![]() Instead, their inclusion seems to be very intentional and respectable references to the images, sounds, and momentum that existing fans will be able to call out and appreciate. There are immortal centipedes, parries, and the Guardian Ape, yes, but none of their depictions or actions are incongruent with the game. Readers familiar with the game will appreciate that while Yamamoto’s story certainly expounds on Sekiro’s lore, it doesn’t retcon or reinvent the wheel away from things established in the game. The central plot of this ‘side story’ sees Hanbei attempting to do good by Ashina region commoners that have taken him in, washed him, and fed him both through combating a murderous red-eyed demon that haunts their mountains, as well fighting off Ashina clan leaders intent on exploiting the area and its people for their gross scientific gain. Though, not much of either will make sense to readers that aren’t familiar with the game. The illustration, replete with images of Guardian Apes with swords through their heads emerging from the dark forests, immortal centipedes unleashing themselves from the wounds of warriors, and murderous mountain-dwelling demons, however, is significantly more successful. ![]() Structured around expounding on the history of Hanbei’s immortality and “infestation” and also around explaining exactly what the lone soldier was doing before appearing at The Dilapidated Temple and training Wolf, Yamamoto’s narrative has a lot of work to do, and results are a mixed bag. Does it work, or does a more straightforward narrative spoil the ineffable mystique that FromSoft’s game revels in? The answer is a little bit of both. Now, FromSoftware, with the help of Yen Press and writer-illustrator Shin Yamamoto, seeks to expound on Sekiro’s world and narrative through a manga prequel story about one of the game’s more nuanced and underdeveloped characters, Hanbei The Undying. From conversations around its esoteric (though, more straightforward than other games from the developer) narrative, to incisive criticism about the game’s difficulty and the role of difficulty in games in general, to dozens upon dozens of video game developers proclaiming it 2020’s game of the year, Sekiro has left its mark. Yet, it has left an indelible mark on the gaming community, on gaming criticism, and, likely, on video game development. FromSoftware’s latest addition to the ‘Soulsborne’ genre of video games, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, is little over a year old.
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