From Software’s brutally challenging Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is easily one of the best games to have released so far this year. In fact, depending on who you ask in this office, it’s either Sekiro or Resident Evil 2 to take GOTY 2019 so far.
I was lucky enough to review Sekiro, and I absolutely fell in love with the game’s rhythmic, punishing combat, imposing enemies, and gorgeously realised vision of a fantastical Sengoku-era Japan.
Here’s what I had to say back in March:
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is a game that demands your patience, focus, and respect from the very beginning, and it doesn’t let up for even a moment. If you’re ready to get hurt again, but also to play one of the most ingeniously designed games of the last year – maybe even decade – then I genuinely can’t recommend Sekiro enough.
If you haven’t played it yet, well – what’s wrong with you? Unlike other From Software games, Sekiro tells a much cleaner, more coherent story full of interesting characters. One that’s begging to be further explored in a sequel, prequel, or perhaps some other form of media. A manga, perhaps?
Luckily, a manga is exactly what we’re getting. From Software is teaming up with manga artist Shin Yamamoto on a brand new book starring Hanbei the Undying – the tutorial character with a pesky inability to die.
Aptly titled Sekiro Side Story: Hanbei the Undying, we can expect to see it on Comic Walker’s website on May 27. I’s also been licensed by US publisher Yen Press, so a print run is looking likely.
A story teaser gives us a taste of what to expect:
The Sengoku Era… A time when losing a battle meant losing it all. The Sword Saint, Isshin Ashina, aims for world domination…That is, until he encounters a certain Samurai… In a world of utter turmoil where allies, foes, and corrupted immortals all have their shadows, it’s up to one to restore balance to all.
You can also take a look at the first official images of the manga below, courtesy of Yin Press. Thanks, Yin Press. Love you.
From Software will oversee work on this Sekiro manga, but Yamamoto will have creative control. He’s previously worked on an adaptation of Monster Hunter, so he’s got a good bit of experience in creating fulsome video game mangas.
If you have a story you want to tell send it to UNILAD via stories@unilad.co.uk
Ewan Moore is a journalist at UNILAD Gaming who still quite hasn’t gotten out of his mid 00’s emo phase. After graduating from the University of Portsmouth in 2015 with a BA in Journalism & Media Studies (thanks for asking), he went on to do some freelance words for various places, including Kotaku, Den of Geek, and TheSixthAxis, before landing a full time gig at UNILAD in 2016.