Sony has announced a new Iron Man video game for PS4. Called Marvel's Iron Man VR, the game puts you behind the visor of the Iron Avenger, allowing you fly amongst the clouds and blast baddies via a PlayStation VR headset. The announcement trailer for the game can be seen above.Iron Man VR is being developed by Camouflaj, a developer that previously created Republique and its VR port. In a blog post, Camouflaj director Ryan Payton wrote that his team is looking to create "a deeply personal, and appropriately funny, narrative" in Iron Man VR that sees Tony confront "ghosts from his past."We didn't get too many details about Iron Man VR's gameplay, other than you'll have Friday--one of Iron Man's virtual assistants--offer combat and mission support during gameplay. Anyone who's been keeping up with the Marvel Cinematic Universe might recognize Friday as the assistant that Tony uploads into his suit after his previous assistant, Jarvis, evolved to become Vision during the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron.The trailer starts out with Tony on a plane talking to Friday, although the trailer notes this cutscene is not actual gameplay. Their conversation is interrupted by a mysterious hacker and then suddenly--much like in Iron Man 3--the side of the plane is blown out and Tony is sucked out into the sky. Thankfully, Friday sends the pieces of his suit to him, and after armoring up, Tony flies off into the sky after the plane.It looks like Iron Man VR will be played entirely in first person without customary cutscenes. Combat is a mixture of flight, repulser blasts, and punching. You use the PSVR headset to look around, as attacks can come in from all directions.In comparison to Marvel's Spider-Man, Iron Man VR is a pretty different take on making a video game for a mainline superhero. Also a Sony exclusive, Spider-Man is an action role-playing game that puts you into the webbed feet of everyone's favorite wall-crawler. Despite being in third-person, Spider-Man manages to make you feel like you really are web-swinging through New York City and taking down thugs and criminals with all the deadly grace of a human spider. It would be cool if Sony manages to do something similar with Iron Man VR--creating a game that emulates the feeling of being a superhero.Iron Man VR is currently scheduled for PSVR and will release sometime in 2019. As Sony Worldwide Studios is involved, Iron Man VR could be a PS4 exclusive, but that has not been confirmed.Info from Gamespot.com

No Man's Sky is getting another large-scale update, and this one is different. A "No Man's Sky VR" update is scheduled for this summer, which will add free support for PlayStation VR and Steam VR. Hello Games boasts that this is the entire game brought into VR rather than a separate mode.According to the announcement, this is the second major pillar to the Beyond expansion that Hello Games previously announced. The first pillar is a major overhaul to its online play, and a third pillar is yet to be announced. Though Beyond is scheduled for all platforms, Beyond will get a PS4-exclusive retail release. That will include the base game with all updates, including Beyond and its VR support.The online update of Beyond is said to add features that will allow players to meet up and play together more easily. Though it will make the game more MMO-like, Hello has cautioned that it won't be monetized like one. The update will be free, it won't have microtransactions, and it won't require a subscription to play online (other than your regular Xbox Live Gold or PS Plus subscription).Last year, No Man's Sky issued a large-scale update called Next, which overhauled many of the game's systems. It was such a major update that we named it one of the best expansions of 2018. Hello has subsequently been issuing regular updates, like the underwater Abyss expansion and tons of new biomes in the Visions expansion.Info from Gamespot.com

The Hirata Estate level early in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a great place to learn how to deal with multiple kinds of enemies. It gives you several new Shinobi Prosthetic tools, lets you fight and stealth a bunch of different kinds of fighters, and puts you up against a couple of mid-bosses and a boss to teach you techniques you'll use for the rest of the game. Until you learn those techniques, though, Hirata can be pretty tough--especially when you face Juzou The Drunkard, a mid-boss who has a lot of backup.You'll find the huge Juzou right before you get to the last portion of Hirata Estate, where he guards the way forward. He's got a bunch of regular fighters protecting him, and requires two deathblows to beat, making him a tough enemy to best. The good news is, there are a lot of ways to get the upper hand over Juzou if you're quick, careful, and patient. You can even get help battling him.Here's everything you need to know to bring down Juzou The Drunk without getting wrecked repeatedly in the process. We've got plenty of other Sekiro guides as well, including one that'll help you find some key early-game Shinobi Prosthetics, tips for beginners and to die less, a rundown of what the deal is with Dragon Rot, Rot Essence, and Unseen Aid, and a guide for beating other tough fights, like the Chained Ogre and Blazing Bull.Use Stealth To Clear The AreaAs you approach Juzou by crossing the water near him, you'll see him surrounded by enemies, and you should see a building off to his left with a wood walkway leading up to the main Estate. Head to the left and sneak into the building to find two enemies you can take down. From there, if you take the wood walkway, you'll wind up behind Juzou and most of the enemies around him. Sneak along the wall and you can deathblow at least one of them; when everyone starts to come for you, run back to the wood walkway and through the hut to find a place to hide. Everyone will eventually stop looking for you, allowing you to use the same move over and over again to clear out the minions. The fight with Juzou is much easier when he's not flanked by a bunch of helpers getting in your way.Backstab JuzouThe same logic that goes into the last step applies to Juzou himself. As a big, tough mid-boss, he usually requires two deathblows to defeat--but fighting him straight-up is a great way to get yourself killed in the process. Once you've killed everyone around that can alert Juzou, you can use the same wood walkway approach on the left side of the arena to get behind him and lay down a deathblow. This will immediately knock out one of the deathblow requirements for Juzou, making the fight fully half as difficult. You can't get two stealth deathblows on him, though, so don't even try--once you've attacked Juzou, you have to finish the fight, or he'll get all his health back.Enlist Some HelpYou don't actually have to fight Juzou all alone. Just out in the water ahead of him is a samurai loyal to Hirata who means to take on Juzou as well, and he'll join you in the battle if you talk to him first. You can get the samurai's assistance just about any time, but he's most effective if you've cleared out Juzou's helpers and backstabbed him once. With all the other obstructions cleared away, run out and talk to the samurai after Juzou starts chasing you and he'll join the fight. He's great for distracting Juzou, allowing you to slash away at the Drunkard's back. If you're quick and smart about it, you can even kill Juzou before he manages to finish the samurai off. Just be sure to be careful that Juzou doesn't turn his attention, and his attacks, to you. When that happens, you'll want to have your guard up.Watch Out For PoisonJuzou's tough with his sword, but he's not doing anything you haven't seen before in fighting other warrior enemies. The new trick he brings to the fight is drinking from his flask and then blowing the contents out at you. If you see him go for a drink put some distance between you and him. He'll likely unload his stinky sake all over the battlefield, which carries a poison effect if too much hits you. He'll also use the drink on his sword to make it poisonous, which means you could take poison damage even when blocking.Wear Down Juzou's VitalityIf you decide to fight Juzou straight--which is pretty good practice--you'll find that even when blocking him repeatedly, you won't do much damage to his Posture. That's because Juzou is a boss character with a lot of Vitality, or health points. Enemies with a lot of Vitality recover Posture very quickly (and you'll notice that your Posture recovers faster when your health is high, too). The trick to getting Juzou into deathblow position is dealing damage to him. The best way to do that is to watch his moves and look for counter-attack opportunities. Those are when you successfully parry a blow and then can follow up immediately with a slash of your own, which will get through the enemy's defenses. Fighting Juzou toe-to-toe with your sword can be tough, but it's definitely doable. Don't be afraid to try Shinobi Prosthetics like the Firecrackers to mess with him a bit, as well. Info from Gamespot.com

Sony's first Nintendo Direct-style State of Play presentation has ended, and it's given us a look at a number of games on the way to PS4 this year. The broadcast kicked off with the reveal of a new Iron Man VR game, but that was hardly the only announcement; we also learned about a No Man's Sky VR update and got to see new trailers for Days Gone and Mortal Kombat 11, among other titles.If you missed out on the presentation, we've rounded up all of the biggest news and announcements from it below. You can also watch a replay of the stream here.Marvel's Iron Man VRSony started off its State of Play presentation by unveiling Marvel's Iron Man VR. Developed by Camouflaj in conjunction with Worldwide Studios and Marvel Games, the game puts players behind the visor of the Iron Avenger. No further details were shared beyond that, but Iron Man VR is slated to release for PS4 this year.Crash Team Racing Nitro-FueledThe remastered kart racing game Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled launches on June 21, and we learned the PS4 version will include some exclusive content in the form of blocky, PS1-style character skins for Crash, Coco, and Cortex, along with a retro track and karts.No Man's Sky VR UpdateDeveloper Hello Games is adding PSVR support to its sandbox space exploration game, No Man's Sky, this summer as a free update. Rather than being a separate mode, however, players will be able to play through the entire game in VR. Additionally, the PS4 version of No Man's Sky: Beyond will receive a physical release, and it'll come with the base game, VR support, and every update through Beyond.ReadySet HeroesThe isometric dungeon crawler ReadySet Heroes is coming to PS4 later this year. The game features four-player multiplayer and pits you against another team in a race through a monster-filled dungeon. Reach the end of the dungeon and you'll face off in a winner-takes-all showdown.Five Nights At Freddy's VRArriving on PSVR (as well as HTC Vive, Oculus, and Steam) next month, Five Nights At Freddy's VR: Help Wanted is a new VR take on the fan-favorite horror series, featuring remastered levels from the original games along with "all-new nightmares."Concrete GenieSony revealed the PS4-exclusive action adventure game Concrete Genie is arriving this fall. Additionally, the company shared a new trailer that sheds more light on the game's story.Days GoneSony's zombie survival game Days Gone has been a long time coming, but it finally arrives on PS4 on April 26. Ahead of its release, Sony has shared a new trailer that sets the stage for the game's story.Mortal Kombat 11Sony capped off the State of Play presentation with a new trailer for Mortal Kombat 11, confirming three more returning fighters in the process: Lui Kang, Kung Lao, and Jax. The video showcases the modern-day characters coming face-to-face with their younger selves from the past.Info from Gamespot.com

Microsoft has been courting indies for years through its ID@Xbox program, but now the company is giving independent games their very own showcase. The newly titled ID@Xbox Game Pass stream will premiere on March 26 and showcase a variety of indies coming to Xbox One.Though a full line-up hasn't been announced, Microsoft did mention a few by name including Afterparty, Void Bastards, and Supermarket Shriek. Plus, given the name, it seems likely this will emphasize the indies that are included as part of the company's Game Pass subscription service. That service offers all-you-can-eat from a curated selection of games for $10 per month.This show will follow a spate of publisher showcases, including the spring Nindies showcase that featured a collaboration with Microsoft to bring Cuphead to the Nintendo Switch. Similarly, Sony announced its own State of Play stream, airing March 25. Between the regular Nintendo Direct presentations, Microsoft's Inside Xbox and new ID@Xbox Game Pass streams, and Sony's new State of Play streams, all three major platform holders are now hosting their own streaming programs.Check below for a schedule of times, and come back here at show time to watch it all go down.Microsoft ID@Xbox Game Pass March 26 Livestream Start Time9 AM PT12 PM ET4 PM GMT3 AM AETInfo from Gamespot.com

The battle royale trend isn't slowing down anytime soon, and Battlefield is the latest series to get in on the action--Battlefield V's battle royale mode, Firestorm, went live today for all players on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Firestorm is a free add-on for Battlefield V; you must own the base game in order to play.Luckily, you can grab the base game for up to 50% today: the standard edition is selling for $30, and the deluxe edition is only $40. The deluxe edition includes five sets of paratrooper outfits, special assignments, and 20 weekly Airlifts with customization items. The deluxe edition for PC also includes the Firestorm ranger set, paratrooper gear, and instant access to Battlefield 1 weapons.#Firestorm is live for all players. Get #Battlefield V for up to 50% off, and let us know where you will drop first. https://t.co/bjTdIif0sk pic.twitter.com/BetzV8y0a8 — #Battlefield V (@Battlefield) March 25, 2019Like other battle royale games, Firestorm begins with players dropping from the sky onto a map called Halvøy, which is 10 times larger than Battlefield V's largest map, Hamada. The 64-player matches can be played solo or in squads up to four players. A ring of fire slowly shrinks around the battlefield, forcing you and other players to move inward. Once you hit the ground, you'll be searching for resources, weapons, and gear, with the most valuable stockpiles held at Re-supply Points and Vehicle Lockups. Vehicular combat plays a much bigger role in Firestorm than other existing battle royale titles--as of now, there are 17 different vehicles to control, such as choppers and tanks; however, they're susceptible to anti-vehicle weaponry.Among Firestorm's rarest loot are Reinforcements, which you can use to spread destruction with artillery strikes or combat vehicles, or to call in supply drops for you and your squad. Just like any Battlefield game, buildings can be destroyed, so nowhere is truly safe to camp out and hide.Battlefield V has been out since November, so players have been waiting over five months for the release of Firestorm. In that time, Apex Legends has swept onto the battle royale scene with rapidly growing player counts, and Fortnite continues to thrive, so it remains to be seen whether Firestorm can capitalize on the popular genre and build its own loyal player base.Buy Battlefield VPS4Standard Edition -- $30Deluxe Edition -- $40Xbox OneStandard Edition -- $30Deluxe Edition -- $40PCStandard Edition -- $30Deluxe Edition -- $40Info from Gamespot.com

For those of us who already spend our entire waking life tethered to the internet, the concept of Hypnospace will seem like both the logical conclusion to our always-online existence and its literal nightmare scenario. Hypnospace, the titular technology of Hypnospace Outlaw, is a social network you can access while you sleep, thus solving the problem of its users failing to update their status due to having to close their eyes for eight hours a day. It's both ingenious and terrible, and serves as the all-too-horrifyingly-plausible premise of this quite clever, quite funny, simulated '90s web browsing puzzle game.Log on to Hypnospace and you find yourself jolted back to the late '90s internet age where every page belonged to a webring, had a visitor counter, and blared tinny MIDI music on loop every 15 seconds. The Hypnospace web portal is a walled garden, to use the modern term, split into themed zones that play host to whatever it is people make websites about. Or rather, what people used to make websites about.It's 1999, the frontier era of the internet, before it was dominated by corporations, where random people stole some HTML and threw up a page dedicated to whatever random things interested them at the time. There's a kind of ramshackle energy at play--whether it's in Bill Aldrin's House of Sound and his raw music reviews or Gus' Temple of Serenity and his earnest new age-isms--that will make those of a certain generation (i.e. me) nostalgic for the looser, weirder, more experimental, yet more innocent internet that we seem to have lost in the years since.You navigate these sites as a kind of moderator in the employ of Merchantsoft, the startup behind Hypnospace. You're dispatched jobs to track down incidents of content infringement, harassment, illegal activity, and so on, removing the offending text, images, or links from the pages you find them, and issuing warnings to the users who posted them.Initially, you're assigned specific zones to monitor, and early cases are a simple matter of browsing the pages in each zone until you encounter the relevant material. The pages themselves are mostly spot on in terms of their portrayal of late '90s amateur internet culture and reading through each new page becomes a source of constant amusement. What you're being asked to do as a mod in these early cases isn't especially interesting, but that's fine, because the writing across the board is so sharp.Things soon get more complicated, and fulfilling each new task requested by your manager becomes more of a puzzle that you really need to work to solve. These puzzles are mostly satisfying to work through. You'll be plugging in search terms to track down potential leads, cross-referencing data and Hypnospace user IDs, reading blog entries to identify clues that might suggest how you could try to crack someone's password, exploring unlisted zones and installing new kinds of software. It quickly becomes a game of internet detective where you're saving documents to your virtual desktop and bookmarking pages of interest to return to later.Where it suffers is when this sleuthing distracts from the writing. Getting stuck and browsing through the same pages again and again rarely makes any of the jokes funnier. As you progress through the cases, weeks and months pass and you'll see the passage of time reflected as users update their pages--occasionally even in response to your moderating actions--while new pages appear and old ones close. Such updates are welcome, and remarkable given the sheer quantity of pages you're able to browse by the game's end, but you're still going to be looking at the same stuff many times over before you're done.Hypnospace Outlaw loves the internet, warts and all. It loves how the internet is really still all about weird online communities and their rivalries, feuds, and splinter groups, and how one person's ideas--both good and bad--can gather momentum and spin out of control. It also loves how trivial much of the internet really is, and how we should both celebrate all this made-up nonsense and acknowledge how much of our time with the internet is just frittered away on garbage. It also very accurately simulates that "down the rabbit hole" journey where one click leads to another, and before you realize it, you've spent the night chasing links and can't remember whatever it was that prompted the expedition in the first place.There are glimpses of darkness through the nostalgic haze, and it's in these moments that you realize that this isn't really just about the internet of the '90s. The cowboy arrogance and shady dealings of Merchantsoft is analogous to many tech startups of today that promise to liberate but only oppress. And in a frightening near-future vision of the gig economy, you're paid in Hypnocoin, a virtual currency accepted at Hypnospace's commercial partners, and only receive payments for reporting violations of Hypnospace's code of conduct. These elements may feel ahead of their time for a game set in 1999, but they make a fair point about where we've taken the internet in the intervening years.As an exploration of early-ish internet culture, Hypnospace Outlaw demonstrates how far we've travelled online over the past 20 years while at the same time asking whether we've gone anywhere at all. The bandwidth may have improved since 1999 but the content can look all too familiar today. Info from Gamespot.com

Sony's State of Play livestream concluded with something new for those looking forward to Mortal Kombat 11. A new trailer for NetherRealm Studio's upcoming fighting game revealed some new story elements, like young Johnny Cage of the past rustling the old Johnny Cage of the present. It leaned heavily into the time travel elements that had been teased in previous trailers and announcements and showed off more of its goofy moments. And at the end of Sony's presentation, it was announced that three new (well, returning) characters will be part of Mortal Kombat 11's roster: Jax, Liu Kang, and Kung Lao.Liu Kang and Kung Lao were seen in previous story reveals, but have been confirmed as playable characters in the base roster. Unfortunately, we didn't get much in terms of what they'll look like in combat though we did get a glimpse of Jackson "Jax" Briggs in action. In the new trailer, Jacqui Briggs is perplexed at the sight of seeing her dad...twice. Shortly afterward you can see a bit of Jax fighting himself in game.Young Jax vs. old Jax in Mortal Kombat 11.The trailer titled Old Skool Vs. New Skool is a perfect showcase of what series creator Ed Boon has been talking about in terms of characters fighting against or teaming up with their past selves in an all-out wacky plotline. It's also fitting that the trailer featured music from both rappers Ice Cube and Vince Staples. You can check it out in the video above.We've been covering the lead up to Mortal Kombat 11's April 23 release date; be sure to read up on why you should be excited for the single-player campaign and all brutalities and fatalities we could compile so far. Recently, NetherRealm also revealed Noob Saibot in the latest Kombat Kast livestream, and it's been announced that Shang Tsung will be the first DLC character.Info from Gamespot.com

While Bloodborne tweaked the combat dynamics of Dark Souls to encourage aggression, Sekiro rewrites the rules of engagement. The building blocks of its combat are recognisable, but this only serves to lure Soulsborne veterans into a false sense of security. Sekiro's combat is incredibly demanding, asking you to study your opponent, find the perfect moment to engage, and execute a split-second follow-up that, if done right, will end the battle in a matter of moments--or if done wrong will end you just as fast.This might sound akin to what every other From Software game asks of you, but Sekiro pushes these demands further than Dark Souls and Bloodborne ever did. Over the years, From Software fans have become accustomed to the language of Soulsborne games; we recognise scenarios and are wise to the tricks, we can identify viable strategies more quickly, and since the skills are transferable, we can execute these strategies with a measure of confidence. But Sekiro challenges this expertise. It invites you to try and then shows you how little you're actually capable of. Sekiro is affirmation that From Software hasn't lost its bite; that its games can make you feel vulnerable and strike fear in a way few others can. It's a heart-pounding, palm-sweating, and nerve-wracking gameplay experience that instills tension the likes of which I haven't felt since first playing Demon's Souls.Souls players predominantly hide behind shields and adopt a hit and run approach to combat, and Bloodborne's attack-focused dynamic was a response to this. Similarly, the crux of Sekiro's combat has its origins in Dark Souls. The Poise stat was used to govern how resistant a player was to being staggered or stun-locked by an attack. Sekiro reworks this into a defensive attribute called Posture and uses it to underpin its engagements. Attacks chip away at Posture and will eventually break through the defense, leaving an enemy open to a Deathblow or to having their health attacked directly, which in turn makes their Posture slower to recover. However, this is a very laborious way to wear enemies down, and they will often defiantly counterattack to deal big damage to you. Instead the goal is to deflect an attack the moment before it hits you, which wears down Posture considerably faster.For low-level enemies it takes just a few encounters to get into the rhythm of it, but as more foes are introduced, it becomes much trickier. Each one has a variety of attacks that have specific tells and counter timings, so spending the time to learn how they all behave and how you should react is vital. Thematically, this style of combat is also coherent with the subject matter of the game in a way that I really appreciate. Battles are measured--a ballet of back and forth movements, the outcome decided by a deadly flourish--swift and precise, as any contest between swordsmen should be.However, the true test is when you're faced with Sekiro's boss enemies. Calling these encounters "challenging" would be a severe understatement. The attacks these enemies unleash are deadly, to the point where just a single blow can often be enough to kill you. Their moves can be as erratic as they are diverse, and for some of them parrying is simply not an option. Occasionally a red kanji symbol will briefly appear to signal that an unblockable attack is on its way, and in this situation the options are to either jump, dodge to the side, or hope you can sprint away fast enough. In a single second you'll need to identify the attack and execute the appropriate action to save yourself. Bosses have the most Posture and usually require you to land multiple Deathblows on them before they fall, so attempting to simply chip away only draws the battle out. The longer you spend in the battle, the more mentally taxing it becomes. The stress of repeatedly nailing split-second counters begins to mount and just a single slip-up is all it takes to lose everything. As a consequence, these boss battles feel designed to force you to engage with the enemy, to take the fight to them and hope that you've got what it takes. In the moment it can feel unbearably frustrating to keep banging your head up against the challenge, but that frustration pales in comparison to the sheer exhilaration of finally breaking through. After almost every boss battle I completed, I was so overwhelmed by the adrenaline that I had to put the controller down and give myself the time to settle.Death isn't necessarily the end, however, as Sekiro gives you the option to either submit and die to respawn at a checkpoint, or revive on the spot and continue fighting. This mechanic makes the game just a touch more forgiving by allowing you to recompose yourself and get back in the fight, but it comes at a cost. Each death and each revival has an impact on the world around you. More specifically, it has an impact on the characters you've met on your journey. To explain exactly what that is would be to spoil one of the most interesting parts of Sekiro, so I won't do that, but suffice it to say that death and resurrection has a meaningful consequence beyond just making you lose experience and money.In battle, your character, Wolf, has his fair share of tricks. He's equipped with a prosthetic arm that is capable of having different sub-weapons grafted to it, and they're essential in giving yourself an edge in combat. There's an axe that, while slow to swing, can break through shields; a spear that allows you attack from further away, and can be used to pull weaker enemies towards you or strip armor; firecrackers which can stun enemies; or a flamethrower that can inflict burn damage.Using these prosthetics comes at a cost, however, as they consume Spirit Tokens. These are scattered around the world and can be purchased using Sen, the in-game currency awarded for killing enemies, but you can only hold a limited quantity of them while in the field. This limitation reinforces the idea that they are to be used as part of a strategy instead of relied on as the primary way to defeat enemies. Using them unnecessarily could mean that they're not available when you need them most. Resources such as scrap, gunpowder, and wax can be found to upgrade your prosthetic arsenal and open up new ways to use them.Wolf's own shinobi abilities can also be developed by spending experience points gained from killing enemies. Unlike previous From Software titles, there isn't a steady stream of new weaponry; the katana is your mainstay throughout, but new Combat Arts flesh out how the sword can be used, and they have a more active role in skirmishes. Whirlwind Slash, for example, lets you control space, while Ichimonji is a heavy overhead strike that has a long windup but dishes out big posture damage. Again, they're designed as an additional strategic consideration. Only one of these can be equipped at a time, so this forces you to think about what you're taking into battle and be methodical in utilizing it. Shinobi Arts, meanwhile, allow you to access skills such as mid-air deflections, vaulting over enemies to deliver backstabs, and specific counters for deadly special moves that enemies will occasionally execute. These various upgrades aren't diverse enough to support dramatically different playstyles, but they do offer just enough room to find a favourable loadout and then develop its effectiveness.Wolf also has a suite of Innate Abilities, some of which come into play outside of combat. It's here that Sekiro really distinguishes itself from previous From Software titles by revealing itself to be a stealth action game--one that proudly wears its origins as a spiritual successor to the Tenchu series. Most areas have a heavy enemy presence so the odds are stacked against you. Engaging in open combat will draw attention to your presence, so the smarter strategy is to thin out the opposition by systematically picking them off. In previous From Software games, this would involve an awkward kiting process where you edge closer to a single enemy and use items or ranged attacks to lure it into a safer zone to do battle. However, Sekiro has mechanics to support stealth play more directly. You can use your grappling hook to take to the rooftops and scout out a location, taking a note of enemy placements and watching their patrol patterns. You can skulk around buildings, pressing yourself against surfaces to peek around corners. You can shimmy up walls and hang of ledges to reposition, leap off elevated points to plunge your katana into enemies below, or slither under raised buildings and into grass, creeping towards unsuspecting victims. Innate Abilities such as Suppress Presence will make your footsteps quieter, while the ceramic shard item can be thrown to make noise and manipulate movements to your advantage. Being effective with stealth can allow you to circumvent standard combat encounters entirely, so it's in your best interest to take it slow and steady. Enemy behaviour can be inconsistent, however. Sometimes they'll stare through you as if you're not there, and other times they become hyper aware and capable of perfectly tracking your movements during an alert phase, even when you're behind walls or hiding on roofs. They're not particularly sophisticated, but their lethality means they're not to be taken lightly.The absence of modern stealth conveniences means you place greater scrutiny on your surroundings, and you'll notice just how thoughtfully they've been constructedThere's a simplicity to Sekiro's stealth mechanics that is refreshing. There's no Detective Mode or on-screen indicators to signify how much noise you're making, and instead you're entirely reliant on your basic senses. The absence of these modern stealth genre conveniences means you place greater scrutiny on your surroundings, and you'll notice just how thoughtfully they've been constructed.The geography of From Software's game worlds are much lauded, with praise heaped upon the way seemingly disparate locations slowly reveal themselves to be interconnected and part of a cohesive whole. That strength of world design is present in Sekiro, and the fact that it's more immediately visible within these contained locations makes taking the stealth approach even more satisfying. Buildings are placed together to encourage exploration and reconnaissance, with roofs almost touching so that you can leap between them and scope out all angles. They overhang just enough that you can take a running jump and use your grappling hook to swing up and across for better vantage points. Pathways diverge and reconnect, creating that satisfying feeling of venturing into the unknown and then emerging into the familiar. Thick tree branches protruding out from the side of mountains can be grappled to and used to sneak into the heart of an area undetected, or around it entirely. There were more than a few occasions where I spotted a temple in the distance, traced the pathway there back to where I was standing, and followed it to discover a hidden area.Sekiro takes place in Japan, in a land known as Ashina. As a consequence, it is by and large more grounded in reality than the likes of Lordran or Yarhnam. The location remains both striking and memorable, however. Encircled by an ever-visible snowy mountain range, Ashina is built up of dilapidated temples scattered around, housing mercenary warriors and corrupted monks, among other dangerous foes. Man-made pathways dissolve into perilous valleys, where mountainsides must be scaled to reach remote forests patrolled by club-wielding ogres. Fortified castles tower above abandoned towns seized by an army. Ornate statues fill the homes of royalty, while questionable characters linger in the dungeons below. Without spoiling it, Sekiro also takes the opportunity to delve into the supernatural and pull from Japanese mythology.That juxtaposition of the real and the fantastical is echoed in the story Sekiro tells. It begins simply, with a shinobi that is called into action to save his kidnapped master and uphold his iron oath. But beneath the surface there's more at play--Ashina is a nation on the brink of collapse, its people beset by a mysterious stagnation, and you have the power to decide its fate--familiar themes for From Software. However, the story quickly moves from the realm of warlords driven by ambition to one of mythical bloodlines, demonic monsters, and otherworldly spirits. While the story is undoubtedly told in a more direct fashion than Dark Souls and Bloodborne, there are still numerous nuances to explore, and mysteries to solve, perfect fodder for a rampant community that has built up around From Software's games to mine. Softly muttered lines from Ashina's denizens hint at turmoil from days gone, while item descriptions speak to arcane practices. Talk of far off lands colours in the world around Ashina, while vague mentions of enigmatic figures leaves you questioning what unseen forces are involved in the events that are transpiring.The unflinching way Sekiro punishes you for missteps and the repetition of trial and error are clearly suited for people of a certain temperament and with a very specific, slightly masochistic taste in games. These are the people that are willing to endure devastating defeats for hours on end and watch as their progress is undone time and time again, just so they can have the intoxicating thrill of overcome a seemingly insurmountable challenge that awaits at the end. In that respect, Sekiro is unmistakably a From Software game--but one unlike any we've had so far. When all is said and done, though, it's the combat that has left the deepest marks on me, for better and for worse.Atop Ashina Castle I stood before a swordsman. It wasn't my first attempt at the duel; we'd been trading steel for close to six hours, and each time the swordsman ruthlessly cut me down. I became desperate. I started making bad decisions. The losses were really getting to me. But I persevered.My plan was a familiar one, honed through years of repeated Dark Souls and Bloodborne play: observe, dodge, wait for a slow attack, and use the opening to strike--it never fails. He swung his sword and I was out of range. The recovery on the attack was slow so it was the perfect opportunity to land a blow--I'd done it hundreds of times by that point. Except, this time it was different. As I charged in, he quickly corrected himself and fired an arrow, then chased behind it to close the distance and delivered a crushing blow. I lost my composure and finally snapped.I picked myself up off the ground and rushed at him. He began an onslaught of attacks and, after six hours of learning his style and developing the muscle memory, I just started parrying on instinct. Each one of his swings and each arrow he fired was met with a perfectly timed raise of my sword. Every unblockable attack he lunged at me with was sidestepped or hopped immaculately. I watched as his Posture deplete, edging closer to the breaking point, and at the same time I could feel my breathing become more rapid, my thumbs beginning to tremble. I wore him down and delivered a Deathblow, backed away, and did it all over again, and a third time. In that final moment when I pierced through him with my katana, I was completely overcome with emotion. After six gruelling hours of failure, the winning battle lasted just six minutes. I'm not too proud to admit that I cried, and I'd do it all over again.The orchestration of intense one-on-one boss encounters that truly test your mettle, and slower-paced stealth sections that let you take on battles at your own pace, is masterful. More so than in previous games, From Software has honed in on the inherent tension found in the challenging nature of its games, and uses it to incredible effect. Sekiro marries the developer's unique brand of gameplay with stealth action to deliver an experience that is as challenging as it is gratifying. Info from Gamespot.com

Apple unveiled a new subscription service called Apple Arcade during a recent press conference. It's but one of the various big subscription services the tech giant is offering focusing on supplying consumers with top-tier quality across a variety of entertainment mediums.Below we've gathered everything we know about Apple Arcade, including its release date, what games are on the service, and more. Be sure to check back often as we update this feature with even more new details regarding Apple Arcade.Table of Contents [hide]What Is Apple Arcade?When Does Apple Arcade's Release And How Much Will It Cost?Which Devices Does Apple Arcade Support?What Games Are On Apple Arcade?Does It Offer Offline Play?What Is Apple Arcade?Apple Arcade is the tech giant's gaming subscription service designed for mobile, desktop, and the living room. It takes the form of a monthly subscription that provides unlimited access to a curated selection of paid games on the App Store.When Does Apple Arcade's Release And How Much Will It Cost?Apple has not yet revealed the pricing on the service, but it promises more details will come in the months ahead. Currently, we know that Apple Arcade will be available in 150 countries sometime this fall.Which Devices Does Apple Arcade Support?It will support games across iOS devices (both iPhones and iPads), MacOS, and Apple TV, and you'll be able to transfer your progress between different platforms. Essentially, you can move from playing something on your phone to your TV or laptop, for instance.What Games Are On Apple Arcade?Currently, development partners Sega, Konami, Disney, Sumo Digital, Cartoon Network, and more are all signed on to contribute games to the service. There's confirmed to be more than 100 exclusive games at launch with more promised to be added. Below you can find a list of all the games confirmed on the service so far, but if you want details about what each game is, be sure to check out our comprehensive games roundup feature (coming soon).ATONE: Heart of the Elder TreeBeyond a Steel SkyDoomsday VaultDown in BermudaEnter The ConstructFrogger in Toy TownHitchHikerHot LavaKings of the CastleLEGO BrawlsLega Arthouse, CardpocalypseLifelikeMonomalsMr. TurtleNo Way HomeOceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost RealmOverlandProjection: First LightRepairSayonara Wild HeartsSneaky SasquatchSonic RacingSpidersaursThe Bradwell ConspiracyThe PathlessUFA on Tape: First ContactWhere Cards FallWinding WorldsYagaDoes It Offer Offline Play?Apple Arcade isn't a cloud-based streaming service, which means you can download and play games offline. This stands in direct contrast to Google's cloud-based Stadia game streaming platform, which the company said can't run offline. Info from Gamespot.com

The official panel schedule for this year's Star Wars Celebration has been announced. As a result, we now know the world premiere of Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order will be in Chicago on Saturday, April 13 at 11:30 AM PT / 1:30 PM CDT / 2:30 PM ET / 6:30 PM GMT. However, of all the events being streamed at Star Wars Celebration, the Jedi Fallen Order panel doesn't seem to be one of them.In a blog post, the description for the panel says Respawn Entertainment CEO Vince Zampella and Jedi Fallen Order game director Stig Asmussen will discuss "how Respawn and Lucasfilm collaborated on this original Star Wars story," one that follows "a young Padawan’s journey in the Dark Times following Order 66. There will be "a few surprises" as well. Whether this is a trailer, a gameplay reveal, or something else entirely remains to be seen. We have our own hopes for what we want to see in Jedi Fallen Order, but we'll have to wait for the Star Wars Celebration to see if any are confirmed.The day before, Star Wars Celebration will have a panel that offers a sneak peak at Vader Immortal. The upcoming VR game is an "immersive descent into Darth Vader’s fiery Mustafar fortress." Vader Immortal is a launch title for the new Oculus Quest headset, telling a brand-new story in the Star Wars universe that takes place in-between the events of Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.The cinematic side of Star Wars will be present at Star Wars Celebration as well. Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and Episode IX director J.J. Abrams will be hosting a panel for the new movie. The Mandalorian executive producer and writer Jon Favreau and executive producer and director Dave Filoni will also be hosting a panel for the upcoming TV series. The Mandalorian panel will be streamed live, so you can watch it even if you're not in Chicago. It begins April 14 at 9:00 AM PT / 11:00 AM CDT / 12:00 PM ET. Star Wars Celebration will also be airing sneak peaks of the second season of Star Wars Resistance and the upcoming surprise season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars--the latter of which sees the return of fan-favorite Ahsoka Tano. Both sneak peaks will premiere live as well.Info from Gamespot.com

Just when you thought the Five Nights at Freddy's horror series had reached its end, here comes a new installment that'll be out soon. Revealed during Sony's inaugural State of Play livestream, the Five Nights franchise will be making its debut on PS4 with Five Nights At Freddy's VR: Help Wanted, along with releases on Steam and the Oculus Store. In addition to being the series' debut on a console, it's also the first time the series will be playable in VR, which adds a whole new spin on the standard hide-and-seek gameplay that made it such a hit.Developed by Steel Wool Games, Help Wanted remasters several past levels from the previous Five Nights games for the VR format. Playable with both the PlayStation move controllers and the standard DualShock, you'll be able to solve puzzles and evade the murderous animatronics--all within VR. Though the game is structurally the same and uses a lot of classic levels and returning monsters, it overhauls many encounters with the band of nightmarish animatronics from Freddy FazzBear's Pizzeria.The VR game will also include a whole suite of collectibles to find hidden in each stage. These items include plush dolls, bobbleheads, and other knick-knacks referencing the main baddies in the series. Set for release this April, Five Nights at Freddy's VR: Help Wanted seems like it'll be an interesting change of pace for the series that can use the new format to great effect.For more on what was revealed during the PS4's State of Play livestream, which includes the new trailers for Mortal Kombat 11, Days Gone, and No Man's Sky Beyond, be sure to check out our continuing coverage.Info from Gamespot.com

I don't know why I'm in Washington DC; some lady just told me to be here. But there are civilians in distress, armed gangs roaming the streets, and me, my pals, and the second amendment are apparently the only ones who can actually do anything about it. I have no idea what, if anything, is going on with the seemingly important people I meet. But so long as I'm helping folks, sending (presumably) bad people to bed, walking the pretty streets, and picking up a new pair of gloves every so often, I'm very happy to hang around.In the world of Tom Clancy's The Division 2, the USA has been ravaged by a virus and society has crumbled. While those who remain try to survive by banding together in groups of various dispositions, the Strategic Homeland Division activates highly specialized sleeper agents to try and restore order. It's a setting ripe in potential, perhaps to tell a ripping techno-thriller story that scrutinizes the structures of our modern society and government, or perhaps to make a video game that leverages the chaos that occurs when multiple idealistic groups clash in a vie for power in a lawless city. The Division 2 only does one of these things.It's not the story. Throughout the entirety of The Division 2's main campaign, never did the game spend a satisfactory amount of time on any semblance of an overarching plot, or the predicaments of its supposedly important figures. There are no character arcs, only abrupt setups and consequences. Narrative devices, like audio logs found in the world, add little of consequence. Even the game's biggest macguffins--the President of the United States and his briefcase containing a cure for the virus--have a minimal amount of absolutely forgettable screen time. The opportunity to use The Division 2 to create meaningful fiction is wasted.Instead, The Division 2 focuses its narrative chops into worldbuilding. The city, a ravaged Washington DC, initially feels a little homogenous in the way most Western cities do. But after some time, the personality of the different districts--the buildings, the landmarks, the natural spaces, and the ways they've been repurposed or affected by the cataclysm--begins to shine through. It's this strength of environment which lays a very strong foundation for The Division 2 as a video game, creating an engrossing, believable, and contiguous open world.Moving from your safehouse to the open world and your next mission area is almost entirely seamless. It's something that was also true of the original Division, but that doesn't take away from the fact that the simple act of going from place to place in The Division 2 is one of the game's more rewarding aspects. One road may lead to a skirmish with a rival patrol or an optional activity, another might simply give you another stirring scene of urban decay in the morning sun. An obscured shortcut through an apartment block might turn up some useful items in an abandoned home, which you might decide to donate to the makeshift settlements where civilians have attempted to rebuild their lives.Visiting those settlements--initially as hovels, before they gradually grow and become more charming, vibrant places thanks to your efforts in the world--becomes a strong motivator early on in the absence of a plot to chase. Outside main missions, which are dedicated to the weakening of rival factions and achieving indiscriminate objectives, the game's "Projects" are one of the most lucrative means of earning experience to better your character. Projects ask you to donate resources you find out in the world and participate in side activities, encouraging you to spend more time in the world, see new areas, fight new battles, search for new equipment to use, and find enjoyment in that. The Division 2 is, after all, a game devoted to providing you with a continuous stream of gripping conflicts, valuable rewards, and a perpetual sense of progress and satisfaction from doing these things. It does those things very well.You spend a lot of time hunkered behind cover, popping out to fire at any enemy dumb enough to expose themselves. With the large amount of weapon variety available, this familiar facet of combat is solid in itself. Add to that the ability to equip two special skills from a possible eight--which include tools such as riot shields, drones, and from what I can gather, robot bees of some sort--and combat gets pretty interesting. But the vector that really keeps The Division 2's combat lively for upwards of 60 hours is the behaviour and diversity of its enemy types.That time you spend in cover? The Division 2 doesn't want you to just stay there. You can go down very quickly if you're out in the open, but the game has a dozen ways to always keep you taking those risks and finding better firing positions--aggressive melee units, remote control cars equipped with sawblades, even the regular assault units frequently attempt to outflank you. Those special abilities? You absolutely need to use them to their full potential to survive some encounters, whether by throwing out the seeker mines or the automated turret to keep enemies at bay while you focus on a priority target, or perhaps utilizing the chemical launcher to start a fire and create a zone of denial.The effort needed to take out an adversary is relatively reasonable for a shooter that prioritizes the RPG nature of its combat model, but some of the tougher enemies have additional, visible layers of protection which you need to focus on breaking if you want to land critical hits. On the flip side, some enemies have additional, obtuse weak points which can work to your advantage, but only if you can hit them. The fuel tank on the back of a flamethrower unit might be feasible, but when you start running into the terrifying robotic quadruped in post-campaign activities, whose tiny weak point only reveals itself seconds before it fires its devastating railgun, you have to assess whether you can afford to take on that challenge among all the other things pressuring you. The Division 2 throws a lot of hurdles at you, but also gives you the means to quickly counter and resolve them. Whether you can juggle that many balls at once is what keeps combat continually tense and exciting.What's also exciting is the treasure at the end of these gauntlets. The Washington locations, refashioned into memorable combat arenas, are often rewarding in their own right (a fight in a planetarium is an early standout). But improving your equipment is the vital, tangible part that keeps you feeling like you're making progress. You receive new gear in generous amounts, some dropped by an enemy or looted from a container found in the world, others rewarded for completing a mission, and the next dose always feels in reach. The weapon variety forces you to consider something completely different to take advantage of a power boost, and the armor variety provides an impressive number of different cosmetic looks. The Division 2 incorporates a microtransaction and loot box system for its inconsequential clothing options, though these can be found in the world and earned of your own accord, too.Like combat, gear remains intriguing throughout The Division 2 not just because of the abstract desire to have bigger numbers attached to your person and progress further through the game's challenges, but also through a raft of "talents." These add unique perks that complement particular skills or styles of play, like providing bonuses within a certain range or when enemies are burning or your armor is depleted. The brands of armor also have a part to play, whereby equipping a number of pieces from a single manufacturer provide additional advantages. These bonuses become particularly attractive to obsess over in the endgame, when the world is retaken by a tougher, more merciless enemy faction called Black Tusk, and you need to ensure your ability to fight them is the best it can be.For the hundreds of pieces you will inevitably want to discard, the ability to sell or dismantle them for parts to either purchase or craft pieces you want gives value to everything you pick up. Or you might retain them in order to move their talents to better gear of the same type, And, as a wonderful convenience, The Division 2 implements numerous features to inspect, mark, dismantle, or equip things you find so quickly and elegantly--sometimes without ever having to enter a menu--that it improves the whole experience of being in its world.The same can be said of the game's multiplayer integration, which allows you to easily group up and progress with friends (the game will scale any underpowered players to match the most powerful). You can also start or join a clan, which opens up a variety of weekly challenges, granting valuable rewards, and features integrated game-wide group communication options. Even if you're only interested in playing alone (which is more challenging, but entirely feasible for everything but the most demanding of endgame activities), the ability to matchmake with other players at any time, whether that be in the open world, before you start a mission, or when you're at a final boss, is a very welcome and useful feature.And when you beat that final boss of the game's final mission (though, such is The Division 2's lack of plot framing, I honestly couldn't tell you his name to save my life) and you think you've finally run out of treasure to keep luring you through more fights, the metaphorical table gets flipped. Flipped hard. The Washington DC you spent so long liberating from rival factions becomes completely retaken by the aforementioned Black Tusk. You unlock three unique class specializations, each with their own skill trees to build out. Your focus on growing two-digit numbers on your character (your level) moves to three-digit numbers (the quality of your gear). The wealth of activities available to you once you complete the campaign is enormous, and it capitalizes on your momentum. It motivates you to continue seeing more, doing more, and growing more.More challenging, remixed versions of campaign missions and lengthier stronghold missions featuring Black Tusk become available. These "Invaded" missions often leverage the new enemy types to create terrifying new combat scenarios that maintain the steady ramp-up of challenge, and they give you a fantastic reason to revisit the memorable combat arenas with purpose. Open-world events become more dynamic and riskier--factions clash more frequently for control of territory, and your involvement in certain activities can dramatically increase the danger and rewards in others. Limited-time challenges, which take the form of new Projects, higher difficulty missions, and additional bounty targets found in the world, offer avenues for more lucrative bonuses. There are even more activities beyond that, and the strength of The Division 2's endgame is not just in the wealth of content available, but how viable it all is in improving your standing in the world.The journey to bolstering your Gear Score to qualify for higher tiers of challenges and content is always clear. The game continues to make sure you're always meaningfully rewarded no matter what you do, and that feeling of bettering your character persists throughout.It's remarkable how straightforward the game makes it for you to see the full breadth of its content and maintains that feeling of continual advancement all the way to the bitter end, especially in spite of its unsubstantial plots, characters, and narrative themes. Once I finally hit the game's current soft cap for progression, I was impressed by how much there still was to pursue.The world of The Division 2 also features three separate Dark Zone areas, systematically accessible throughout the campaign, which promise the possibility of high-quality equipment but pose more risks beyond the regular open-world. The power dynamic between you and enemies are normalized, and there's the uncertain element of having other players to interact with. In the Dark Zone, players can choose to cooperate with others in the world to clear out enemy outposts and explore the regions for equipment, but the option to go 'Rogue' and undermine the work of other players provides the opportunity for greater rewards at the risk of greater losses if you fail to get away with it. Exploring the Dark Zone is a fascinating aspect of The Division 2 that adds additional facets of tension, distrust, and dishonesty to a game that already features high-stakes combat. Moreover, it is a completely optional pathway to reaching the game's highest tiers of achievement. The game's similarly optional Conflict activities offer gear incentives for participating in traditional team-based multiplayer modes, which felt serviceable in the few matches I played, but were comparatively underpopulated compared to other avenues of matchmaking at the time of writing.The setting of The Division 2 is ripe for potential, and it's a shame the game doesn't use it to say anything. I have absolutely no clue why I'm here, what anyone's motivations are, and I wish I had a strong narrative driver to fuel a purpose behind my endless hunger for progression. This letdown is hard to ignore for the game's initial hours, but the strength of the systems and design that fuel The Division 2 as a game are compelling enough to keep you captivated for dozens more. The range of enemy types continues to keep combat encounters challenging, the equipment I earn and pick up continues to feel different, valuable, and asks me to consider new ways of play. The ravaged environments continue to intrigue, and sometimes they're so stunning I find myself needing to take screenshots before I move on. It might not have much to say, but The Division 2 is a perpetual cycle of tension, relief, and reward that's difficult to stay away from. Info from Gamespot.com

From Software doesn't skimp on challenging its players, even in the early portions of its games. The developer's latest, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, holds that trend, ratcheting up the difficulty on new players and expecting them to adapt, or die. There are several super-tough mid-boss enemies even early on in Ashina Outskirts, the first area through which players venture once they've gained the Shinobi Prosthetic. Taking on the mid-bosses along the way is especially tough if you haven't found some of the best early game prosthetics.One of the first major enemies you'll have to take down is the Chained Ogre, a red-eyed monster locked into a wooden pillory. Sekiro is good about giving you hints on how to defeat bosses and mid-bosses like the Ogre if you're eavesdropping and paying attention, but knowing what to do and actually doing it are two different things. Defeating the Ogre is the last major hurdle before you reach Gyoubu, and will earn you Prayer Beads, which can make you stronger for the fight ahead.The trick to beating the Ogre is being fast on your feet, and being willing to disengage if you need to. You can also get an edge with the right Shinobi Prosthetic, the Flame Vent, but it's pretty easy to miss. Here's everything you need to know about taking down the Ogre and getting ready for your big fight with Gyoubu.You might also want to read up on how death impacts Sekiro and how to cure Dragonrot, and take a look at our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice review.Clearing The BattlefieldYou'll find the Ogre in the Ashina Outskirts area, in the Outskirts Wall--Stairway section. Before doing anything else, clear the area at the base of the stairs so that no other enemies are around to interrupt you. Try to get good at taking them out stealthily to keep your health up, and don't be afraid to retreat to the Idol Statue nearby if you need to try again. In fact, keep that opportunity to reset in mind, because it can help you keep your death count down as you learn the fight.Bring The Flame VentRed-eyed enemies like the Ogre are basically berserkers, unfazed by your attacks. That mostly means you'll need to do a lot of dodging and slicing away in between the Ogre's attacks. You can get some breathing room to heal or attack, though, if you have fire. Red-eyed enemies fear flames, and you can find a Shinobi Prosthetic tool early in the game that produces a jet of fire that will briefly stagger the Ogre and give you the upper hand. It's easy to miss, though.You'll need to go to the Hirata Estate level to find the Flame Vent. In the area before the Stairway, the Gate Path, look for an old woman in a blasted-out house. If you talk to her and let her believe you're her son, she'll give you a bell to use as an offering. Take it to the Dilapidated Temple and use it on the Buddha statue near the Sculptor to access the Hirata Estate level. You can use our guide to find the Flame Vent prosthetic--bring it back to the Sculptor to get it fitted for your fight with the Ogre.The Flame Vent isn't essential to beating the Ogre, and it won't do extra damage to it. The tool can be very useful for emergencies, though, like when you need to get the Ogre to back off or when a couple extra hits will bring it down.Get A BackstabYou can't approach the Ogre with stealth, since there's only one way up the stairs toward it, and it'll see you coming. But you can try to get behind it for a quick backstab deathblow, which can reduce the difficulty of the fight by about half right out of the gate. To get there, hold down the dodge button to make the Wolf sprint and try to get up behind the Ogre before he manages to break free of his bonds. It's tough to get there in time, but the backstab is worth it if you can manage it.Dodge The GrabsThe Ogre hits hard with all its abilities, but its grabs attacks are the worst ones. These are marked by the red symbol that denotes an unblockable attack. If you get grabbed, the Ogre will deal a massive amount of damage you can't avoid, and likely will kill you. The only way to avoid the Ogre's grab attacks is to use the Step Dodge ability, and you'll need to keep your distance in general--he'll do a diving grab move that can get you even if you step back, so make sure you're going sideways when possible, and give yourself ample room to escape.The good news is that if you can avoid a grab, you'll get a chance to wail on the Ogre for a few seconds. The bad news is that you'll probably need to get wrecked by this move once or twice to get a feel for the timing.Grapple For Big HitsA lot of the time when the Ogre plows past you, you'll get opportunities for snagging its wooden collar with your grapple. Use those chances--you'll get in close for a few big attacks, and it's good practice for a tactic you're going to use a lot when you fight Gyoubu soon enough. If you can unlock it, you'll should also grab the Grapple Hook Attack ability from the Shinobi Martial Arts skill tree. That'll let you swing in and do some damage before you even hit the ground.Don't Be Afraid To FleeThe area around the Ogre has a bunch of key grapple points for a reason. The game is providing you with a bunch of escape hatches so you can stop the fight, take a second to breathe, and get your bearings. The battle with the Chained Ogre is as much a tutorial as anything else you've faced up to now, giving you the tools to deal with a big, tough enemy, while also teaching you that the tactics you've used in other fights still apply. If you're getting pummeled or just having a hard time, grapple up onto a tree or onto the nearby gate and take a second to reassess the fight. It's also a handy way to get a chance to use a healing item without worrying you're about to get smashed for letting your guard down.Deflect, Deflect, DeflectApart from his big grabs, the Ogre's attacks looks scarier than they actually are--and you can deflect all of them. That includes his big drop kick move, his stompy feet attacks, and his attempts to kick you across the field like a football. Just because the Ogre isn't using a sword doesn't mean you can't block them, and you definitely should be. Keep your guard up to avoid a lot of incoming damage, and to give yourself openings to attack.You can also dodge most or all of the Ogre's attacks to give yourself a chance at getting in close to land some blows. The drop kick move is especially easy to slip around, giving you a chance to cut away and clear out some of the Ogre's vitality. Blocking will help you break its posture sooner, though, so while Souls and Bloodborne players might feel like dodging is the right move, it's actually slowing down your ability to win the fight. Break the Ogre's posture and grab your deathblows for the win. Info from Gamespot.com

The disease appears suddenly, without any warning. Dragonrot is the cost paid for Wolf's immortality. Fortunately for him, it's others who suffer this cursed plague. After resurrecting one too many times in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Wolf will awaken in the Dilapidated Temple beside the coughing Sculptor. You'll be given a warning, in the form of Rot Essence, that he's caught Dragonrot. If you continue to die, he won't be the last.Understandably, it's a little scary the first time you're told about the disease. Sekiro makes no mention of Dragonrot--or any downside to resurrecting--before this moment, and the game does little to immediately explain exactly what it is or how you can cure it. If you're looking to understand Rot Essence and Dragonrot, you've come to the right place. Below, we discuss exactly what both are, as well as how to cure Dragonrot and why you want to.Dragonrot has the potential to infect almost every character Wolf meets and interacts with on his journey. Although you don't get a cutscene for anyone but The Sculptor, the game will give you another Rot Essence whenever someone else has caught the plague. You can go and try and talk to them if you want, but the only response you'll get from many of them are violent coughing fits.Bing able to talk to people is why you need to cure Dragonrot. Thankfully, as far as we can tell, no matter how many times Wolf resurrects in battle, no one will actually die from disease. So you don't have to worry about that. However, you cannot complete side quests for characters who are infected with Dragonrot, so if you want to experience everything Sekiro has to offer and unlock some of the game's best prosthetics, you'll need to keep people healthy.Even if you don't care about finding everything, fixing Dragonrot assures you can take advantage of one of Sekiro's best features. Upon death, Wolf has the potential of receiving Unseen Aid, which prevents him from losing experience and sen. You need to former to unlock new abilities and the latter to buy items. Your chances of receiving Unseen Aid diminishes with every person who catches the Dragonrot. Refusing to cure the Dragonrot means, eventually, every one of Wolf's deaths will result in loss.Unfortunately, you can't be proactive with finding a cure. You'll need The Sculptor to fall ill to the Dragonrot to open the questline you need. As soon as the game tells you The Sculptor is sick, talk to Emma. She'll tell you about a possible Dragonrot cure, but she'll need two samples of infected blood in order to create the medicine. So you'll need to resurrect a few more times to spread Dragonrot to another person. Shouldn't be too hard to die and resurrect a few more times considering how difficult Sekiro is.When you get the warning about a second infected person, go find them and let them cough their infected blood onto you. Return this to Emma and she'll craft the cure, a Dragon Tear. Using a Dragon Tear at an idol immediately cures all infected individuals of the Dragonrot. But it's only temporary. Resurrecting too many times again will once more cause the Dragonrot to spread amongst the populace. You'll need to buy more Dragon Tears from specific merchants if you want to cure the Dragonrot again--each goes for 180 sen. In our time with the game, we haven't discovered a merchant who sells an infinite number of Dragon Tears, though. So save those Dragon Tears for when you really need them, and just try not to resurrect too many times to prevent the Dragonrot from spreading. There doesn't seem to be a permanent cure for Dragonrot (other than just never resurrecting), so be careful.In our Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice review-in-progress, Tamoor Hussain gave the game a 9/10, writing, "Sekiro marries From Software's unique brand of gameplay with stealth action to deliver an experience that is as challenging as it is gratifying."Info from Gamespot.com