“‘Sekiro’ Tops Global Discussions!”

“98% Positive Reviews on Day One! What’s So Charming About Sekiro?”

“Why Do Players Suffer Yet Still Love It? Daily Gaming News Deep Dives Into Sekiro’s Game Design Core!”

“Unbelievable Masterpiece of an Action Game! Media Like SNG Give High Scores!”

“...”

Since the game was officially released yesterday at 8 PM Zhongjing time,

although just one night wasn’t enough for players to complete the entire game,

based on numerous review media, streamers, and player experiences,

this game, unless it starts cutting corners later, already has the quality to earn scores comparable to Titanfall.

Some talked about the storyline of Genichiro and the severing of immortality, others discussed strategies for various bosses and elites, and some shared the strange collectible items they found in all sorts of bizarre places on forums.

Indeed.

Unlike previous Golden Wind games, and even unlike the vast majority of games in this world,

Sekiro’s complex and intricately connected map design is one of its most praised features.

The various scattered hidden items on the map became one of the favorite exploration elements for many collection enthusiasts.

Of course,

besides these normal players, there were also some stubborn ones.

Early the next morning, a video went viral from overseas all the way to domestic platforms.

The video’s creator was just an ordinary player, neither a streamer nor an experienced video producer.

Normally, such videos wouldn’t gain much attention in the vast ocean of the internet.

But this video went viral on YouTube immediately after release and was even reposted by major media and streamers.

Because the content of the video was—“What Happens When You Kill Genichiro on Your First Encounter?”

Yes!

Someone actually spent an entire night fighting the first encounter Genichiro nonstop and ultimately defeated him!

Players were stunned!

Everyone knows that the first encounter with Genichiro is considered invincible by most players.

Usually, for story-driven encounters like this, developers ensure the protagonist loses by locking health or using instant kills, making the villain win 100% to keep their imposing aura.

But!

The gameplay video showed that after Wolf repeatedly hit and dodged with just stepping and normal attacks to beat Genichiro,

in the cutscene, Genichiro actually kneels in exhaustion among the reeds, panting, and says, “As expected of the Young Lord’s ninja!”

However, after that, Genichiro’s Ashina retainers throw a boomerang straight at Wolf’s back of the head.

When Wolf turns to block, Genichiro launches a sneak attack.

Crunch!

Wolf’s left hand is still severed.

But this time, Genichiro says, “It’s a pity. For Ashina, I must take the Young Lord with me.”

“Ha ha ha ha ha! Sneak attack! No honor!”

This alternate timeline revelation instantly sparked joyful discussions among players!

“Trashichiro! So trash!”

“Trash trash trash trash trash…”

“Taunt when winning, sneak attack when losing, truly trash…”

“But there’s actually another CG? Little Yellow really put in effort.”

“It also reflects Genichiro’s personality. He’s willing to do anything to protect Ashina.”

“Indeed. Otherwise, he wouldn’t forcibly acquire immortality even knowing the madness it causes.”

“Laughing at the joke, not the man. Ichiro is a real man.”

“But that sneak attack move is really trash. I want to know the mental state of the guy who played the whole night and still lost his hand.”

“Ha ha ha ha ha, hilarious…”

“...”

Here, discussions about Sekiro continued fiercely and grew even more intense.

Meanwhile, the full game reviews and scores for Torii: Phantom Shadow had quietly been released.

Yes.

Although also a 3S-level blockbuster, and similar in scale to Sekiro,

due to differences in difficulty, playability, collection elements, and story arrangement,

within just one night, while most players worldwide were still finishing Genichiro and preparing to sever immortality,

Torii had already been thoroughly completed, with some media even achieving full collection achievements.

Comprehensive reviews of Torii were also published—

[SNG Forum (8/10): A standard 3S-level work. The high investment and cost produced effects that meet expectations, but Koizumi Studio’s gameplay design is obviously insufficient. The story is relatively clear but almost flat overall, making it a rather mediocre game...]

[Global Players (8.5/10): Detailed graphics, superb effects, and a unique FPS experience. Honestly, the game impressed me at first, but after twenty minutes, the repeated combat and mediocre level design wore down the excitement. Although the studio almost perfectly recreated Shibuya’s streets, my experience felt like just sightseeing in Shibuya...]

[SLGamers (7/10): Unsatisfactory story, unsatisfactory combat, unsatisfactory gameplay... KOMINA’s understanding of 3S seems limited to “stacking resources.” The simple “rescue sister” main quest is mediocre, and the side quests feel trivial. Seriously! I’m here investigating mysterious disappearances and saving the world! Can I stop handing out ghost toilet paper?!]

[Hummingbird Game Review (6.2/10): Terrible AI! Terrible monster repetition! Terrible boss fight design! When I found that the big fireball skill solved every problem in this world, the entire game’s playability vanished!]

[...]

Highest scores hover around eight!

Lowest even down to six!

Ultimately, the average score from first-tier game media was only 7 points.

Keep in mind!

Last year, Yamamoto Tsunashiro’s Yakuza Frenzy, KOMINA’s flagship 3S title, scored an average of 8 points!

Some media even gave it a high 9.2, praising its racing plus shooting gameplay style.

But now,

as KOMINA’s most anticipated 3S title of the year,

Torii: Phantom Shadow’s Waterloo truly shocked everyone.

On various forums, many players discussed—

“Really trash, honestly deserved it, FVK KOMINA.”

“The trailer was great; everything felt textured and suspenseful, but the actual game is this quality.”

“Totally deserved the failure.”

“Played for an hour and refunded. Screenshot here [image]. My review: the setting was great but the content ruined it.”

“Indeed, the promised Hyakki Yagyo ended up just endless overworked souls, headless schoolgirls, and Bubble Grandma. Three useless monsters for the whole fight…”

“I mainly can’t stand the boss fights. The bosses are all too dumb!”

“Recommend buying Sekiro.”

“Bought it, stuck at Chained Ogre now. By the way, how expensive is Yiyou X2 repair? Accidentally broke it.”

“Excuse me, how did you manage to break the super sturdy X2 machine? (Shocked)”

“Like how Chained Ogre lightly touched me, I gently touched the motion-sensing pod (dog head emoji).”

“Yiyou X2: Danger.”

“Ahhh don’t post this anymore, I’m close to PTSD…”

“...”

For KOMINA, the worst had finally happened.

Maybe before, when Escape and Silent Hill collided, much of the players’ resentment stemmed from poor company leadership, regrets over Silent Hill PT, and anger over past actions.

The flood of “fvk komina” messages indeed raised blood pressure.

But now,

after the storm passed,

although players still muttered FVK KOMINA, it was clear this time they were completely, utterly disappointed in the game’s quality.

The criticism mostly targeted all aspects of Torii: Phantom Shadow.

From main story to side content.

From game content volume to core logic design.

The reputation was a total failure!

So far, the best reviews Torii received could only be summed up in two words—mediocre!

Among these, the biggest dissatisfaction came from the huge gap in boss fight design between the two games!

Torii’s boss design was even worse than mediocre.

Many players said it was unworthy of even shining Wolf’s shoes.

Many who bought Torii couldn’t hold back their anger, publicly calling out Torii’s director Koizumi Kazuo on Twitter, directing him:

“If you really can’t design bosses, go watch Sekiro’s! See how many tricks their bosses have!!!”

...

Morning and evening bells.

The grand and solemn harmony of flutes and the Chinese drum filled Immortal Peak Temple with reverence.

Vast forests of red maple leaves rustled softly.

Mountain winds blew through distant valleys, stirring the crimson leaves into a whirlwind.

Quiet, solemn, peaceful.

The temple’s soundtrack had a distinctly Buddhist tranquility.

However!

When you truly delve into this temple, you’ll find—

“The bald monks here seem infected,”

streamer Quinn said as he walked toward the mountain gate,

“They’re researching that kind of immortal parasitic slime here and experimenting on humans,”

“Maybe because the experiments were impure, they became those infected ones,”

“Turned into Immortal Peak tough guys…”

Quinn, a Xiaopozhan streamer, had a dog avatar with a red scarf, and his slow Nanchang-accented Mandarin during streams was strangely catchy and beloved by many viewers who teased him.

Because his ID was MR.QUIN, viewers called him “Quinn” or “Mr. Qin,” and his verbal tics were jokingly called “Great Qin Talk.”

“Wow, Quinn actually understands the story.”

“He must’ve secretly checked the guide yesterday and is reciting it live.”

“Monotone reading.”

“Too professional. He even got excited early today.”

“He even collected some previously missed items in his free time.”

“Really love Quinn. So thoughtful.”

“Nantong guna.”

“...”

While speaking, Quinn pushed open the mountain gate.

Just crossing the corridor bridge ahead would lead to Immortal Peak Temple’s main gate, officially entering the temple to acquire the Undying Severer.

However,

at that moment!

Suddenly, from a viewing platform in the middle of the corridor bridge, emerged a figure wearing medieval armor...

“Put down your sword!”

The armored warrior’s voice came muffled from his heavy helmet, speaking perfect English.

“Holy crap, a foreigner?”

Quinn was stunned and instinctively drew Kusabimaru.

But seeing Quinn still ready to fight, the armored warrior dashed forward in a blink.

Before Quinn could raise his hand, the warrior pushed him fiercely with his greatsword, then wildly swung the sword down: “Ha—!”

Boom!!!

Dust and smoke exploded on the corridor bridge.

Quinn’s health dropped by three-quarters in the blink of an eye!

“Shit shit shit shit—”

Quinn rolled on the ground and ran while shouting to his healing gourd,

“Foreign tough guy! I’m stunned!”

The livestream chat erupted—

“Who the hell is this?”

“US military stationed here?”

“Ha ha ha ha ha ha!”

“The only foreigner actually mentioned in Sekiro is the firecracker item on the prosthetic ninja arm—Robert’s Firecrackers.”

“So this is Robert?”

“Robert’s dead. This must be his dad, probably came to Immortal Peak to seek immortality to save Robert.”

“No way, this is too strong.”

“Feels like a different dimension.”

“Armored warrior is seriously badass.”

“...”

Amid the viewers’ jokes and discussions,

Quinn refilled his health and engaged the armored warrior in battle.

Ding! Tang!

The heavy attacks made Quinn’s hands tingle.

The warrior’s wide, powerful swings disrupted Quinn’s rhythm.

This was Sekiro’s greatest strength in boss design—

Nearly every elite and boss in each new area had unique characteristics!

Quinn had encountered many “strong” elites on his journey,

like the Samurai General, the Mountain Bandit Heavy Kuzo, and the Bull in Ashina Castle—all fierce!

But their fierceness differed: the general was fierce and skillful, the bandit was brutal and wild, the bull was frenzied and savage.

The armored warrior’s fierceness was fearless and mighty!

His huge greatsword was heavy and sharp, and no one doubted that touching immortality would leave anyone half-destroyed!

His shining armor was impenetrable, with no visible weaknesses!

He was like an iron giant, every move filled with flawless majesty.

If the armored warrior met players before Genichiro, no doubt he would have defeated Wolf within three rounds.

However!

Tang! Tang! Tang!

Three sharp clangs rang, sparks flying!

Quinn, who had revived once, skillfully deflected the armored warrior’s greatsword, and just as his posture bar was about to break, he preemptively broke the warrior’s posture bar!

Players now were no longer those weaklings who had their arms casually severed!

“Hmph! Take this, motherf***er!”

The death blow red mark lit up!

Quinn leaped forward precisely, slashing his blade hard across the armored warrior’s neck!

Ssshh!

However!

Stomp stomp stomp!

Unexpectedly, the death blow did not produce spurting blood but a long string of sparks!

The armored warrior stepped back several paces, crashing into a pillar on the corridor bridge with a clang.

After a brief pause, he gripped his greatsword again, and his posture bar sharply dropped by half!

The next second!

The streamer, the chat barrage, and even Koizumi Kazuo offscreen all let out the most common Golden Wind player reaction—

“Huh?”

“Huh??”

“Huh???”

Is this really the flashy move Golden Wind’s boss design is famous for?

This is...

Too flashy!

They actually made an unkillable monster?!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com