Chapter 267 If the enemy is silent, he must be acting like a monster
"Editor-in-Chief Simon, it has been more than 72 hours since the game was released. We really should release the test scores."
It's night in a two-story detached villa in San Jose, San Francisco, in the western United States.
A man in his mid-thirties, wearing pink silk pajamas, was walking on the cashmere carpet in the living room on the first floor of the villa, listening to the assistant's voice on the phone.
"Up to now, nearly fifteen evaluation media including Global Players, SLGamers, TT Video Games, Tiantian Youbao, etc. have rated and reviewed "Sekiro","
The assistant on the phone sounded a little anxious:
"We really need to hurry up."
Yes.
As one of the chief editors of SNG Games, Matt Simon has historically been responsible for reviewing the most popular games of the quarter or even the year.
And this time, the important task of writing a review of "Sekiro" naturally fell on him.
Today, as the pioneering 3S-level masterpiece of Golden Wind, Sekiro has undoubtedly achieved great success around the world.
Although the regular gameplay of this game is 25-40 hours long, it is considered a very grueling masterpiece for the review media.
However, those international first-line game media still rushed to the game about 48 hours after its release. After working hard and suffering day and night, they cleared the game and made the first evaluation.
Some of these reviews focus on the technical capabilities of the game, such as SLGamers’ review——
[9.9/10 points: An unprecedented game. As the game designer Sam said, the future is already here. The refined combat feel and rich and free action realization not only put this game on the altar, but also
It also opens up a more exciting path for future somatosensory action games...]
Some focus on the design concept of the game, such as the Hummingbird game——
[9.8/10 points: It’s hard to imagine that a game full of negative feedback in terms of difficulty can be so fascinating. Each BOSS is like an insurmountable mountain in life. Only when you climb over
Only in the past can I experience the sense of accomplishment that reaches my toes...]
Some also focus on the narrative of the game, such as Global Player——
[9.9/10 points: Unlike all previous games, in this game, part of the plot you learn, even some important plots, are pieced together through scattered information and the words of others.
Although this kind of fragmented narrative will always make people confused, there is no doubt that it allows players to experience the immersion under the rolling torrent of the times. Here, you are just a person wrapped in fate.
Independent individuals, making insignificant but exhausting efforts to fight against fate...]
In addition, there are some who talk about the exquisite design of each boss, some who say that the design of its prosthetic hand is wonderful and novel, and some even select the stories of its supporting characters that are independent from the protagonist for special analysis.
To name a few.
Obviously, there are indeed many aspects that can be analyzed for this work that is enough to shock the entire gaming community.
After all, judging from the current situation, it has four endings alone——
The first one is [Step into Shura], which is also the first ending to be played.
In this ending, Sekiro faced the suggestion of his adoptive father who had "resurrected from the dead" on the castle tower, and chose to nod his head and acquiesce, no longer protecting Miko Kuro, but handing Kuro to his adoptive father.
However, just when the adoptive father thought that he had great power and was about to gain the power of immortality to dominate the world, the wolf stabbed him in the heart severely from behind, avenging the sword strike three years ago.
After killing his father and betraying his master, Sekiro embarked on the path of Shura, and not even Old Isshin could stop him.
Standing on the castle tower, looking at Ashina Castle which was like a hell on earth, Sekiro Ninja set up the fire of hell with his prosthetic hand and completely turned into a killing machine...
The second one is [Cut off the Immortal], which is the second ending that has been conquered.
In this ending, the wolf did not find any other way to kill the immortal, so he could only execute it step by step according to Kuro's method.
In the end, Kuro took the Sakura Dragon Tears, and Sekiro also raised the Immortal Sword, killing Kuro with his own hands and cutting off the Immortality.
The third one is [Return to Normal], which is also the only ending that was personally praised by Sam. It can be called the official ending in Sam’s mind——
In other words, Sekiro exchanged his life for Kuro to return to normal life and live an ordinary life.
As for the last one [Dragon’s Homecoming], it was unlocked by a Chinese player nearly 50 hours after the game was released. It is also the most complicated but perfect ending of the entire game——
In this ending, players will get to know the ‘Son of Transformation’ in Xianfeng Temple when they get the red Immortal Slash.
According to various fragmentary clues, players need to kill the White Snake God, take out the 'Snake Persimmon' of the White Snake God and the 'Dried Snake Persimmon' it protects for the Son of God to eat.
Afterwards, the Son of God will turn into Long Yin's cradle and shed icy tears.
In the ending, if Jiulang takes Ice Tears and Dragon Tears, the Son of God will become one with Jiulang, and then embark on the journey of the dragon's return home, sending Long Yin back to its original place, completely letting the dragon
Yin disappears.
That is to say.
These four endings alone are enough for players to play multiple games!
There are so many points about this game that can be analyzed and analyzed.
From in-game to out-of-game, there are countless.
But that’s exactly why!
Simon felt that he really couldn't use precise language to comprehensively evaluate this game.
It is a great innovation in the gaming industry and an insurmountable milestone.
If we say that the Titanfall time travel level was a level design ceiling that no one can surpass to this day.
So the entire work of Sekiro is as amazing a monument as the time travel level.
only.
Simon doesn't want to say this about the game.
So, how should we evaluate this game?
[...This is a tragic song about an idealist's failed attempt, a story about the loneliness of a late hero who is unable to recover, a romance about daring to die generously for the beliefs in his heart, and a story about the transformation of a wolf into a human being.
do】
【It is the beginning and the end of the curtain】
【It is the game of the year in my mind】
——"Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice"
[SNG score:10/10]
…
Ten points! Full marks!
The next day!
With the release of 10 points from Matt Simon, editor-in-chief of SNG Reviews, the world's largest gaming media website.
Discussions and reports about the work "Sekiro" have also been pushed to an unprecedented climax!
"Another masterpiece is born! "Sekiro" received a perfect score from SNG!"
"The lowest is 9.8 and the highest is 10! The uncrowned king of the annual game is born!"
"The altar is following Sam!"
——Unprecedented innovation and a future-ready design, Sekiro becomes another perfect masterpiece produced by Golden Wind after continuing to go to the moon!
"Gu Sheng and his mobile altar!"
——The impeccable game performance makes Sekiro undoubtedly one of the most watched 3S-level masterpieces this year!
"A successful start! Golden Wind's first 3S-level work is a hit!"
——As the first 3S-level work of Golden Wind after being promoted to a medium-sized game company, Sekiro has received high scores from major game rating media with its excellent production and innovative gameplay, and even successfully entered the SNG evaluation history.
The fifth perfect game seat!
"..."
Various reports emerge one after another.
The discussions among the players are getting louder and louder!
In just one and a half months!
The popularity curves of the two games "Torii" and "Sekiro" show an extremely exaggerated shape!
Here, the wolf is getting higher and higher, infinitely upward.
On the other side of the torii gate, it gets lower and lower, infinitely downward.
By the time the "SNG 10-point evaluation" became popular, Torii's popularity curve had almost dropped to the freezing point, and it was beginning to be infinitely closer to being forgotten.
And this is not over yet.
Just a week after the release of "Sekiro", Golden Wind suddenly announced that it would update Sekiro.
In this update, the attack AI logic of some BOSS and elites will be slightly adjusted, and some minor bugs will be fixed, and then——
Open creative workshop.
After the news came, players even omitted a bunch of messy little adjustments.
after all.
These last six words are so exciting!
All of a sudden!
The enthusiasm of the players was instantly detonated!
And after just one night!
There are already tens of thousands of mods available in Sekiro’s creative workshop!
So if at this time, you are a friend who has just been rescued from Mars and watched the live broadcast of the game "Sekiro" for the first time, you will be "lucky" to see the following picture——
On the castle tower, Mai Sakurajima, who is wearing a bunny girl costume and holding a lightsaber, is fighting against Ash who is holding an arc scimitar on the opposite side. The tinkling sound of iron is heard and sparks are flying...
In the collapse valley, as the protagonist continues to use the hook rope to fly up and down in the canyon, there are formations of gravel behind him, and the ground shakes. Looking back, a Thomas the Tank Engine that covers the sky is licking the face of a devilish smile.
chase……
In the aquatic village, there is heavy fog, and the charming Meowth is playing the piccolo. Once disturbed, he will wave the flute in his hand and clumsily hit you, and then accidentally throw him to the ground...
In the Palace of Origin above the sky, in front of Yinglong, Bald Qiang held an ax and declared war on the heaven-shaking Yinglong Arrogantly: "If you only have this kind of strength, you can't compare to the two of me from Gouxiong Ridge."
Old friend..."
All kinds of weird and outrageous mods have been added to the game.
There was even a bad guy who changed the background music without authorization in the ending of Shura.
On a scorched, purgatory-like land, Sekiro held a wedge pill in his hand, lit a blazing fire of karma in his left hand, and turned his back to Isshin and Yongzhen, who were dying.
At this time, the music played——
Thump thump! thump thump thump!
Never gonna give you up!
Never gonna let you down!
"Been tricked again——!"
As a designer, Gu Sheng even had the urge to close the creative workshop when he saw this mod for the first time.
Impressed.
How come you can be deceived here!
Being a Shura and killing Yongzhen's wife and Lao Yixin is enough of a shame, but the background music also has to deceive others.
Even for a psychopath like him, he couldn't help but doubt the mental state of his own group of players.
that's all!
The popularity of "Sekiro" is rising. It has been going on for more than a week. Not only has it not declined at all, but it has continued to soar!
As for "Torii", under such heavy pressure, it seems to have disappeared.
In theory, this is a bit strange.
You know, after all, Torii is Comella’s key 3S-level project this quarter or even the entire second half of the year.
Although it is hopeless to compete with Sekiro, who is now in full swing, on the frontal battlefield, but even if the factor of confronting Sekiro is eliminated, this game still needs to make a return!
Since the end of the exhibition, it has been in a state of decline until now.
During this period, except for Chief Designer Koizumi's "public relations" operation that stole the chicken but failed to lose the rice, there was no action.
It's like this game has been forgotten not only by the player market, but also by Comela itself.
In fact, the popularity of "Torii" today is not as high as the other two games also produced by Comella, "Wild Dunk EX" and "Hot Rally: Return"!
"What kind of bad things are these grandchildren holding back?"
In the office, Lu Bian put down the heat curve chart of Sekiro and Torii, frowned and said.
good!
Such anomalies naturally attracted the attention of Golden Wind executives.
obviously.
There is nothing wrong with the ‘calm and calm’ situation in Comella today.
A project with an investment of more than 200 million U.S. dollars has performed so poorly in the market. Let alone rivals, it can't even compete in its own games with lower investments. How come Camela is indifferent?
What about Xuanfa?
What about marketing?
We don’t want you to discredit us.
Don’t you need some publicity for your own games to at least make money back?
not prepare.
So said Comella.
At least for now, it seems that Comella is not prepared for this at all.
"The opponent is quiet, he must be acting like a monster..."
Gu Sheng was naturally aware of this.
It’s just that he doesn’t understand and can’t figure out why the top management of Comella would be so cruel to “Torii”.
Are you holding back to become a wolf?
Won't.
You can't say no.
It can't be done.
With high scores of 9.9 and 10 points from all evaluation media, it was an unprecedented carnival in the gaming circle. It was praised as an "epoch-making game" by many media and even Jimmy Lawrence, an executive of the American International Data Corporation (IDC), one of the organizers of GDC.
Today's Sekiro is definitely not a game where Comela can incite public opinion and destroy word-of-mouth with its rhythm.
Just put it like that.
At this time, if Comella still wants to attack Golden Wind on the level of public opinion and drag them down from the altar, it would be better to turn around and develop another game, which may cost less than hyping up public opinion.
So……
Since it's not about taking action against us, what's the purpose of Comella's cruel tactics?
Gu Sheng couldn't figure it out.
because of this--
…
"...It makes absolutely no sense!"
At the same time, at the top level of Comella headquarters, at the shareholders’ meeting, Kamikoshi Kage was pointing at the many data behind him and vowed:
"This time, the project was announced properly and the targeted strategies were well prepared. Both in terms of game quality and layout planning, everything was flawless."
"So this loss, this major failure, I beg you shareholders to think about it carefully——"
"Isn't this completely unreasonable?"
——
PS: The next chapter is half an hour late and we are making adjustments.
