- It's pretty clear that I'm going to play this very soon, so I preordered it for 438 DKK.
- Yesterday I came back from spending the weekend in Fjerritslev, and I was too tired to play. But today at 07:10, I was ready to start. I played the tutorial, lost my arm, trained with the zombie guy, and entered the first real area. This is very cool, and it seems that Tenchu wasn't made in vain.
- I started stumbling around the first area, managed to stealth kill the giant with the hammer, and found the Shuriken arm upgrade. The old lady's bell allowed me to visit a 'memory', which means I go back in time. This spooky area contained a vendor that sells some awesome stuff for fish scales. I managed to kill a couple of fish.
- The other part of this area contained both the fire and axe upgrades for my arm. And giant chickens.
- Spear guy has murdered me a bunch of times, and Dragonrot has set in among the NPCs. Very ominous and scary idea.
- I found a cool burning area by jumping up through a vertical tunnel. This sequence reminds me so much of Ninja Gaiden - it seems like an homage between fellow ninja game developers.
- The burning area had a very difficult boss fight with a giant drunken guy. I think I should either save that one for later, or methodically try my 3 different arm attacks to see if he's weak to something.
- I went back to Ashina Outskirts and made some progress, and encountered the Chained Ogre. He was extremely weak to fire, especially when dousing him in oil beforehand. It's a fun boss fight, and him doing pro wrestling moves makes it even more fun. There was a new area behind him, and possibly a secret area where he was, I'm not sure.
- I killed General Tenzen Yamauchi and am now 1 bead away from an upgrade. Maybe the spear guy should be my next target. I avoided the giant snake and reached the other side.
- Maybe I should try going back to Estate Path and fight Shinobi Hunter Enshin of Misen.
- I beat the Shinobi Hunter by stepping on his spear a couple of times. And now a new path opened up.
- I fought my way through the Bamboo Thicket, and reached a burning temple. I had saved up 3 skill points, and it looked like a boss fight, so I didn't enter. I'll have to come back here later.
- After gaining 4 levels to spend on 'Emma's Medicine: Potency', which upgrades your health gourd, I took over the castle at Ashina Outskirts, and encountered the horse-riding boss Gyoubu Oniwa. He killed me many times.
- I got him! I played very defensively and defeated Oniwa. I now get the ability level up my Attack Power, and to get Arm upgrades. And there is a new path with a couple of weird NPCs.
- Leveling up Attack Power requires 'confronting a memory', which I didn't dare do in my current tired state. However, I read online that it's not a repeat of the boss fight, which I was afraid of. I should do it immediately.
- I have to save up 1000 Sen to buy a Guord Seed from the Memorial Mob.
- I 'confronted the memory' which was just a menu. Nothing to be afraid of. :) I killed a bunch of guys to get enough Sen and buy a Gourd Seed from the Memorial Mob and upgrade my Gourd. I reached what looks like another boss fight, but didn't dare enter, I was too full of money.
- The Ashina Outskirts ended with a boss fight with the 'Blazing Bull', an enormous bull with burning wood strapped to its head. When I learned that I could parry his attacks, I quickly defeated the big animal.
- The Bull enabled access to Ashina Castle, and I found myself in the tutorial area where I was murdered by Shikibu Toshikatsu Yamauchi, one of the Seven Ashina Spears. Deciding that it was a bit too difficult for me right now, I returned to the burning Hirata Estate and quickly defeated Juzou the Drunkard by setting him on fire over and over again.
- The purple cloaked ninja guy in the bamboo thicket seems to be guarding a new prosthetic. I need it.
- I found The Wolf's dying father in a burning building, and then reached Lady Butterfly, which I then fought for an hour before giving up. There must be an easier area I can try first.
- The roof of Ashina Castle had the crazy bird-men, including the ones that did suicide dives from a kite. Having already seen them in Tweets and YouTube videos, I vary carefully deflected the attack and avoided death. This led to what can only be described as a Tenchu level, where I was stealth killing soldiers inside a large building. The Ashina Elite Jinsuke Saze was too much for me, so I decided to take another route.
- After fighting the Seven Spear guy again and giving up, I found the Lone Shadow Longswordsman again, and gave up on him as well. I branched off the Ashina Reservoir, found the Gatehouse Key for a samurai gatehouse which is supposed to hold a cool item, and fought a crazy giant that tried to trap me inside a bell. This led to the Abandoned Dungeon, which was full of zombies. It led to the Underground Waterway, which led to a spooky monstrocity with blue light around it, probably a boss. I saved him for later, and swam through underground tunnels to an elevator that led to Senpou Temple.
- Another area very reminiscent of Tenchu, The Senpou Temple was infested by corrupted monks. A fun and beautiful area. I ended up curing Dragonrot for all NPCs, which means that I should probably make a round and check up on them. It might also be a good way to save up some money and unlock a few more abilities.
- I went back through a lot of the areas I visited earlier, but didn't get a lot out of talking to the NPCs. I did find a Prayer Bead and got another Vitality upgrade.
- I went back to Hirata Estate and talked to some more NPCs, and found a secret room with another Prayer Bead inside. Then I went back to Senpou Temple and killed some Mushroom Men. I found a secret passage to the horrible headless monstrocity that I have no intention of fighting now. I also found a bell that I'm afraid to ring, because I heard bad things about it. What is this game?
- I read that you can drop down in the Tenchu area to find a poison sword arm.
- I got the Sabimaru, the poison sword, and discovered a new location, the Old Grave. General Matsumoto was a bit much for me, I'll try him later. I tried fighting the Lone Shadow Longswordsman, who's in the location where you start the game, but he was too difficult. I also found the Loaded Spear. I went back to the Bamboo Thicket and fought the purple ninja guy there. I got him and found yet another prosthetic tool, the Mist Raven. After all this progress, I decided to have a go at Jinsuke Saze, the guy who does super-fast attacks with his Katana sheathed. He murdered me many times, but after I realized what this fight was trying to teach me, I got him: If he attacks twice in a row, I have to deflect twice as well. So two fast taps on L1 did the trick.
- I found an adorable little ninja guy who sold me an umbrella prosthetic tool. After that, I went back to Senpou Temple.
- I fought the Armored Warrior and pushed him out of a window (I learned from Jeppe that this was the only way to kill him). Then I found a temple with one of the passive zombie guys, but this one was infested by a horrible giant centipede. I think centipedes are the symbol of corruption in Sekiro.
- Lady Butterfly was extremely difficult, but after re-learning when to jump and when to dodge, using the shuriken arm to shoot her down, and using the great umbrella arm to shield against her annoying homing butterflies, I finally managed to beat her.
- I started my attack on Genichiro Ashina, the man who took Wolf's arm. He's difficult, but not impossibly so.
- Genichiro wasn't bad ... until I discovered he had a *third* phase, with new attacks including lightning attacks. Horrible.
- Although I'm arguably too tired to play, I still defeated General Matsumoto and got 4 Prayer Beads to level up once more.
- After watching a LobosJR video, I learned about the Sunken Valley, which was right under my nose. I started assaulting the Gun Fort.
- I think I got through the Gun Fort, defeating both the 'Long-arm Centipede Giraffe' (???) and Snake Eyes Shirafuji.
- In the room after the Centipede boss, there is a locked door, which I apparently need to defeat Genichiro to unlock. I guess I have my work cut out for me.
- I took another stab(!) at Genichiro and after a few tries, ended up defeating him with a third round of panicked slashing.
- I defeated the Folding Screen Monkeys, a stealth boss fight.
- I talked to a girl in a temple, who gave me the Mortal Blade, which should be able to 'slay the undying'. I gave her a 'Sakura Droplet', which gave me an extra resurrection. Kuro gave me the Gun Fort Shrine Key, which allowed access to the Riven Cave, which opened up to a large area full of monkeys with katanas and guns. These monkeys are getting a bit too clever.
- The Poison Pool had an annoying encounter with yet another Snake Eyes character, which I cheesed using poison. I fought and killed the Guardian Ape, but then something horrible happened. I would rather not talk about it.
- I would like to go back to the Abandoned Dungeon to check on a guy that I sent there (he's probably dead), and Senpou Temple. I should bring rice from the girl to the old lady, I think.
- I did those things and killed the Giant Serpent and cut out its heart, which is described as a 'fruit', which is disgusting. I can kill the centipede monks now with the Mortal Blade, which is nice.
- The Guardian Ape is supposed to 'contain' the final prosthetic tool.
- After watching a guide, I got back to fighting the big ape. I'm keeping my distance, sprinting forward when he does the poop fling, hit him twice in the butt and then shoot the firecrackers and then hit him 5 times. On his second stage, I wait for the awkward sword combo, try to parry everything, and then stab and pull using the spear arm (R2 x 2). I haven't succeeded yet, but it seems doable now.
- I defeated the Guardian Ape on my first try tonight! I've been thinking a lot about him and watching myself play against him, and as it turned out, I learned his moves. I picked up a flower and gave it to Kuro, and now I don't know where to go. Something about a Sakura tree and jumping into a hole.
- I found a map by Lucas Reiner.
- I wanted to show this to Thomas, who's visiting, and I ran around, fought the big spear guy and lost as usual, and gained some XP. I went back to the temple, where I encountered the monkeys for the first time, and there was three ghostly bird men there. I haven't seen that before, I wonder why they are there?
- Almost to tired to play, but I still managed to reach and kill the Mist Noble, which cleared up the mist (and the ghosts) in the Hidden Forest. I had a bit of trouble with Tokujiro the Glutton, but I used the Finger Whistle to sow discord among his monkey sidekicks, and then finally kill him.
- Beneath Mibu Village I found a ninja who destroyed me. I'll save him for later. The village itself was easy enough, until I encountered O'Rin of the Water, who was looking for Lord Sakuza (don't know who that is), and then proceeded to destroy me.
- The Corrupted Monk is causing me a lot of trouble. I'm slowly learning her moveset.
- After food and a break, I went back in to fight the Corrupted Monk again. I used Divine Confetti once, without luck.
- Finally got her! I got an ingredient and tried to get back to Ashina Castle, now unavailable for fast travel. I met The Owl, which I guess is The Wolf's dad. Wasn't he dead?
- Also, I can swim now!
- The Owl is giving me a choice:
- Obey the Iron Code, forsake Kuro
- Break the Iron Code, stay loyal to Kuro.
- I'm going to break the Iron Code, which leads to a boss fight. Actually, it might be fun to explore the castle and fight some more mini-bosses.
- 4 hours of play time and a lot of frustration later, The Owl is dead. I also fought a Headless underwater, which was a really unique visual. And now, as I understand it, the Divine Heir needs an ingridient from the Bottomless Hole.
- I explored a bit, upgraded my arm a bit, and then entered the Bottomless Hole to find Ashina Depths again. I found the Guardian Ape again, this time with a friend, and killed it. For real this time. Now I don't know where to go.
- The ingredients for the Fountainhead Incense are: The Lotus of the Palace (defeat Guardian Ape, Sunken Valley), and the Shelter Stone (defeat Corrupted Monk, Mibu Village). It turned out I had everything. Now I could go back to the Wedding Cave Door in Ashina Depths, and be transported to a new area with a big rope monster. Pretty awesome.
- The real Corrupted Monk is pretty difficult, but I already know most of the moves, so it should be doable.
- The Monk was difficult, especially his last stage, where a Centipede erupts from his head, and he becomes very aggressive. I stun locked him with fireworks and 3-hit attacks, enhanced by Ako's Sugar, and won the battle in the end. It didn't help that I had forgotten to increase my attack power after killing the Guardian Ape.
- I'm now in a new area, full of weak Mibu enemies that cast powerful spells. Even their dogs cast spells.
- I should try to fight some of the Headless. They drop Spiritfall items, unlimited use items that use Spirit Emblems to boost stats. The one that increases damage seems very useful, it is found in the Underbridge Valley.
- I tried fighting the Headless in the Underbridge Valley, but it's too difficult. I went out shopping and bought a Mottled Purple Gourd, which should help with the Headless. The internet suggests I should do a Divine Confetti, then a Sugar, and then drink from the Purple Gourd or use Pacifying Agent. Perhaps then I'm able to overpower the Headless.
- I did it. Divine Confetti for damage against undead, Ungo's Spiritfall for vitality protection, and Mottled Purple Gourd for Terror protection made The Headless easy. Now I have Ako's Spiritfall, which is like infinite Ako's Sugar.
- The Fountainhead Palace was a fun stealth challenge, it feels a lot like a Tenchu game. I killed the Okami Leader Shizu, who was preventing me from exploring the water in this area.
- The waters contained a giant fish and provided a path to The Sanctuary.
- The Old Dragons and the Divine Dragon were weird and awesome. I wish this game had more of this kind of insanity, but nevertheless, it was a welcome change. The Divine Dragon wasn't difficult, once I learned that you're supposed to jump onto the trees, get hit by lightning, and then press R1 to fire the lighting into the dragon. I killed Genichiro, which disgustingly 'gives birth' to the final boss, Isshin, the Sword Saint. I have a feeling he's going to take all day tommorrow to beat.
- Studying a few YouTube videos suggest that I use the Umbrella and the Projected Force Prosthetic Art.
- I have started training the final boss. I'm getting better at dealing with Genichiro, but have a lot of trouble with Isshin's first phase.
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