Sekiro: Shadow die twice, holds strong at 90 on Opencritic based on 111 reviewers. GotY?

[SecondWar]

I'm struggling with this game - probably doesn't help that I've never played dark souls. I've done the prologue and that's it, I just cant figure out the combat. Dodge doesn't seem to work and I can't find a way past the first mini boss. Plus the game punishes you for dying.