Is Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Related to Dark Souls?
The short answer is no, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is not directly related to the Dark Souls series in terms of lore, world-building, or characters. While both games are developed by FromSoftware and share some thematic similarities, they exist within completely separate universes. Sekiro draws heavily from Japanese mythology and history, while Dark Souls is rooted in dark fantasy and European influences. They are distinct experiences, united by a shared DNA of challenging gameplay and intricate design.
Unpacking the Similarities and Differences
To understand why Sekiro isn’t a Dark Souls spin-off or successor, we need to delve into what makes each game unique, and where their paths briefly converge.
Shared DNA: The FromSoftware Imprint
Both Sekiro and Dark Souls bear the undeniable mark of FromSoftware. This manifests in several key ways:
- Challenging Combat: Both games are known for their demanding combat systems that require precision, timing, and a deep understanding of enemy patterns. “Git Gud” is a common phrase associated with both communities.
- Deliberate Level Design: Level design is meticulously crafted, often intertwining areas and providing a sense of interconnectedness, albeit in different ways. Exploration is rewarded, and shortcuts are common.
- Cryptic Storytelling: Neither game spoon-feeds the player the narrative. Instead, the story is unveiled through item descriptions, environmental details, and interactions with NPCs. This encourages player interpretation and discussion.
- Punishing Difficulty: Death is a frequent occurrence, serving as a learning tool. Losing progress upon death is a core mechanic, although the implementation differs between the two games.
- Atmospheric World-Building: Both games immerse the player in rich and detailed worlds with distinct visual styles and a pervasive sense of mystery and danger.
These common threads contribute to the perception of a relationship between the games, but they stem from the studio’s design philosophy rather than a direct narrative or canonical connection.
Diverging Paths: Setting, Story, and Mechanics
Despite the shared DNA, the core elements of Sekiro and Dark Souls are vastly different:
- Setting: Dark Souls is set in a medieval, decaying world inspired by European dark fantasy. Sekiro, on the other hand, is firmly rooted in a fantastical interpretation of Sengoku period Japan.
- Story: Dark Souls features a cyclical narrative centered around the undead and the rekindling of the First Flame. Sekiro follows the story of Wolf, a shinobi tasked with protecting his young master, Kuro, and severing his immortal heritage.
- Combat System: While both are challenging, the combat systems differ significantly. Dark Souls emphasizes character builds, weapon variety, and dodging/blocking. Sekiro focuses on posture breaking, parrying, and utilizing the prosthetic arm’s tools.
- Character Customization: Dark Souls offers extensive character customization, allowing players to create unique builds. Sekiro features a fixed protagonist with limited customization options focused on skills and prosthetic upgrades.
- Multiplayer: Dark Souls has a robust multiplayer component, allowing for co-op and PvP. Sekiro is a strictly single-player experience.
- RPG Elements: Dark Souls is a role-playing game with stats, equipment, and leveling systems. Sekiro has fewer RPG elements, focusing more on action and skill.
The differences in these aspects underscore the fact that Sekiro is a distinct and independent creation from FromSoftware.
The FromSoftware Formula: A Genre Evolved
It is perhaps more accurate to say that Sekiro is a refinement and evolution of the “Souls-like” genre that FromSoftware pioneered, rather than a direct successor. Sekiro takes the core tenets of challenging combat, deliberate level design, and cryptic storytelling, and applies them to a new setting and gameplay style. This evolution is evident in the increased focus on verticality, the parry-focused combat, and the grappling hook mechanic, all of which contribute to a faster-paced and more dynamic experience compared to Dark Souls.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Sekiro a Dark Souls game?
No, Sekiro is not a Dark Souls game. It is a separate title developed by FromSoftware with its own unique story, setting, and gameplay mechanics.
2. Does Sekiro take place in the same universe as Dark Souls?
No, Sekiro does not take place in the same universe as Dark Souls. They are completely separate intellectual properties.
3. Are there any Dark Souls characters in Sekiro?
No, there are no characters from the Dark Souls series in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
4. Does Sekiro have multiplayer like Dark Souls?
No, Sekiro is a single-player game and does not have any multiplayer functionality like co-op or PvP found in Dark Souls.
5. Is Sekiro as difficult as Dark Souls?
Sekiro is known for its challenging gameplay, comparable to Dark Souls. However, the difficulty stems from different mechanics, with Sekiro emphasizing parrying and posture breaking over dodging and rolling.
6. Can I create my own character in Sekiro?
No, you play as a fixed protagonist named Wolf (Sekiro), and you cannot create a custom character.
7. Does Sekiro have character classes like Dark Souls?
No, Sekiro does not have character classes. You progress by acquiring skills and upgrading your prosthetic arm.
8. Does Sekiro have different weapons like Dark Souls?
While you can upgrade your prosthetic arm with various tools, Sekiro primarily relies on the katana as its main weapon. The focus is on mastering the katana combat style.
9. Is Sekiro an RPG like Dark Souls?
Sekiro has fewer RPG elements compared to Dark Souls. It’s more focused on action and skill-based combat, with limited character customization options.
10. What are the key differences between Sekiro and Dark Souls combat?
Sekiro focuses on parrying, posture breaking, and utilizing the prosthetic arm’s tools. Dark Souls emphasizes dodging, rolling, blocking, and weapon variety.
11. What is the story of Sekiro about?
Sekiro follows the story of Wolf, a shinobi tasked with protecting his young master, Kuro, and severing his immortal heritage.
12. Is Sekiro’s lore as deep as Dark Souls’ lore?
Sekiro has its own rich and detailed lore based on Japanese mythology and history, although presented in the signature cryptic style of FromSoftware.
13. Which game should I play first, Sekiro or Dark Souls?
The order in which you play them is entirely up to personal preference, as they are not related. If you prefer a slower, more methodical combat system with RPG elements, start with Dark Souls. If you prefer faster-paced combat and a more linear story, start with Sekiro.
14. Are there any Easter eggs in Sekiro referencing Dark Souls?
While there might be subtle nods to FromSoftware’s previous games, there are no explicit or significant Easter eggs directly referencing the Dark Souls series in Sekiro.
15. If I like Dark Souls, will I like Sekiro?
If you enjoy the challenging gameplay, intricate level design, and cryptic storytelling that are hallmarks of FromSoftware games, you will likely enjoy Sekiro, even though its mechanics and setting are different from Dark Souls.
In conclusion, while Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and the Dark Souls series share the same developer and a similar design philosophy, they are distinct and unrelated games. Sekiro offers a unique experience with its own setting, story, and combat system, making it a worthy title in its own right.