Unveiling the Dark Secrets of Arashi: Castles of Sin - An Exclusive Sneak Peek

Highlights

Arashi: Castles of Sin - Final Cut offers true stealth gameplay in VR, standing out among the usual sword-fighting and shooting games.

The game offers an open-ended stealth gameplay experience, providing players with multiple paths and opportunities for verticality, allowing them to unleash their creativity in their approach.

Players are also able to participate in exhilarating boss fights that not only put their reflexes to the test but also challenge their sword-fighting abilities. The first boss fight, in particular, showcases mechanics that are reminiscent of the challenging gameplay found in FromSoftware's Sekiro.

Arashi: Castles of Sin - Final Cut, originally exclusive to PS4 PSVR, is now available on a wider range of modern VR hardware. The game has undergone significant upgrades to take advantage of the latest hardware capabilities, resulting in enhanced visuals. Among the usual sword-fighting simulators and first-person shooters in VR, Arashi: Castles of Sin - Final Cut stands out as a true stealth game. While it excels in stealth, the game also offers a diverse arsenal of weapons and tools for combat. Challenging boss fights will put players' reflexes and blade skills to the test. In a playthrough mission on our website, we had an early look at the game's enhanced visuals and the thrilling stealth action gameplay. Players will navigate through well-guarded castles using multiple routes, culminating in a difficult boss encounter with one of the Oni as they strive to defeat the Six Oni of Iga.

Arashi: Castles of Sin Features Open-Ended Stealth Gameplay

A high-quality stealth game provides players with multiple options, fostering improvisation and creativity as they work towards their objectives. In Arashi: Castles of Sin, the castle exteriors are designed with various paths and elements that encourage stealth gameplay and offer unexpected verticality, enhancing both combat and reconnaissance. An invaluable ability in this stage is Jitsu, which scans the surrounding area and reveals the enemy silhouettes behind walls.

Moreover, players can utilize a grappling hook to reach designated points, hide in tall grass to execute surprise attacks on unsuspecting guards, and employ the assistance of Haru, a trained canine companion, to divert the attention of enemies away from the player's movements. Dispatching unaware enemies with a single sword swing is effortless, making stealth an advantageous strategy for thinning out the crowd before detection.

There's Still Plenty of Fighting in Arashi: Castles of Sin

Once players are detected and the alarm is raised, they must eliminate the remaining enemies in the area before progressing in the mission. The immediate solution is a traditional sword fight, as players are equipped with a sword and a short sword that can block, parry, and strike. To successfully defeat their opponents, players need to tactically block and parry swings, creating opportunities for powerful strikes. Additionally, there are several other tools that can be utilized in combat to handle multiple targets.

The player's shinobi character possesses a set of weapons for silent takedowns at short and medium ranges, including shuriken and a bow for precise ranged kills. They also have a blowgun to stun enemies from a distance and a loud flintlock for dealing with heavily armored samurai opponents who are resistant to other projectile weapons. These different tools can be seamlessly integrated into combat, allowing a skilled shinobi to swiftly shoot arrows, throw shuriken, and swiftly stab nearby foes in one fluid and cinematic sequence. Furthermore, there are various types of grenades available, each requiring different physical actions to utilize, providing an immersive gameplay experience compared to simply pressing a button or pulling a trigger on a flat-screen.

Boss Fights Will Fully Test Player Skills In Arashi: Castles of Sin

After reaching the end of the castles of sin, players will confront one of the Oni face-to-face. The first boss fight, against Sloth, truly embodies the deadly sin it represents. Players must evade sludge balls that create thick puddles on the ground, making movement difficult. Along with spatial awareness, players must also showcase their sword-fighting skills. Sloth unleashes devastating multi-hit combos that require quick blocking, reminiscent of the challenging rhythmic boss fights found in FromSoftware's Sekiro.

In summary, Arashi: Castles of Sin - Final Cut is an excellent choice for stealth-oriented VR gamers or those who enjoy the intense and tactile experience of melee combat. Notably, players will also have the delightful opportunity to pet the dog in Arashi.

Arashi: Castles of Sin - Final Cut releases December 5 on Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest 3, PCVR, and PlayStation VR2.