Summary
Though FromSoftware had been making games for well over a decade by that point,Demon’s Souls' release in 2009 established a new winning formula for the developer, something that would be further cemented withDark Soulsand its two sequels. BetweenDark Souls 2and3, FromSoft releasedBloodborne, a Lovecraftian take on theSoulsaction-RPG formula. While all of these games performed very well both critically and commercially, it was clear that FromSoftware wanted a change of pace by the time ofDark Souls 3’s release in 2016, andSekiro: Shadows Die Twicefelt like the result of that.
Using theSoulsformula as its basis,Sekiro: Shadows Die Twiceintroduced a wealth of new mechanics and features that offered fans something distinct and new. Its eponymous resurrection mechanic, its addictive rhythm-like posture system, and the Prayer Bead leveling system were all just some of the biggest new additionsSekiromade to the formula, and while some of these mechanics have been revived inElden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, there’s oneSekiromechanic that still deserves another chance.
FromSoftware Should Revisit Sekiro’s Unseen Aid Mechanic
Sekiro’s Unseen Aid Mechanic Explained
There are quite a few different resources to keep track of inSekiro: Shadows Die Twice, but the primary two are Sen and XP. Sen is the currency that allows players to purchase items from vendors, ranging from simple consumables to key items likePrayer Beads and Gourd Seedsthat increase the player’s stats and healing respectively. XP builds with each kill, eventually filling a bar that grants the player a skill point that can be used to unlock new combat abilities.
Upon death, players will lose half of their Sen and half of any XP left in the meter. Occasionally, players will receive some on-screen text upon death that states they’ve been given “Unseen Aid.” Unseen Aid occurs at random, and prevents the player from losing the 50% of Sen and XP they’d normally lose upon death. When startingSekiro, players will have a 30% chance of receiving Unseen Aid upon death. This percentage can’t be increased but can be decreased all the way down to a minimum of 2% if players die too many times, gain the Dragonrot affliction, and continue to gain subsequent Rot Essences.Healing Dragonrotcompletely with a Dragon’s Blood Droplet will increase the player’s Unseen Aid chance back to 30%.
Why Sekiro’s Unseen Aid Mechanic Deserves a Second Chance
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twiceis still widely considered to be one of FromSoftware’s hardest games, and though it was a tad convoluted, itsUnseen Aid mechanicprovided a nice little breather for players. With Unseen Aid starting at a 30% chance, players were much more likely to experience it during the first few hours of the game, where Sen and XP are the most vital resources. This made early-game deaths a little less frustrating.
With the release ofElden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, discussions surroundingthe difficulty in FromSoftware gameshave surfaced once again. While many fans strongly believe a high level of challenge is an integral part of the success of FromSoft’s formula, Shadow of the Erdtree has proven it can go a little too far in some places. This is where Unseen Aid deserves a second shot. Unseen Aid wouldn’t drastically change the difficulty of a FromSoft game, but would add a little reprieve for new players, which could go a long way in making FromSoft’s future games a bit more accessible.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
WHERE TO PLAY
Carve your own clever path to vengeance in the critically acclaimed adventure from developer FromSoftware, creators of the Dark Souls series.In Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice you are the ‘one-armed wolf’, a disgraced and disfigured warrior rescued from the brink of death. Bound to protect a young lord who is the descendant of an ancient bloodline, you become the target of many vicious enemies, including the dangerous Ashina clan. When the young lord is captured, nothing will stop you on a perilous quest to regain your honor, not even death itself.Explore late 1500s Sengoku Japan, a brutal period of constant life and death conflict, as you come face to face with larger than life foes in a dark and twisted world. Unleash an arsenal of deadly prosthetic tools and powerful ninja abilities while you blend stealth, vertical traversal, and visceral head to head combat in a bloody confrontation. Take Revenge. Restore Your Honor. Kill Ingeniously.
