game. With the last boss falling to our katana and ninja gadgets, we've now got a complete compendium of all the boss battles in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, how to beat them. There's also plenty of other secrets that you should be aware of. If you just want tips to get you started, we have plenty of those as well.
]]>WARNING: If you're reading this, there is a very strong chance you're looking at news on your favourite game. Please, it's imperative you click on to discover crucial information.
]]>Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice's significant update didn't quite go to plan, but the latest hot-fix has amended this error. It is the only change to come in the latest update, but the previous version had some major adjustments to balance - mostly in your favour, and some bug fixes. As a result, some of your abilities are far more powerful as a result of the patch.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
With these updates, you'll want to get some upgrades to your abilities. Our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Gourd Seeds can help with your health recovery, while the Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice skill point farming guide is a handy place to learn where to farm experience. You can also take a gander at our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game.
]]>OK, two things on the agenda. Firstly, I'm heading off on my expedition to attempt to break the Curse Of Steam Charts for the next couple of weeks. I'm returning to Ursidae, Caniformia, to find that ancient temple once more and attempt to appease the enraged spirit of Horace. Hopefully we'll never speak again!
Secondly, Toby's back! This week's Steam Charts are brought to you through the filter of a four year old who was really excited about doing this again, but then got into a right grump about it as soon as we started. But his naming skills remain as excellent as ever.
]]>Bosses in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice are not only the biggest tests you'll face, they also give you the opportunity to upgrade your abilities and health with both memories and prayer beads. If you've ever wanted to learn the best ways to defeat the likes of Genichiro, Isshin Ashina, and the Owl, then this hub will have all the answers you seek.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
]]>Since Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has multiple endings, and in typical From Software fashion, there are a couple of points of no return that lock you into certain endings. If you do not want to see what the ending are for Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, do not read on as this will give spoilers on how to achieve each ending. You have been warned.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
]]>It's no secret that you can hunt the fish for treasure carp scales, but there is an item that's found at various vendors that upon completing them will give you the ability to upgrade your attack power with just skill points. The steps to obtain said item are a little obtuse, so we'll be going over all of the steps required to get the cherished mask item.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game.
]]>Through some rather specific things you need to do in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, you can unlock a secret boss fight. Though you may have overcome Owl in the present, you've not fought against him while he's in his prime, in the flaming room where you fought Lady Butterfly much earlier in the game. It's a rather difficult fight and we aim to guide you through it.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. You can also look at the boss guide for the other hidden boss - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Demon of Hatred.
]]>Haha, that was funny last week wasn't it! Remember how we did that whole bit where I had left RPS, but then I was still stuck writing Steam Charts? Heh, they do some good goofs at this site. Anyway, let's... [looks straight into camera]
]]>A wee Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice patch crept in overnight, coming to fix a few bugs and also rejiggle balance a bit. One early-game roadblock boss for some, the Blazing Bull, is a touch weaker. Certain roboarm weapons are improved with new Spirit Emblem casting costs too, though some skills are toned down. If you've got stuck in a ninjarut, relying on the same ol' reliable ninjastabs, you may be pleasantly surprised by the new possibilities. Or not, because developers FromSoftware are famously vague balance tweaks so the full extent isn't clear yet. Don't have a cow, man.
]]>That healing gourd in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice initially doesn't heal for much does it? Well you can upgrade your gourd by finding seeds in the world. On top of that, Sekiro also has a couple of different gourds that can help with certain status ailments.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
Another coveted collectable that's purchased from merchants are the mask pieces. Find out how to get it in our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice masks guide. Alternatively you can also take a look at our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss for strategies for every boss in the game, as well as the Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice endings guide for the requirements to get the best ending.
]]>While I was playing Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, I thought out loud, “Man, do I have a lot of questions about surgery in feudal Japan.” Less about how you operate on a man so that he wakes up and suddenly finds himself with a prosthetic, having remained peacefully unconscious throughout the entire procedure, and more about how feasible the shinobi prosthetic in Sekiro really is. Thankfully I have a place to ponder all these questions.
]]>Hello, and welcome to RPS's weekly round-up of the top selling games on Steam for the last weeeeee...
WHAT?
]]>If you didn't side with Great Shinobi Owl, breaking the ninja code in the pivotal choice moment in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, then the next area you unlock after defeating him is the beautiful Fountainhead Palace. But wait, who's this that's come to greet us at the door. Why it's that pesky monk from Mibu Village again, only this time she seems, real? Turns out there's more to this monk than meets the eye.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. You can also look at our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Great Shinobi Owl guide for tips on the previous boss battle.
]]>You've made your way through Mibu Village in Sekiro; Shadows Die Twice, and it's clear that there is something very wrong with the townsfolk. They almost seem zombie-like and seem to be protecting something of incredible value. Like the monkeys before, one of their own is the last line of defence, which fades into view as you approach a cave. This Corrupted Monk's apparition has given people problems, but she only has one health bar and a fairly big hit box.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. You can also look at our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Headless Ape guide for the previous boss battle.
]]>Some may find that Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was missing a large flaming beast that can one-shot kill players without a second thought. That sounds like an appropriately Souls-like boss doesn't it? Well if you are one of those who missed those kinds of despair-filled fights, don't worry; there's a boss fight that might just be for you.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. You can also look at the previous boss guide - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Divine Dragon.
]]>During your search for a flower for Lord Kuro in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, you'll venture into a forest that is populated with monkeys. A much larger ape sits in a lake, guarding the flower, and minding his own business. As soon as you approach, it suddenly becomes clear that this feral beast really doesn't want you there and will use any means to get rid of you - including throwing his business at you.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. You can also look at our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Folding Screen Monkeys guide for another match against some monkeys in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
]]>It has happened. The day spoken of in legend. After two years, I am finally to be set free of the Curse Of Steam Charts. All its taken is entirely leaving my job in four days time to end this purgatory. The only decision left is to whom I shall pass this vexation. That, and how to avoid mentioning the actual games for one more week. And this time I've come up with a self-indulgent doozy.
]]>Ninjas love scrolls. It’s just a ninja thing, don’t ask. They refuse to read anything that hasn’t first been rolled up into scroll form so they can unroll it again and dramatically ponder its contents. Luckily for us, they left a few of these scrolls behind. In the interest of important ninja science, I took a look at some translations of these aged texts, such as the Bansenshukai, the Koka Ryu Ninjutsu Densho, the Shinobi Hiden, and the Yoshimori Hyakushu to find out whether any of Sekiro’s tools, items, and techniques have much historical precedent. And they definitely do. Allow me to impart this secret knowledge* upon you.
* It’s all on Kindle
]]>In the previous guide, I made you backtrack slightly from the Lone Shadow Swordsman to just a little after the Chained Ogre fight. You would have ventured onward past the gigantic snake for that forced stealth section, but there's another direction where there's an ominous sign. According to the locals, normal weapons weren't able to quell a monster in the caves. Delving into the caves, there is a small glimmer of a sword, whose holder seems to match the description of the sign. I hope you're prepared for this one, because if not, it's going to be a very bad time.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. Head to our previous boss guide - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Lone Shadow Longswordsman if you want to find out how to defeat the purple ninja.
]]>So long as you didn't succumb to the temptation of the Owl's offer, your final test in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is none other than Isshin in his most powerful form. Armed with the second Mortal Blade, as well as a big spear and the elements, you'll have to overcome not only his grandson, but also his full three life stocks. This fight will truly test your samurai abilities, so grasp that healing gourd tightly - you'll need it.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. You can also look at the previous boss guide - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Demon of Hatred.
]]>After scratching and clawing your way through Sekiro's Ashina Castle, all that stands between saving your lord is the lovely chap who casually chopped off your arm. As the first real test of skill in the game, you'll need to defeat him the old-fashioned way of attacking him when he leaves an opening, and then dealing with his lightning attacks. It's going to be rough, but we'll get you through it.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. Head to our previous boss guide - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Ashina Elite if you want to know how to defeat him quickly to get to this fight.
]]>As this is my penultimate edition of Steam Charts, before I return to nuzzle into the warm infinite belly of Horace for all of time, I thought it might be fun to take a bit of a look behind the scenes of Steam Charts, to see how this weekly column comes together.
So, hey, join me as we step behind the curtain, and learn a little bit about the magic of Rock Paper Shotgun.
]]>If you're grooving the vibe of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice but think you might enjoy it more at a slower pace, hey, you can do that. The game may not have difficulty options but a player-made tweaktool does grant the ability to futz with the speed of not only the whole game but your fella specifically too. If you want to stretch time just a touch, it can help. If you want to zip around while the baddies are in slo-mo, go for it. If you want to make everything twice as fast for a full-on murderhell experience, oh god, you can do that too.
]]>Experience is primarily used to unlock new skills in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. You'll want as much of it as possible and occasionally that involves going on a farming expedition. But where are the best places to go experience farming, and do some have added benefits? Here, we'll be going over some of our favourite spots.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
It might also be useful to nab the Mask so you can spend experience points to upgrade your attack. Find out how in our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice masks guide. Alternatively you can also take a look at our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss for strategies for every boss in the game, as well as the Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice endings guide for the requirements to get the best ending.
]]>As the first "boss" in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Gyoubu Masataka Oniwa makes quite the entrance into this gladiatorial arena, with bodies strewn all about the place. Bounding up to you aboard his massive steed and bellowing his name, he proudly declares that you will not pass. He's no Galdalf the Grey, and he's actually really easy to pass.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. You can also look at our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Chained Ogre guide for details on the previous boss fight.
]]>Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has a pivotal moment where a single decision makes a huge difference in the bosses you fight and areas you can explore. A man on the roof gives you the choice of whether you join him or break the Shinobi code. If you choose to break the code, he'll be very disappointed in you, before attacking you in cold blood.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. You can also look at our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Corrupted Monk guide for the previous boss battle. If you chose to honour the code and side with Great Shinobi Owl, then you'll face a different boss battle, so go to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Isshin Ashina guide for more on the Shura path.
]]>In order to achieve the Shura ending, you'll need to defeat the lord of the castle, Isshin Ashina. You'll have to overpower his retainer before your fight with this noble begins and he will test your samurai abilities to the limit. So draw your sword and steel your resolve, this fight is going to be a tricky one.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. You can also look at the previous boss guide - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Corrupted Monk or, if you chose not to side with the Owl, you can check out our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Great Shinobi Owl guide.
]]>Before entering Ashina Castle, there's an absolute unit of an obstacle to overcome. Some bright spark among the guards of Ashina Castle strapped some flaming straw to a bull's head, making it go berserk. This is animal cruelty but since you can't help the poor, albeit violent beast, it's perhaps kinder to put it out of its misery with your blades.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. You can also look at our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Lady Butterfly for details on the previous boss fight.
]]>As time inexorably ticks away, its guttural screaming horror counting down the seconds until our infinite deaths, it's important we remember what really matters: that the game you like best isn't as good as the game I like best. The game you like best, the game you like reading about the most, is indicative of how foolish you are, how you're wasting your precious moments on this planet. Whereas I, liking my game, am making the most of it.
]]>Having gotten a lead on how to sever the binds of immortality, Sekiro's journey takes the wolf to the abandoned caves below Ashina Castle. This takes you back to where you first began your adventure, in that dark pit. There's now two people in the area, with one talking about hearing a song, and the other looking for the man who was left to rot here. It turns out he's looking for you and upon realising this, he'll block your progress and try to kill you.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. Head to our previous boss guide - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Genichiro Ashina if you want to know how to defeat this very tough boss battle.
]]>Warning: contains spoilers.
Being a shinobi is fab. I already said so in our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice review. Running through more of its stabby gauntlet since then has only made me appreciate it more. Its leafy rooftops and snowy castles are more exciting than even Dark Souls 3’s gooey dungeons. But it is surprisingly old-fashioned when it comes to boss fights. Big baddies often benefit from using a newly found item or weapon, as in the Zelda school of boss fights. Maybe you need to crack a magic seed to dispel illusory soldiers who want to spear you in the kidney. Or maybe you need to throw fireworks everywhere to panic a giant farm animal enough to land a few hits. A lot of the time, the strategy is laid out for you. Some bosses are more like mischievous puzzles. And one left me more thoughtful than others.
]]>Down the normal ending pathway, which is accessible by not siding with Great Shinobi Owl in the pivotal moment in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, you'll eventually come across a body of a young woman up a mountain. By praying to the body, you'll awaken in the Divine realm and face off against the Divine Dragon, whose tears you need to complete the game.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. You can also look at our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice True Corrupted Monk guide for tips on the previous boss battle.
]]>As likely one of the first real bosses you'll encounter in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Lady Butterfly is a boss that can catch you off guard if you don't know what you're doing or realise you can cheese the fight. A master of illusions, she also uses kunai and ninja techniques to disorientate you. Since the first version of this guide, there have been some more consistent strategies I've found, so if one way doesn't work for you, there is a similar way that is a little more consistent.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. You can also look at our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Juzou the Drunkard guide for details on the previous boss fight.
]]>I heard you don’t like our podcast, the Electronic Wireless Show. But have you listened to 76 hours of it yet? Honestly, mate, it opens up after that. The 76-hour mark, that’s when it “clicks”. But I understand if you don’t have the time. Just skip ahead to this week’s episode, in which we’re talking about games about which we changed our minds. Listen in for the platformers we prematurely pooh-poohed and the Souls games that “sucked” before they were super.
]]>Memories are just one way you can upgrade your attack in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. You can also upgrade with the help of the Mask. Unfortunately it's split into three pieces and requires you go for a bit of Shinobi style fishing, and the merchants are particularly picky about how many scales are needed to buy the pieces from them.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game.
]]>As a fan of giving games with stupid names even sillier ones, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has me stumped. Stumped in name and stumped in-game, where a big drunk man with a sword and poison grog keeps slamming me into the ground until I've got a good idea how Loki felt in that scene from The Avengers.
Speedrunner "Danflesh111" is not stumped. He's beaten the game in 52 minutes. Of course he has.
]]>Sekiro hurts. It is a painful, graceful game about being a sword-swinging barbarian who must learn how to dance. Even more than its Dark Souls predecessors, it forces you to play on its terms: learn the steps or die. Fools sometimes say suffering leads to wisdom or insight. Well, you won’t gain enlightenment through the hundred deaths of this ninja follow-up. But you will learn how to do a lethal salsa. And when you finally stab your hairy dance partner in the eye, you will be awash in adrenaline. A deluge of battle endorphins that lasts long enough to enjoy after you’ve samba’d back to the rooftops to peer at the setting sun. For some of us, that's nirvana enough.
]]>After jumping into the bottomless pit and overcoming a few tough opponents, you'll see a familiar if unwelcome presence in a cave. Yes, the guardian ape, who remains headless, is back. You'll have to deal with him again, this time with the aim of putting him down for good, but this time he's brought backup.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. You can also look at our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Guardian Ape guide for the first encounter with this giant ape.
]]>It's about time we had a boss in Sekiro that is just a guy clad in armour. They're usually one of the more tedious battles, but this Armored Warrior is a little different. You can't deal any damage to him. So how do you kill what can't be killed? Well there is a way and it makes him look very foolish.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. You can also look at our Sekiro: Shadows Die Shichimen Warrior guide if you want to know how to deal with this magical nuisance.
]]>Well, this is a unique setting for a boss battle in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Having been transported to a dimension where feral monkeys roam around pagoda rooftops. There are four of them to kill to progress, but it's not going to be easy to chase them down.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. Head to our previous boss guide - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Armored Warrior to find out how to defeat this iron-clad foe.
]]>Now that you've had a taste of a boss that uses one of the more annoying status ailments in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, it's time we head back to the Abandoned Caves and see what all the purple stuff in the centre is all about. Turns out it's the Shichimen Warrior and by getting too close, you've incurred his wrath.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. Head to our previous boss guide - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Headless if you want to know more about the first encounter with their nasty status ailment.
]]>Bosses in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice are not exactly well telegraphed, but the Chained Ogre is largely considered your first real test of your Shinobi prowess, though if you know how to do so, this fight can easy if you find a certain item that can help you immensely, and use the environment to ambush this shackled beast. Read on if you're struggling with this first boss.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know. There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game.
]]>Making your way up the tower, you'll start encountering the Ashina royal guard. These are much tougher versions of the sword wielding enemies, who use a more rigid fighting style. By far the toughest one is found alone in a dojo, sitting there waiting for you patiently. If you don't know his weakness, he will decimate your health bar with a flurry of blows, but once his weakness is apparent, he's a bit of a pushover.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. You can also look at our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Blazing Bull guide for details on the previous boss fight.
]]>Did you pick up the set of bells from an old woman not too far in from the beginning of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice? If so, you'll be asked to head to the shrine and use them. This will cause the wolf to remember an incident where his master's home is ransacked by bandits. Making your way deeper into the fiery inferno, there's a bunch of goons in your way. One of the larger ones is Juzou the Drunkard and to win the day, you'll need a plan.
Those new and old to the library of From Software may wish to know more tips and tricks to get started, as well as some of the more complicated things that can occur while playing. Head to our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice guide hub for everything you need to know.
There is now a dedicated Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice boss where you can find tips for the many bosses of the game. You can also look at our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Gyoubu Oniwa guide for details on the previous boss fight.
]]>John had the presence of mind to take today off, after flying back from San Francisco on Sunday. Young Matt and I got a red eye that took off on Friday night and landed on Saturday afternoon. I didn’t sleep for 30 hours, then slept for 12, was wired for the next 16, and then slept for another four. Which brings us to today, when I am writing these charts, unsure which meal I should be having next and shaking off a lingering dose of The Fear, which I get from long haul flying more than I ever did from hangovers.
With that in mind, it’s me, back once again with the ill behaviour, to fill in doing the Steam Charts. I’m very much flying by the seat of my pants here, so let’s see what I come up with, shall we?
]]>It didn't take long for tinkerers to roll up their sleeves, dive into the technoguts of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and reemerge saying "Oh dear oh dear, what cowboy did that?" Modders have already rejigged the guts to allow wider field-of-view options, change the framerate cap, and display correct button prompts for PlayStation controllers. 'For funsies' mods are also rolling, like replacing 3D models and we could soon see mods adding new enemies. We can be only days away from someone replicating the mods turning Dark Souls into a pizzahell.
]]>Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has finally snuck onto PC. The latest game from Souls makers From Software, this gory slice-'em-up sees you tread softly softly in the silent shoes of The Wolf, a master shinobi with the curious ability to resurrect himself upon death, as you battle the humongous foes of feudal Japan.
The big question on everyone's lips, though, is whether this game will also murder your PC's frame rate? Find out below, where we detail Sekiro: Shadow Die Twice's PC requirements as well as how to get the best settings for the slickest graphics performance.
]]>Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is out now, almost a full day earlier than expected - fitting that FromSoftware's ninja soulsborne would stage a daring night-time infiltration. Earlier this evening, I checked Steam and it stated there was another twenty hours until the game unlocked; a cunning ninja ruse. I've just had my first ninja-run around Sengoku-era Japan, and can confirm that it looks great and runs silky smooth, at least on my semi-beefy laptop. Considering what I've seen of the console versions, us PC folk have the best version here. Below, an hour of RPS's video crew getting stabbed a lot.
]]>Slicey slicey, reader. Slice up and smell the coffee. Time to leave some baddies in your slice. Whoa, sorry, I’m getting the word “slice” mixed up with the word “wake” again. This is what happens when you play too much Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, the new demi-Souls from those virtuasadists at From Software. It’s about being a dextrous ninja with a big sword and a grappling hook for an arm. Matthew and Brendan have played a few hours. Here’s what they think of it so far.
]]>Some days, I lament that FromSoftware -- once known for Otogi and Armored Core -- are now (near) exclusively the Soulsborne studio. Then I watch today's near-launch 'overview' trailer for Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and suddenly don't feel so sad, because it looks fab. It's a more agile and aggressive game than even Bloodborne or the similarly Sengoku-era styled Nioh, blending the familiar high tension combat of Dark Souls with everything we associate with ninjas. Check out the hacking and slashing below, with a dash of stealth and a very snazzy grappling hook.
]]>Oh hello! John is away in San Francisco gobbling up gum left on the underside of chairs at the Game Developers Conference, so I'm filling in for our regular rundown of last week's top-selling games on Steam. As is customary for weeks where I need to take over, the charts are full of the surprises he grumbles they never have. What can I say, John - video games must make more of an effort for me. And for goodness' sake, leave that gum. I don't care if Sid Meier himself stuck it there.
]]>Hahaha, I can't believe you think the game you like is good! The game you like ISN'T good! Your liking the game you like makes you look just SO silly. Find out which games everyone else likes, and then start liking those games instead, with our handy Steam Charts guide.
]]>We're just a little over a month away from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice's release date and we now know the system requirements. As the next chapter since FromSoftware officially closed the doors on the Dark Souls series, it's got a lot to live up to. So here's everything we know so far on Sekiro, from trailers and pre-order bonuses, to snippets from what others have seen behind closed doors.
]]>New year, old friends. The boys and girls of the RPS podcast have not been reborn, they have no resolutions, no ambitious goal to learn German or eat more spinach. They just want to play more videogames. Unbelievable. So let’s listen to them chat about the shooters and RPGs that have them most excited. That’s what they do on these podcasts, you know, they just talk nonsense. And they get PAID for it. It’s outrageous, if you ask me, a nameless publication byline.
]]>Wow 2019 is a thing, huh? How are we all doing? Relieved? Bowling a hangover and a nagging sense of trepidation? Maybe you work in retail and, surprise! You were supposed to be at work half an hour ago. Time loses all meaning post-New Year break, doesn't it? You're just sort of adrift in a sea of empty Quality Street wrappers. That's okay. We're all there too.
Pretty soon the grim news cycle is going to grind to life again. Only three months until -- no! Don't think about it. We still have a moment here, on the crinkly, brightly coloured waves. Listen to their quiet rustling and think, not about reality, but about games! Yes, lovely, shiny games. We can bury our face right in them. And from that point of view the next 12 months are looking pretty good. Here's our selection of the games we're most looking forward to next year.
]]>I've changed, man. In Dark Souls' kingdom of Lordran I was a shield-up, spear-ready warrior. By Dark Souls 3 I was happy to run around in my loincloth. And in Bloodborne, I embraced the aggressive pest control of the quicksilver pistol. But throughout all of these die ‘em ups I have remained cautious in spirit. Slow, methodical and wary of corners. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the next difficult death simulator by From Software, set in a demonic vision of feudal Japan. And in this world of samurai (or a short demo of it at Gamescom) I finally abandoned all that ponderous hiking . Partly because I only had 25 minutes with it, but also because when you’re armed with a hookshot, everything looks like a rooftop.
]]>FromSoftware's next third-person hack n' slasher - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - now has a release date for PC. Due to launch on March 22nd, 2019, Sekiro looks like a blend of some of the long-running Japanese studio's greatest hits. It's hard not to see equal inspiration taken from both Bloodborne and the Tenchu series in there, complete with grappling hooks, rooftop navigation and lots of very sharp swords. Plus a few giant monsters, of course - can't have a proper ninja game without them.
]]>Microsoft had a lot of games to announce at E3 2018, but it's a little murkier this year to find out what was relevant for PC users. Some games were coming to both, others only to their Xbox One consoles. You could of course watch the entire conference right here, but for some there just isn't enough time to wade through the entire show.
Not to worry though, here are all the trailers and news for you in one place. There's a surprising amount of variety in the announced titles: from an old favourite making a return, much celebrated developers showing off their new series, to even a completely free game launching very soon. The games below aren't in any particular order but you're in for a long ride.
]]>Dark Souls developers From Software have revealed their next game, a stab 'em up named Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, seemingly set in a supernatural version of feudal Japan. The game's not due until 2019, and details are thin for now, so let's skip right on to the trailer.
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