Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

The majority of the critics praised the story of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, considering it to be a strong aspect of the game. They appreciated the clear and concise narrative, with themes of honor, loyalty, and revenge. The story is delivered beautifully through fully voiced cinematic cutscenes and interactive flashbacks, as noted by App Trigger. AusGamers also commended the powerful delivery of the story in subtitled Japanese, along with well-written characters and dialogue. TheXboxHub and Xbox Achievements highlighted the presence of a well-built plot and comprehensible storytelling, which was missing from previous FromSoftware games. The story was described as captivating, intriguing, and engaging by various critics such as Washington Post, Press Start Australia, and The Games Machine. However, there were a few critics who expressed some reservations about the story. EGM mentioned that while the story is fine, it is not as good as other FromSoftware games. FANDOM pointed out that although the story has meaning, the emphasis is still more on exploration. MGG described the plot as classic but somewhat predictable. Despite these minor criticisms, the overall sentiment towards the story of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice remains positive. In conclusion, the story of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is widely regarded as a strong aspect of the game by the majority of the critics. The clear and concise narrative, along with its themes of honor, loyalty, and revenge, resonated well with the reviewers. The fully voiced cinematic cutscenes and interactive flashbacks added depth to the storytelling experience. The story was praised for being captivating, intriguing, and engaging. While there were a few critics who found it not as good as other FromSoftware games or felt that the emphasis was more on exploration, these criticisms were overshadowed by the overall positive consensus among the reviewers.

The majority of critics praised the gameplay of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, with many highlighting its challenging and intense combat system. The game was commended for its focus on timing, precision, and strategy, with several critics mentioning the importance of parrying, deflections, and mastering different moves. The combat was described as rewarding and satisfying, offering a sense of accomplishment once enemies were defeated. Critics such as AusGamers and TrueGaming appreciated the fast and aggressive combat system, while Press Start Australia and XboxAddict praised the inclusion of a grappling hook, which added a new level of mobility and exploration to the gameplay. The Variety of prosthetic tools and skills in combat were also praised by Gamer.no and Gaming Age. However, there were some criticisms regarding the gameplay of Sekiro. EGM mentioned that the lack of options made every fight feel essentially the same, while Cubed3 pointed out some camera positioning issues in close quarters. Hooked Gamers mentioned that the boss fight approachability can feel limited if the player struggles with parrying. PCGamesN also noted some flaws in the stealth mechanics, creating dead space in the gameplay. Despite these criticisms, the overall sentiment towards the gameplay of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was overwhelmingly positive. In conclusion, the gameplay of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice received high praise from the majority of critics. The challenging combat system, emphasis on timing and strategy, and the inclusion of various tools and skills were highly regarded. The game's intense and rewarding combat, along with its exploration and mobility options, were frequently highlighted as standout features. While there were some minor criticisms regarding the lack of options, camera positioning, and stealth mechanics, these issues did not overshadow the overall positive consensus among critics. Overall, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was widely regarded as a highly enjoyable and satisfying gameplay experience.

The majority of the critics praised the Graphics and Visual Design of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, with many describing it as stunning, visually impressive, and visually stunning. The game successfully captures the Sengoku era Japan with its mesmerizing visuals, including gorgeous mountain backdrops, vibrant foliage, and meticulously detailed environments. Critics like App Trigger, Attack of the Fanboy, AusGamers, and Game Revolution specifically mentioned the stunning and beautiful areas, attention to detail, and vibrant environments that added to the realism and immersion of the game. The game's art direction and design were also highly praised, with critics like FANDOM, GameGrin, and TrueGaming commending the captivating art direction, diverse environments, and impressive animations. The enemy design was also standout, as mentioned by AusGamers and Xbox Achievements. The game's technical aspects, such as high-resolution graphics and support for HDR technology, were also appreciated by critics like MondoXbox and Windows Central. While the overall sentiment towards the Graphics and Visual Design of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was positive, there were a few criticisms mentioned by some critics. AusGamers noted some camera jumps and issues on Xbox One X, and Press Start Australia mentioned a lack of visual Variety in the early stages of the game. Gamer.no also mentioned a lack of overall variation in the visuals. However, these negative aspects were overshadowed by the positive feedback from the majority of the critics. In conclusion, the Graphics and Visual Design of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice received high praise from the majority of the critics. The stunning and visually impressive environments, attention to detail, and captivating art direction were commended by multiple reviewers. The game successfully captured the atmosphere of feudal Japan, with its beautiful landscapes, intricate architecture, and vibrant environments. While there were some minor criticisms regarding camera issues and lack of visual Variety in certain areas, the overall consensus among the critics was overwhelmingly positive. The positive feedback from critics like App Trigger, Attack of the Fanboy, and Cultured Vultures highlights the game's success in delivering a visually stunning and immersive experience.

The sound design and music of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the majority of critics. They praised the attention to detail and the immersive nature of the audio elements in the game. App Trigger commends the care taken in handling the sound design and music, stating that they contribute to the immersive and atmospheric nature of the game. IGN Spain highlights the impact of the sound design, with different footsteps for each surface and impactful weapon clashes, while also praising the game's soundtrack for complementing the action perfectly. Generación Xbox describes the sound design as sublime, with a delightful soundtrack that creates tension and suspense. The epic soundtrack composed by Yuka Kitamura and Noriyuki Asakura is also highly praised by Shacknews, who describe it as masterfully crafted and gorgeously executed. The authentic and well-composed music is mentioned by Press Start Australia and XboxAddict as enhancing the overall experience and fitting the mood and setting perfectly. While the majority of critics had positive opinions about the sound design and music of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, there were no specific negative comments mentioned by the critics. This suggests that there were no significant flaws or issues with the audio elements of the game that stood out to the reviewers. The absence of negative feedback indicates that the sound design and music were generally well-received and effectively contributed to the overall experience of the game. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the sound design and music of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice were exceptional. The positive feedback from multiple critics, including IGN, Jeuxvideo.com, and PC Gamer, emphasizes the top-notch quality of the sound design and soundtrack. The immersive and atmospheric nature of the audio elements, along with the attention to detail and authenticity, were highly praised. The majority of critics agreed that the sound design and music greatly enhanced the overall experience of the game, contributing to its immersive and engaging nature. The positive consensus from the critics solidifies the notion that the sound design and music of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice were of high quality and deserving of praise.

The voice acting in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has received predominantly positive reviews from the critics. Many critics, such as App Trigger, Xbox Achievements, Xbox Tavern, and XboxAddict, have praised the voice acting, describing it as excellent, commendable, fantastic, and believable. These critics highlight the quality of the voice work, which they believe adds depth to the NPC interactions and the overall story. They appreciate the effort put into the voice acting, as it contributes to the atmospheric nature of the game, as mentioned by App Trigger. Additionally, AusGamers specifically praises the subtitled Japanese voice acting, noting that it enhances the overall experience. While the majority of critics have positive opinions about the voice acting, there are a few who do not find it particularly noteworthy. FANDOM states that the voice acting for the protagonist, Wolf, and the dialogue options do not stand out as major points of contention. This suggests that while the voice acting may not be exceptional, it does not detract from the overall experience of the game. Similarly, Gaming Age mentions that the protagonist's voice adds depth to NPC interactions and the story, but does not provide any specific praise or criticism. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the voice acting in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is well done and contributes positively to the game. The positive reviews from App Trigger, AusGamers, Xbox Achievements, Xbox Tavern, XboxAddict, and Games.cz highlight the excellence, commendability, and believability of the voice work. The mention of the subtitled Japanese voice acting by AusGamers and the recommendation to play with the original Japanese voices by Generación Xbox further emphasizes the positive reception of the voice acting. While there are a few critics who do not find the voice acting particularly remarkable, their opinions do not outweigh the overall positive sentiment expressed by the majority of reviewers.

In terms of the technical performance on Xbox One, the reviewers had mixed opinions. Some critics, like AusGamers and TrueGaming, did not mention any specific technical issues, suggesting a relatively stable experience. Press Start Australia also noted that the game performed well enough during combat. Additionally, SomosXbox praised the agile and fluid character movement, as well as the fast loading screens on Xbox One. These positive aspects indicate that the game's technical performance on Xbox One had some strengths. However, there were also several negative aspects mentioned by the critics. Cubed3 and IGN Spain both highlighted frame rate drops and unstable frame rates as issues on Xbox One, even on the more powerful Xbox One X. Generación Xbox mentioned missed opportunities, such as frame drops and a fixed camera on enemies, which could have enhanced the game. Jeuxvideo.com and Xbox Achievements criticized the camera issues, wonky lock-on system, and occasional clipping problems, which affected the gameplay experience on Xbox One. The Washington Post also mentioned technical issues like enemies attacking through walls and fluctuations in frame rate. These negative aspects indicate that the game's technical performance on Xbox One had some shortcomings. Overall, the consensus among the critics for Xbox One is that Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice had some technical issues that impacted the gameplay experience. While there were positive aspects such as fluid character movement and fast loading screens, the presence of frame rate drops, camera issues, and other technical problems detracted from the overall enjoyment of the game on Xbox One. Critics like Cubed3, IGN Spain, and Jeuxvideo.com specifically highlighted these issues, indicating that they were significant enough to affect their opinions of the game's technical performance on Xbox One. Moving on to the PC platform, the majority of critics had positive experiences with the technical performance of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Critics like Games.cz, GamingTrend, PC Gamer, Ragequit.gr, and ZTGD mentioned smooth gameplay experiences, with minimal frame rate drops and glitches. PC Gamer even specifically mentioned flawless 60 frames per second on a specific hardware setup. Ragequit.gr also praised the smoothness of the game at 1080p and 60 fps. These positive aspects indicate that the PC version of the game had strong technical performance. However, there were still some minor issues mentioned by a few critics. Jeuxvideo.com and MGG both mentioned camera issues, occasional collision problems, and frustrations in narrow spaces. Riot Pixels also noted technical imperfections without specifying further. Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall sentiment among the critics for the PC platform is that Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice had a solid technical performance. The smooth gameplay experiences, minimal frame rate drops, and positive comments from critics like PC Gamer and Ragequit.gr support this consensus. In conclusion, the overall consensus among the critics is that Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice had a mixed technical performance across different gaming platforms. On Xbox One, there were both positive aspects such as fluid character movement and fast loading screens, as well as negative aspects including frame rate drops, camera issues, and other technical problems. The PC platform, on the other hand, received more positive feedback, with smooth gameplay experiences and minimal technical issues. Critics like PC Gamer and Ragequit.gr specifically praised the PC version's technical performance. While there were some minor drawbacks mentioned by a few critics, the general sentiment is that Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice delivered a satisfactory technical performance on the PC platform.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice are varied. Several critics, such as Attack of the Fanboy and Generación Xbox, praise the game for its replayability. Attack of the Fanboy mentions that the game offers tons of content and rewards players who put in the effort to explore and understand the world. Generación Xbox highlights the various abilities, side missions, and collectible lore that make the game highly replayable. These positive aspects indicate that players can find new experiences and challenges each time they play the game. However, there are also critics who express concerns about the replay value of Sekiro. EGM doubts if they will go back and play the game again after beating it, suggesting that the game may lack the incentive for repeated playthroughs. Shacknews points out the limited character build options and absence of multiplayer, which may reduce the game's replayability for some players. Gamer.no even states that the game has a lack of replay value, indicating that it may not offer enough incentives for players to return to it. Overall, the consensus among the critics is mixed regarding the replay value of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. While some critics, like Cheat Code Central and Cultured Vultures, appreciate the different routes, strategies, and optional content that encourage replayability, others, such as Shacknews and Gamer.no, express concerns about the game's lack of customization options and limited incentives for multiple playthroughs. However, the majority of critics acknowledge that the game offers a significant amount of content, multiple possible endings, and a complex main story, which contributes to its overall replay value. The inclusion of New Game Plus mode, multiple endings, and challenging hidden content, as mentioned by GamingTrend and PC Invasion, also add to the game's replayability. Ultimately, players who enjoy exploring and mastering the game's mechanics may find Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice to be a highly replayable experience.