Recent reviews by El Martillo Tejano

While Sekiro shares much of its DNA with the Soulsborne games, it distinguishes itself with more engaging combat and storytelling. Players must deflect, dodge, or jump away from attacks depending on the enemy and the specific attack, as opposed to the souls games, where dodging was about all you needed. If you choose the wrong move or the wrong time, the game punishes you severely. This system requires a higher level of concentration and VERY quick decision-making. Another departure from the souls games is that the story is not told just through item descriptions and lore (although they are present), but happens as you play the game. I really enjoyed seeing the world and environments change as I reached certain story milestones.

I found this game quite a bit harder than any of the souls games, but others might find it easier. A key difference in difficulty is that the stat improvements are unlocked by defeating mini-bosses, as opposed to spending currency. This means that you cannot simply grind easy opponents to improve your stats to beat tough enemies. It forces you to improve yourself, rather than your character. I found this both frustrating and INCREDIBLY rewarding, which probably describes the game overall.