Sekiro vs Bloodborne: Let’s Settle This Difficulty Debate, Shall We?
So, you’re diving into the treacherous waters of FromSoftware games? Excellent choice! But now, two imposing titles loom large: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Bloodborne. The burning question is which game will make you throw your controller the hardest?
Let’s dissect this torment. We’ll break down the difficulty differences between Sekiro and Bloodborne. Knowing your digital demise is half the battle.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – The Gauntlet of Precision
Sekiro. The name sends shivers down even seasoned gamers. It’s often called the Mount Everest of FromSoftware’s creations. And for good reason.
The Unforgiving Nature of Sekiro’s Challenge
Forget leveling up. Sekiro laughs at grinding. This game demands skill. You cannot out-level a boss; you must outsmart them. It’s a cold meritocracy of combat.
Sekiro’s learning curve is steep, like a vertical cliff face. Especially if you come from games where upgrades are your safety net. Mistakes? They are punished harshly. One wrong move and you’re staring at the “Shadows Die Twice” screen.
Combat: A Dance of Death, Not a Hack-and-Slash
Combat in Sekiro is demanding and different from other Souls-like games. It’s less about dodging, more about precise counters and deflections. You need to focus on enemy attacks and respond correctly. Imagine a rhythm game meets a hellish sword fight.
Bosses? Prepare for reflex tests like never before. Their attacks are telegraphed but designed to mess with your timing. Less reaction time for you means more frustration for those watching.
No Easy Way Out (Literally)
Sekiro offers no difficulty settings. No ‘easy mode’ exists. You get what you get, and you do not get upset… or rather, you do get upset, but still play through it. This choice, while controversial, defines Sekiro.
And if you think New Game Plus helps? Think again. It gets harder. By NG+7, enemies are damage sponges that are furious.
Bloodborne: Aggression and Gothic Horror… and Difficulty?
Now, step into the gothic nightmare that is Bloodborne. Often described as a faster-paced cousin to Dark Souls, it has its brutal challenge.
The Initial Bloodbath and the Gradual Calm (Sort Of)
Bloodborne is tough. It’s often seen as more difficult than Dark Souls and it plunges you into cosmic horror and snarling beasts. This makes it challenging from start to finish.
Bloodborne’s difficulty curve starts like a freight train of pain, especially for newcomers. But once you “get” its combat style, something shifts.
Dare we say it? Bloodborne can become… easier? Once combat clicks and you learn to embrace the hunt, playthroughs feel manageable and almost… easy. Well, not entirely easy but less difficult.
Combat: Be Aggressive, Be-Be Aggressive!
Bloodborne’s combat rewards aggression. Forget about shields (mostly). You must dodge, weave, and unleash visceral attacks. It encourages offensive playstyles that get you in the faces of grotesque monsters.
Bosses: Nightmares and Nightmares within Nightmares
Bloodborne has its share of difficult bosses. Then there’s Orphan of Kos. Many consider this yelling monstrosity as the pinnacle of boss difficulty. It takes the crown for “ugliest boss” in the FromSoftware pageant.
Completion and Leveling: The Grind and the Finish Line
Despite its reputation, Bloodborne has a relatively low completion rate. Mergo’s Wet Nurse has a clear rate hovering around 25%. Finishing Bloodborne is still an achievement worth bragging about.
Bloodborne does have a level cap. You can technically max out at level 544 by grinding all stats to 99. Whether you have patience for that is another question.
Sekiro vs. Bloodborne – Head-to-Head Difficulty Showdown: Who Wins?
Alright, time for the main event. Is Sekiro harder than Bloodborne? In the consensus of gamers, it’s yes, Sekiro is generally harder than Bloodborne.
Why? Several reasons:
- Combat Mechanics: Sekiro’s combat is arguably more demanding with emphasis on deflections and counters. Bloodborne offers flexibility in approach.
- Boss Design: Sekiro’s bosses feel less predictable and punish hesitation. Bloodborne bosses can be brutal but Sekiro demands near-perfect execution.
- No Leveling Safety Net: In Sekiro, leveling removes a crutch present in Bloodborne. You must improve *yourself* to progress.
This doesn’t mean Bloodborne is easy; it remains a brutally challenging game. But Sekiro often pushes players to limits in a way that Bloodborne does not for all.
The Subjectivity of Suffering (Difficulty, That Is)
Let’s be real, difficulty is subjective. What makes one rage quit might be another’s casual gaming session. There is no “hardest game ever.” Your experience may vary.
However, certain factors contribute to a game’s perceived difficulty:
- Punishment for Mistakes: Games that punish errors are generally seen as more challenging. Sekiro, we’re looking at you.
- Reaction Time Demands: Games needing fast reflexes and perfect timing increase the challenge.
- Strategic Complexity: Games forcing you to plan meticulously can be mentally taxing.
- “Unfair” or Random Elements: Difficulty sometimes stems from feeling cheap or unpredictable.
- Esoteric Design: Some games are hard not due to gameplay but because they require outside knowledge or guides.
Game Length: Misery Loves Company (For a Good While)
Both games offer substantial challenging content. Sekiro, focusing on main objectives, takes around 30 hours, while completionists spend about 70 hours. Bloodborne is longer, at 32.5 hours for main story and 76 hours for 100% completion.
Other Games in the Difficulty Thunderdome
Sekiro and Bloodborne aren’t alone among hard games. Titles like Cuphead, Ninja Gaiden, Hollow Knight, and others have gained their stripes in digital pain halls. Modern titles like Lies of P (some find it harder than Sekiro!), Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, and Getting Over It also prove challenging.
In Conclusion (Sort Of, Not Really)
So, is Sekiro harder than Bloodborne? For most, yes. Sekiro’s combat system, relentless bosses, and lack of RPG crutches test skill and patience. Bloodborne, while incredibly challenging, offers a *slightly* more forgiving path to enlightenment through suffering.
Both games are masterpieces of challenging design. Whether you choose precise swordplay or aggressive hunts, prepare for death… lots of death.
