Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice's game world among the studio's most open, hub area should be familiar to From fans
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice has a hub area, just like many of From Software's games.
Though the NPCs in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice's hub are obviously all new characters, their jobs aren't that different from what you're used to seeing in other From Software games.
Game Informer revealed that the hub area is called the Dilapidated Temple, and will be accessible early on in the story. You'll be able to reach it through Sekiro's version of bonfires, Sculptor’s Idols, or by using some limited items.
There, you'll find a character who upgrades your skills, one who upgrades your Healing Gourd to increase the number of uses, and a seemingly crestfallen knight. The Immortal Soldier, is what he's called, and he's going to essentially be a live training dummy.
A decent portion of Sekiro's combat expects players to be able to parry, dodge, and riposte, so it probably made more sense to give players a character they can train with rather than leave them to figure it out in the field.
The Dilapidated Temple is physically connected to the game world, similar to the Souls games, but it won't lead to as many areas. From also hinted at other NPCs joining the hub when met in the world, which is nothing new.
As for the game world of Sekiro, director Hidetaka Miyazaki said it's among the studio's most open, with plenty of different paths to take.
"We feel like Sekiro’s probably on the higher end of the spectrum in terms of the freedom the player has to explore the world if we’re to compare it to our previous games," said Miyazaki.
"Particularly from the mid-game onward, the world really opens up, and you have a great deal of choice and freedom about which order and way you choose to explore."
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice hits PC, PS4, and Xbox One on March 22.