Breaking: The Unmissable Reasons Sekiro Deserves a Sequel Before Bloodborne

FromSoftware has built an impressive portfolio of video games in the past few decades. While their earlier titles are well-remembered, it is their work in the last decade that has gained the most attention. The release of Demon's Souls and the iconic Dark Souls in 2011 propelled FromSoftware to success. This success continued with Elden Ring winning top honors at the Game Awards last year. However, there is one game in their library that deviates from their usual formula: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

Released in 2019, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice retains elements of FromSoft's signature style but introduces significant changes across various aspects such as visuals, combat mechanics, and story. Despite the continuous pleas from fans for a Bloodborne sequel, a sequel to Sekiro might be more deserving.

Why Sekiro Deserves a Sequel More Than Bloodborne

Released in 2015, Bloodborne is widely regarded as one of FromSoftware's most impressive games, especially among fans of the Soulsborne saga. It took the established action-RPG formula in an innovative new direction by introducing a different setting, fresh themes, unseen enemy types, and unique systems for players to explore. However, despite these novel elements, when playing Bloodborne today, it is undeniably a Soulsborne game at its core.

Bloodborne places a significant emphasis on perfect dodges, parrying, and offensive tactics, which sets its combat apart, although it still bears a striking resemblance to Dark Souls, albeit at a much faster pace. Additionally, while the Lovecraftian horror setting of Bloodborne helps it stand out within FromSoftware's repertoire, there are similarities in architectural design and general vibes found in later titles like Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring, diminishing Bloodborne's uniqueness in hindsight. Nonetheless, Bloodborne remains an exceptional game, even if it may not be as distinct as Sekiro.

Released a few years after Dark Souls 3, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice marks a significant departure from FromSoftware's usual Soulsborne formula. While remnants of the Souls DNA can still be identified in elements such as Sekiro's menu UI and controls, nearly every system and mechanic in Sekiro represents an evolution or modification of what was offered in FromSoftware's previous action-RPGs. Notably, Sekiro's combat expands upon the fast-paced, parry-centric style introduced in Bloodborne, introducing a brand new posture system that heavily relies on perfectly timed parries, dodges, and counter-attacks. Similarly, Sekiro's storyline deviates from the typical formula by incorporating more cutscenes and dialogue to deliver exposition and core plot points, rather than relying solely on item descriptions and contextual clues.

Although Bloodborne fans eagerly anticipate a sequel, it is arguable that Sekiro is the game that truly deserves one. With Elden Ring serving as the ideal culmination of FromSoftware's accumulated knowledge from the Soulsborne series, a sequel to Bloodborne might be perceived as redundant at this stage. However, the absence of Sekiro's mechanics in Elden Ring has sparked a stronger desire to see their return in a sequel, with the hope of further improvements. A potential Sekiro sequel could amplify the unique posture mechanic of the original game and introduce fresh features, solidifying the series as one of FromSoftware's most distinctive and exceptional creations.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.