First ‘Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice’ Gameplay Shows Evolution Of The Soulsborne

by Dylan Blight

Along with the announcement of a March 22, 2019 release date revealed at Gamescom 2018, developer FromSoftware and publisher Activision also revealed the first Sekiro gameplay.

The HUD for Sekiro may look similar to previous Souls games, but the gameplay is anything but, just moments into the five-minute trailer as the shinobi leaps across huge gaps and rooftops with the help of a grappling hook.

Combat also offers new ways to play, including a new focus on stealth with the ability to hang from ledges, hide around corners, and dive from rooftops for quick assassinations.

Sekiro’s most interesting mechanic that is more in line with Bloodborne is its resurrection system. Towards the end of the gameplay, the shinobi is killed and given a very Soulsborne-like “You Died” screen, except this time with the option to resurrect. Details on exactly how the resurrection system will work when the full game releases aren’t locked in, but the basis is that you can resurrect and spring back into action, surprising the enemies who thought you dead. If you die straight away, you’re dead; if you can kill another enemy before you die, you can resurrect again. It’s a very aggressive system reminiscent of Bloodborne, which rewarded you with health when you landed a strike on your enemy seconds after they had hit you.

The gameplay video helps build the excitement for the game, but you’ll have a little while longer to wait yet as it releases on March 22, 2019 for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

Check out the gameplay video below.