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

[Runa216]

John2290 said:

Runa216 said:

That final boss is so frustrating I'm seriously considering just giving up. It's not fun at all, and I'm at max health and strength I can be at this level in the game. Every other boss was hard and required learning to overcome, but the more I played the better I got, and the better I got the closer I came to beating it...

...but Isshin the Sword Saint is just seven levels of bullshit. Three days later stuck on that boss and I don't feel I've made any progress or gotten better. There are moves he does that I anticipate and react to and SOMETIMES it works, but sometimes it does not. I've been hit when jumping over a sweep, slammed back when I did a mikiri counter, am hit about 50% of the time Ishin in his second phase does the downward slam despite that being the 'easy to avoid and cheese' move in his arsenal. I block and deflect perfectly about 80% of the time but other times I get hit anyway, and some moves - if you're not already in the position to jump or run away - are virtually impossible to dodge or evade if you're too close. 

This game went from being the best game I've played since Bloodborne to a game I am so angry with I seriously considered snapping the disc so that it couldn't hurt me or anyone else any more. 

Demon of Fire? Blah, half an hour and a dozen tries, had him beat. Owl? Actually pretty easy if you're smart and patient. Genichiro? tough early game but not bad once you get to know him. Lady butterfly? actually pretty easy once you figure out how to deflect her attacks and knock her from the rafters/wires. Guardian ape? Use fireworks in round 1 and be patient in round 2. most of the minibosses? Almsot all of them can be cheesed, stealth attacked, or gradually chipped away at if you're smart. 95% of this game is tough but fair - just like Souls should be - but Isshin is a fucking nightmare and he puts me in a sour mood every time I attempt to attack him. 

I feel bad because I spent the last few days rolling my eyes at John for nearly givng up so close to the end, but having not made a lick of progress I'm considering doing the same. Unlike John, I haven't even made it to the final phase. No matter what I do I cannot avoid dying almost instantly on Isshin's second phase. Blocking, evading, cheesing, it doesn't matter. That phase seems to have a perfect lock on me and I Can't deflect, dodge, jump over, or mikiri counter any of his moves. Utter bullshit. I hate it. I've never had a single boss make me hate a game so much, especially not after how much I LOVED the rest of the game. 

Have you obtained the Mask with carp scales? It can allow you to use 5 skill points to up your Attack power, even two points can make a majour difference and 19+ VIT is an absolute must, preferably you'd want to be capped. Have you gone to Hiratta a second time? There are row mini bosses there for prayer beads and The Owls second fight for an attack up. Also turn off your combat arts as they can get you animation locked and negate a block, have your Rez balls all filled when attempting a win and you can use the buddle budda dolls for a refill mid fight.

I do have the Mask with the carp scales but I have so many levels that it takes almost 50k experience to level up (I was trying to get all the skill points needed for the trophy) so while that is an option holy crap does it take forever. 

I have 19+ VIT and can't get 20 because I failed to go that route and thus can't get the final two prayer beads. 

I go to Hirata Estate but it's no different. I think I messed up that plotline and thus cut myself out of the Juzou and Owl second fights. 

I will try it without doing Combat arts but I'm not so sure that's my problem, most of my deaths happen not when I'm blocking but when I'm caught off guard and am already trying to attack. I also don't intend to use the buddha dolls until I'm certain I've done well enough to take a risk, since they're a limited resource. I haven't even gotten to the final stage yet, even though from what I saw the final stage actually looks somehow easier than 3rd stage of the boss (when he gets the spear).