No, 'Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice' Absolutely Does Not Need An Easy Mode

'Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice' is a game that teaches you how to overcome the odds and taste sweet victory. An easy mode would cheapen that experience.

[Lexreborn2]

Technically the default is it’s easy mode. You can ring the demon bell and make it harder for better items and then new game plus changes everything. So the Forbes author is just a baby

[Sono421]

Forbes is literally milking hits, getting clicks from both sides, they first make an idiotic claim, knowing it will draw in people, then release another article giving the counter opinion. It's pathetic, they don't actually care one way or the other, they just know it's a hot button topic and they're looking to milk it, that is all. That's not journalism, it's sensationalism, and I am glad I didn't give them a single click from it. Yet forbes is supposed to be "reputable" I guess when 90% of sites aren't reputable you kinda just pick at random eh?

[UltraNova]

Bunch of amoral assholes...

[GameStallion]

Forbes- fake news

[MajorLazer]

To all the scrubs: GIT GUD!!

[DaDrunkenJester]

Oh wow, I didnt even realize this was published by the same place. How low game "journalism" has come. I'm glad I didnt click them either. This is pathetic.

[Gaming101]

It's almost as if Forbes isn't one person, and that it can present multiple opinions from multiple writers covering multiple angles of a story/opinion.

[basilboxer]

You don't understand how Forbes works. They are all freelance bloggers. There is no coordinated effort, lol.

[DVAcme]

EXACTLY!

[hulk_bash1987]

Sekiro is frustrating and damn near infuriating at times. But the pay off of failing, learning and finally beating each enemy is one of the most rewarding experiences I've had in a videogame in quite some time. Taking away that level of challenge negates what From Software was trying to do with this game.

[rainslacker]

Technically, no game needs an easy mode.:)

Some devs just feel it's worth it so more people can play the game.

[DrumBeat]

Some games are just supposed to 'be.' This game's default is how it's supposed to be. If it's too difficult, that's too bad.

From aren't making an 'accessible' game they're just making a game, and if that game happens to be difficult, then that's the game. End of.

[SpinalRemains138]

Correct. The whole point of the game experience is the difficulty. It's From's vision and From's design. It is this way for a reason. Anyone familiar with their games knows why.

I got the game at launch and have only defeated Drunky, Butterbitch, Armor guy, and some mini bosses. Currently I just got shadowrush and plan to try the Ashina Roof again to defeat Genichiro. I have not even gone into Sunken Valley yet. I only have 3 attack power and the game is hard. I love it though because of that. The hardest games are the best games.

[Fraggle1987]

But an easy mode is completely seperate. It does no harm to the main experience. I don't understand how people cant understand this?

[uth11]

because the struggle is central to these games. the worlds aren't that big compared to other games, and you could breeze right through it on easy mode. Then people would start complaining about lack of content.

no it's better to not mess with the formula in that way

[KyRo]

This.

Harder games tend to mask a games length. There's already a video out there of someone completing the game in under a hour.

[senorfartcushion]

You're not messing with any formulas, really. You can still play it the normal way, this is talking about an ADDITION, not an amendment. Brains, please, use them.

[Brave_Losers_Unite]

If your goal is to increase a game length by making it more difficult then thats pretty stupid

[artsaber]

Someone has already completed a Speed Run in a little over an hour. So there goes that. Nothing wrong with more options for casual gamers. Keep your setting on Demon Bell, no one will stop you.

[BlackTar187]

if it's too hard to play something else. You don't need to complain and about something just to get your way.

If you're not good enough practice if practice doesn't work move on to another game.

[DaDrunkenJester]

@KyRo

And you can speed run Skyrim and Zelda BotW in an hour as well. Your point?

[Hungryalpaca]

@L7

Except it’s not cheap or infuriatingly difficult. If you die it’s your own fault. Every enemy attack has a counter. It’s up to you to use it. If you die you’re the one that fucked up. No the game.

[uth11]

@Brave_Losers

i would rather have a game be challenging than padded out with pointless side quests and a mostly empty open world, and other tricks they use to extend game length

[thatguyhayat]

Yes it does. This is how the developer makes his games. Putting in easy mode just ruins it. It teaches you patience and strategy

[william_cade]

They made a complete game. Why cut it up into different modes? What's the benefit of hacking apart a complete experience. Especially when your complete experience is sold on the understanding that it will be difficult. I don't understand why people can't understand this.

There are 1000s of games out there, play something else or tell your editor that you can't finish the game and give it a good review in the time they need it. All of this nonsense is disingenuous.

[senorfartcushion]

Every complete game has an easy mode. This doesn't so it is therefore incomplete.

[BlackTar187]

@senor that is some stupid logic

[DaDrunkenJester]

@Senor

Most stupid thing I've read today.

So all Zelda games are incomplete? Mario? GTA? RDR 1&2? Ori? Most indies and all those old classic games. Countless amount of games don't offer difficulty modes. I think this is an argument between young gamers who have had easy modes their whole life and those if us who played in arcades where we knew we had to "git gud".

[starchild]

Maybe, maybe not. But it's the developers' creation and they can make it how they want. If Sekiro needs an easy mode then do most games need ultra hard modes that equal the challenge of Sekiro? Because most games are very easy even on harder difficulty settings.

[lazyboyblue]

You are correct. If they don't want it to have a easy mode then it shouldn't. Doesn't stop me asking for one though. And if they hear me and decide to add one? That's ok to.

[starchild]

You know, ultimately I agree. If that's what they decide to do and they don't think it will compromise their games' design then that's fine. I don't think there's any harm in asking for something. It just seems that it crosses over into an attitude of entitlement for some people. As if they were owed something just because they want it.

That's what I meant by saying every game must offer an ultra challenging mode if we're going by that attitude. Every game must offer both first and third person perspectives, ultra hard and ultra easy modes, etc...if every game must cater to every preference.

[rainslacker]

I think many games should have an ultra hard mode if they don't. Usually the ones that don't aren't that hard to begin with. Some like the challenge. Not me so much, as I'm usually OK with normal or the next step up most of the time. Sometimes I find games more fun in normal mode, because that's how they're generally designed to be played so they're balanced for that.

But i do know that some people like more of a challenge, and I'm OK with them wanting a higher difficulty. I don't see why some people are so against others getting an easier difficulty. There may be things in the game which would interest others...like a story...but may not find it fun on the default difficulty of the game.

I'm OK with the developer doing what they want in this case. But, I'm not personally talking about the developers right, but the consumers interest.

[senorfartcushion]

well done for stating the obvious, but Souls Fans can be really annoying when it comes to this. They don't "get" the obvious.

[djplonker]

"they don't get the obvious"

Kinda like it's obvious that the souls games are hard by nature and will not have an easy mode so if that isn't your thing then don't buy it.....

[SCW1982]

The obvious is you didn’t GIT GUD and are trying to justify it. LOL

[lazyboyblue]

@djplonker why do you care about the inclusion of a mode you wont touch Mr Plonker?

[djplonker]

@lazy

Because having an easy mode would defeat the point of the souls-like genre, its supposed to be hard and challenging thats is why there isnt an easy mode.......

It's a watercooler game and even though its the same difficulty for everyone people will find different areas and bosses harder or easier, easy mode would kill most of that discussion and the people who do finish it on easy wont exactly admit they did ez mode to the "git gud" community souls has.

[Hungryalpaca]

You people are the ones coming in trying to change the game because you’re too lazy to learn how to play it.

You’re like those parents screaming st the refs to add stupid rules to sports because they’re kids suck at it.

[SCW1982]

Here to say it absolutely ruins the main experience because the experience is that amazing rush and euphoric high you get once you beat an enemy that has been destroying you over and over. That is the amazing experience you get from a Soulsborne game and that’s the addicting high that keeps bringing you back. You take that out and it’s compromising the whole experience. This is what you need to understand. It means GIT GUD!

[senorfartcushion]

Again, you're not even touching the main experience as it's another mode entirely. Are you stupid? (Genuine question.)

You can play the normal way and engage with that UNTOUCHED experience

Or you can play on an easy mode - another experience entirely.

They are separate things.

[SCW1982]

@SenorFartCushion look at your name and tell me who is stupid.

[MadMax]

Good for you, but why would it ruin the experience to add an easy mode for people that dont feel like getting stressed out on the game? You can still play it on your normal mode. Nothing will change at all for you. Theres no excuse and they will sell way more copies too!

If enough people email them, it could very well happen.

[jznrpg]

@Logic the right way is not subjective. It’s the way the game was made , that is the only right way . If you want something different you will need to make your own game or make cheats for Sekiro on PC .

[jagermaster619]

Yeah maybe you can put the toilet seat back up when you are done....🚺

[Nacho_Z]

From obviously feel that an easy mode would dilute the experience and what their games are all about and I agree.

Logically it'd be easier if the story in their games was spelled out in cutscenes with lengthy exposition but instead they leave it to the player to do the work and piece it together from scraps of lore they have to find themselves often with great difficulty.

People need to realise that sometimes something just isn't for them and move on, rather than try to change it when it neither wants to change or would be better if it did.

[smashman98]

Thank you other Forbes author.

[kythlyn]

Forbes is arguing with itself now?

[Double_O_Revan]

Even Forbes knows that Forbes is dumb.

[Omnisonne]

About to say.. rather cheap way of generating traffic for your website.

[rainslacker]

Since they probably don't get a lot of traffic for comments because they don't allow ad-blocker on the site, maybe that's the only way they can feel like someone is listening to them. Or rather, they're probably the only ones who listen to them.

[Platformgamer]

too bad it isn't fun, no matter the difficulty

[jagermaster619]

🐔 🚬er

[Hungryalpaca]

Too bad next to no one shares your opinion. Life must be pretty lonely.

[artsaber]

I’m personally enjoying the game as it is. But, I will admit that it is “unnecessarily brutal” at some points and People have logged many “lucky” wins in this game and have wrongfully claimed it as skill. Even though I never lost to the Chained Ogre, who the hell has a “homing” dropkick?? I don’t understand “Rage Nerds” who have damn near broken their controllers & TVs IN SECRET due to this game not wanting options for others. If you don’t want to play it on easy if it was offered, then just don’t.

How is allowing someone who would enjoy a more casual experience detrimental to your experience? Rage Nerds lack logic sometimes. An easy mode could be there for the same reason the 1st enemy you encounter and everyone thereafter doesn’t have the same health and attack damage as a final boss. The next game should be just that to teach rage nerds a lesson. Just make an impossible game with 800 enemies all with 2 million health and 5 million damage per hit while your attack does 500 damage and your health bar is 1000. Call it “Don’t Get Hit”. Then all of you guys can join a “Git Gud” club together before you dig your own eyes out with spoons. A casual player spends the same $59.99 as everyone else, they can have a say if they like. Sometimes people want to appreciate a game with a less stress factor.

[Black-Helghast]

Your logic is so retarded.

Listen whimp, let's go back to DEMONS SOULS on PS3. Did it have an easy mode?

Okay, Demons souls was a success on PS3 and although it was very underrated, it was the catalyst for one of the most famous and favorite RPG's of all time. Dark Souls.

NOW LETS GO BACK TO DARK SOULS on PC, PS3 and 360. Did it have a f**cking easy mode? HOW ABOUT THE MOSTLY HATED AND MOST UNLIKED SOULSBORNE GAME, DARK SOULS 2. DID. IT HAVE. AN. EASY. MODE?

Then, thanks to THE SUCCESS OF THE GAMES I MENTIONED BEFORE came a masterpiece for some and my personal favorite game of all time, Bloodborne.

You try explaining how an amazing experience like BLOODBORNE would've been the same masterpiece if not ALL of the bloodborne community had the same experience trying to kill Orphan of Kos or fucking Ludwig the first time alone.

Then there was Dark Souls 3, in my opinion the easiest Souls game. DID DARK SOULS 3 HAVE AN EASY MODEEEEE?!?!?!?!?!!?!

Do you get my point? Do i need to make you a f*cking map? THEY'VE NEVER DONE EASY MODE, IF YOU DONT LIKE HARD GAMES, GO PLAY ASSASSINS CREED OR FUCKING KNACK MY N***A, SEKIRO ISN'T A GAME FOR WHIMPS LIKE YOU. FROMSOFT IS ABOUT A CHALLENGING AND UNFORGIVING EXPERIENCE.

Going by your logic, the next FromSoft game should make the main character 999999999999 HP, DMG, DEF and enemies are 100 HP 40 DMG and 10 DEF. call it "A fucking easy game for cry babies like you"

[Harryvok]

Imagine having an easy mode (that no one was forced to use if they didn’t want to) that made your game more accessible to more people, hence selling more copies.

What a ridiculous idea.

🙄

[artsaber]

Again idiot, I’m enjoying the game as-is. But I’m not everybody. An extra menu option does not ruin my experience. This is not Dark Souls or Bloodborne, it is a Shinobi game with probably the most mediocre skilled Ninja in history. You still have not explained how an “Easy” option in the menu ruins YOUR game. You are a moron, and obviously a Rage Nerd, the CAPS gives it away. FromSoft should lock your game on Demon Bell for 4 months, and watch you whine like the Rage Nerd you are. Have a nice day Loser.

[artsaber]

@Harryvok - Unfortunately, what would serve a Rage Nerd like this proper is if FromSoft decided that these types of games aren’t profitable enough (ROI) when compared to different companies projects. I suppose the Rage Nerd would be happy if they close the studio down 1st before putting a “Easy” difficulty (would actually be Medium or Normal on a slider) in the game to reach a broader demographic. The standard difficulty would still be the default - more options are bad I guess.

[MoshA]

Make the bosses harder and the minibosses easier. As in, remove the restrained ogre's teleporting grab and fix the hitboxes.

[starchild]

I didn't find his grabs or jump kicks to be hard to dodge or sprint out of the way of. I think I beat the Chained Ogre on my 4th try. I beat the shinobi hunter on my first try. Overall, I think the mini boss difficulty is just fine. The main bosses were a little harder for me than the mini bosses but still totally manageable.

[Hungryalpaca]

This guy always has dumb suggestions. He frequently makes statements like if it’s not on PS4 it’s not good.

[Sm00thNinja]

So I just beat the great ape boss and I actually... Sort of agree with the article. I'd hate to just go buy this game as a casual famer because it looks interesting and I can't even get past the first area. A person who just wants to enjoy the game would never make it past the Great Ape. I love how challenging the game is. It's putting my skills to the test but it is BRUTAL.

[djplonker]

As a "casual" I bought ds and ds2 at launch and got less then half way through both before giving up, I didn't learn my lesson and bought bloodborne at launch.

By the time the credits finished rolling I had resvered a copy of ds2:sotfs and never looked back.

It takes alot to break through the "wall" if you haven't played souls games before but that's part of the charm, had there been an ez mode I probably would have turned it on as soon as I started having problems with an area or boss and I wouldn't have experianced the best parts of the souls games.

Sekiro is kicking my ass too.

[Sm00thNinja]

You're on this website you're not a casual lol

[djplonker]

whoops meant to type souls casual*

[Sm00thNinja]

Gotcha. Me too! Sekiro is killing me

[sampsonon]

So what I'm trying to figure out, and i play all my games on the hardest difficulty, is why do people care if they make an easy mode for people that can't play the game as is?
It's not going to take anything away from our experience.

One can also look at the financial benefits from giving people an opportunity to buy and play the game to the end. Which in turn allows FS more money to invest in these amazing game.

Would it make people happy if the trophies were different than the regular mode trophies?
I just don't get it.

please someone explain

[Fraggle1987]

There is no explanation. Anyone who thinks having a seperate easy mode is bad is a retard. U cant commune with these people with simple logic, they understand none.

[UnSelf]

not true. someone above mentioned that a game's difficult is often a intertwined with the developer's vision - and i can totally understand that.

Less pertinent is a game's length is easily compromised with an easy playthrough.

Solution: Allow an easy mode that comes at a cost. Or give a badge of honor to those who didnt punk out and finished the game the way it was meant to be.

[Hungryalpaca]

Because an easy mode completely changes the entire experience and point of the game dude. YOURE the one who doesn’t get it because you DONT play it.

[Hungryalpaca]

A big part of the experience of these games is being difficult. It’s about teaching you when to attack, when to defend, when to use certain items. There’s a major sense of accomplishment when you overcome a boss in these games. It means you found a strategy, figured out the mechanics of said boss and focused.

Death is also a major mechanic of the game. Making it easy would make the death mechanics pointless thus making it even easier.

The difficulty is half the fun. People are asking basically to fundamentally change the point of the game. It’s like people saying chess is too hard so let’s make it so it’s not just the king who needs to be captured so you can have a second chance

No. That’s not how the game is supposed to be played. If it’s not for you then go play something else. I don’t like racing sims, I prefer arcade racing games and Mario kart. Don’t see me going to devs to ask them to remove the sim elements because it’s too hard. Or asking Nintendo to remove the weapon items because it’s too hard.

The difficulty is the thing every single mechanic in the game is designed around. Death, item use, the combat, the movement, the stealth etc. It’s all built around the difficulty.

[AK91]

Damn straight

[LucidIllusion]

The weak can't complete the game, so now they want to force a mode to ruin the original experience. People are so entitled it's pathetic. LiFE toO hArD GaMeZ ToO HaRD

[Xaevi]

Wait, from Forbes? That's just sad.

[ziggurcat]

didn't forbes also whine about it being disrespectful to gamers for not having an easy mode?

[knickstr]

Did another person at Forbes just correct someone publicly about this? That's bold and pretty awesome.

[Pyrofire95]

Lol, looks like there's some arguments at the Forbes factory.

[victorMaje]

Alright forbes, you’re done. No clicks from me for a year!

[lazyboyblue]

An easy mode can only ruin a game if you highlight it and press start.
Some people don't enjoy the frustration in Souls games but still want to enjoy the other parts of the experience.
Those who enjoy Sekiro as it is can continue to enjoy Sekiro as it is with an easy mode added because nobody will force them to use it. Complaining about opening up franchise to lesser skilled players with an easy mode is pure gaming snobbery at it's worse.

[djplonker]

even if you halved the bosses damage and doubled the players damage, bad players will still find it hard because this is not a hack and slash the whole game is dependant on reading the enemy attacks and split second timing to counter them, easy mode would not change the mechanics the game is based around.

So if you are sick of dying to a boss that kills you in two hits easy mode would make you take 4 hits but what about the next boss and the one after as they get harder (even on easy) would you be mad you got to the end and suddenly the last boss can 2 hit you?

I am guessing yes because the reason why you changed difficulty in the first place was the 2 hit boss at the start of the game when you decided to make the enemies worse instead of getting better at the game and now you are at the end and have learned nothing and start asking online for an easy peasy mode.

[Hungryalpaca]

The developers make a game a certain way. That way doesn’t include it being easy. The people who play these games agree with the developers choice.

People who think it’s too hard start crying about it asking to change the game. The devs say no and the people who actually play it say no and THEYRE the snobs?

Sorry bud but it’s the people crying to change the game that are the entitled snobs. Not those supporting the developers choices making the game THEY pay for.

[SpineSaw]

Some at Forbes only play Xbox games like Ashen thinking its a SoulsBorne type game and when they complete the easy mode game they think their a Souls game master. They jump into a real SoulsBorne game and they spend a week at the start of the game unable to get through the first area then cry "the games to hard it needs a easy I'm a pussy mode". Git Gud or stop crying and move along.

[Redrex7000]

lol why does this kind of news come out every time a soul like game comes out

[Hungryalpaca]

Because people don’t understand that some games just aren’t for them.

I’d hate to see these people try out for sports ffs. They’d start kicking and screaming saying the rules are dumb and need to change so they can participate too.

[VTKC]

I be suprised if any gamers read Forbes

[FloydianAndroid]

What I don’t get is why someone would want an easy mode in a game that is about difficulty. It’s a known fact difficulty is the hook in all of this company’s games. These games are made for people who want that challenge. it’s not my thing, but it’s dumb to expect an easy mode in these types of games. It’s like going into a pizza restaurant and being mad that you can’t have sushi. Get over it.

[Hungryalpaca]

It’s like those people to play racing sims and turn off all the sim stuff.

[Tross]

Thank you. People just need to learn that some games are not for them and stop complaining when the devs don't bend over backwards to accommodate them. For example, this is a game for people who want a challenge. For those who don't, that's fine, but you have plenty of other games to choose from that are more your speed.

[shauzy]

IT SMELL LIKE BITCH IN HERE

[ramiuk1]

i would love to play this but i know it would be way to hard for me,i struggle with souls and although i completed it bloodborne was next to impossible

[Vetalka83]

I would not mind the easy mode,i kinda like the game and the setting it is in.

[Black-Helghast]

NOPE. go play Nioh or something

[lazyboyblue]

@Black-Helghast
Why do you care what he plays? You sound like some dry old snob.

[SpinalRemains138]

NioH was hard. The DLC was the hardest game I ever played.

[r3f1cul]

i dont really get the satisfaction of beating hard things tbh :/ i never have, even in the souls games whenever i first started playing and would get stuck on a boss i would just be glad it was over and i could move on when i finally toppled it, no real satisfaction... dunno maybe im weird i have no problem with hard games and i have no problem with easy games and ive beaten more than my fair share of both and tbh i get far more enjoyment out of easy games (not like pure braindead stuff there has to be enough engagement to keep you invested but not raising your blood pressure due to stress and anger, i have enough of that every day with work and bills lol) because i can just relax :/ pretty much everyone can beat a hard game if they just stick with it long enough and memorize it or get lucky the one time and beat that boss/stage ...

[ClemFandango]

Doesn’t need to be easier

From soft need to fix the broken attack tracking. I’ve been grabbed through walls, teleported mid air into attacks and been hit by bullets that curve.

Like every other game they’ve made since 2009 it’s beautiful and great and engaging but spoilt by a lack of overall polish.

[BenRC01]

Needs battle royale

[lazyboyblue]

That would be so funny. The Souls purists would howl like babies.

[Harryvok]

It would in no way ruin your experience if others could play an easy mode if you didn’t have to play on the easy mode.

To say it does only shows you’re actually just a horrible person who gets joy out of others not having fun. There’s literally no other reason to say there shouldn’t be an easy mode.

If anything more people who’ll skip the game may have an interest if they knew they didn’t have to sweat through the game.

I finished dark souls 3 and had a decent time, but I just have no interest playing areas of a game over and over to learn the enemies. Don’t have the patience for it anymore, I just get bored.

[LoveSpuds]

The last boss fight has me on my knees pleading for a miracle........I will conquer it, but its gonna be a long afternoon!!

[SpinalRemains138]

Right. I like blue, so Rembrandt should have used more of it..

FromSoft makes the game this way for a reason. The reward is the difficulty. Eat some candy and learn the game.