Also, all of the buffs are basically locked behind 1) either already being good or 2) beating a boss.

I can imagine myself beating this but only if I cared enough to put in time but I really don’t care for a game that doesn’t care that much for mine. It’s not hard in the sense that you need to be perfectly godly it’s hard in the way that it’s hard because you don’t know, but subsequently becomes noddy once you do (I imagine: based on beating a few of the mini bosses and half of LB, before I used up my one item that the game tells you is essential to best them)

All games could do with being in development longer because all games have problems. No game is perfect. There aren’t any game breaking or major issues with Sekiro to warrant further prolonged development time. Just whether or not they wanted to or could have added some ‘accessibility’. 

You don’t need to use 95% of prosthetic tools but it helps if you do and certainly makes for a more enjoyable game. I used almost all of them, some more than others. And it’s less of a criticism/problem here anyway. 99% of weapons and items in the Dark Souls games were pointless.

Dunno about the gourd but I would’ve liked a different way of doing the spirit emblems. Instead of finite number in stock, just have another gourd-style reusable and refillable container thing. But then the emblems are in keeping with the game world I think.

Dragonrot was more a macguffin than an actual mechanic. So I’m not sure it needs developing. The unseen aid is what I felt was pointless. Although it did help me out one one or two occasions where I would’ve lamented losing my exp and money.

before I used up my one item that the game tells you is essential to best them

It's not required. It doesn't say they're essential either, from memory.

As for Sekiro not having a sense of dread... it isn't supposed to, that's not what the fiction of the world is about. The stuff about prosthetics not being required doesn't really cause me any issues either, as I wrote in my article it's all about adding flourishes to the combat to enjoy yourself. If any of them were totally necessary, they'd have to be doled out like Zelda quest items. Instead they're just there for flavour and to widen the pool of techniques at your disposal. You can always take these arguments down paths of redundancy in any game, as you can always just not use any items you are given and stick with the basic abilities, but that isn't why games are fun.

Fer example you never need to use the firecracker, flame vent, spear or umbrella against the Guardian, but doing so is fun, gives you new opportunities to explore in that fight.

He’s also a total jobber and you’re an immortal shinobi. I can tell you that it isn’t essential, I found out by trying without it.

So I’m mopping stuff up before heading to NG+, found more carp scales and another prayer bead, bought lots of items and spent my money (have all carp scale items now) and went back to get some more rice...

Wondering now whether I need to hang around and try out my new found key item. 

Also I could’ve used another key item. @Tempy, no spoilers please just gentle nudge or hint but should I (re rice)

Tempy wrote:

He’s also a total jobber and you’re an immortal shinobi. I can tell you that it isn’t essential, I found out by trying without it.

They should have put you in the game.

In a game of deflations it didn’t need textual discouragement. I’m sure I would have tried again if I also didn’t need to go through the palaver of the first half again just to see what I had to do.

I think that can go both ways. If I had any interest in the reputation or surrounding FromSoftware stuff I might have got that the cryptic advice was merely advisory. In terms Of my own context wherever there was specific help I used it with success - the special spear counter and the helpful man before a drunkard -so there was little to dissuade me the game was was dishonest. I wasn’t really in a mind set to play around or experiment after struggling to get half way (I’m kind of glad I was informed there was a half way point, because that boss also decided to change the formula for that too).

NG+ is delightful so far. A bit too easy, but NG++ will no doubt prove to be more challenging. I remember blitzing through Bloodborne on NG+ and ++ too but got stuck on +++.

It’s great reading and seeing things that make more sense now. Cos either I missed first time or forget things from the beginning by the end of the playthrough. For example the Sculptor talking about flames and other stuff and you think aaaaahhhh

On a whim I decided to have another go at the final boss. About 10 tries and I can pretty much do the first 2 phases every time. Sometimes I barely take a hit. And I sort of know what I want to do on phase 3, but just need to figure it out some more. It's infuriating that I can't just practice that phase without doing the others over and over. And then there's phase 4 of course. I know it's kind of similar but it's still going to take some figuring out. I could easily give up again.

He's only got... one new attack in the last phase I think? Maybe two but they're basically the same attack.

Lightning reversal, the gift that keeps on giving.

Yaaaaaayy!

It's great when you know how to do it. But I had to resort to watching a video of someone else doing it to sort out the second half of the fight. I'd love to work it all out myself, but having to do it all every time spoils that. It's hard to experiment with tactics on the 3rd phase when you know a mistake could set you back to the start.

I also have an injury now - Sekiro finger. It's the left index finger from holding and pressing the block button so much. It's actually a bit swollen.

Finished up some other bits today. Realised I'd missed a few prayer beads and could raise my health a bit more. Got some more scales, then decided I should do DoH. Watched a video of it and it only took 3 or 4 attempts after. Quite a tedious fight really - no need for it to last that long. But at least it didn't involve much use of the left shoulder buttons.

JonB wrote:

Finished up some other bits today. Realised I'd missed a few prayer beads and could raise my health a bit more. Got some more scales, then decided I should do DoH. Watched a video of it and it only took 3 or 4 attempts after. Quite a tedious fight really - no need for it to last that long. But at least it didn't involve much use of the left shoulder buttons.

Agreed; DoH feels like some leftover Souls boss. Nice bit of lore and narrative surrounding him though.

hylian_elf wrote:

I’ve got 2 beads and missing 2 boss trophies... so maybe I’m on way to maxing. Not sure who the bosses are but might have to do with different endings.

You have the right idea.