Previously on Developing Games: To scare players all around the world!...
Natalie confronted a monstrous Headless near a pyramid of skulls, but her attacks were useless against it. The creature could kill with sheer terror, forcing Natalie to flee, only for it to reappear and instantly kill her. Defeated and near despair, she retreated to the village entrance and decided to head for the Temple, vowing revenge later. She then entered a hidden dungeon used for horrific immortality experiments, dispatching guards to finally reach the Temple.
Yet, beyond the game's deeply moving narrative, its formidable challenge has ignited fervent discussions among gamers. Across every online forum, group chat, and live stream, pleas for assistance flood the digital space.
"Someone, please! I need help defeating the Scarlet Demon! I've faced defeat numerous times!"
"And those monks who descend from the heavens with their war cries, how is one supposed to counter such an onslaught!?"
"This game is relentlessly tormenting me; I can endure it no longer!"
"This is madness! Why must this game be so punishingly difficult!?"
Nevertheless, despite the chorus of complaints, no player has truly abandoned the game. Sekiro stands out as a singular experience, offering an unprecedented opportunity to engage in personal sword duels, thrilling martial arts combat, and the palpable tension of life-or-death battles. It is unforgiving, yet undeniably exhilarating.
Naturally, within any gaming community, there are always seasoned veterans ready to impart their wisdom to newcomers.
"The Scarlet Demon? Lure it to the edge of a precipice and let it fall!"
"Those aerial monks? Simply chart the correct path, and you can bypass them without sustaining any damage!"
"Or perhaps, cease your lamentations, internalize their attack sequences, and vanquish them after a few dozen failures – that's simply the nature of the game!"
Just as the outcry over the game's difficulty neared its zenith, the renowned actor Master Wu unexpectedly released a video on YouTube, sending shockwaves through the community.
[Sekiro: A Complete No-Damage Playthrough!]
Upon seeing this title, players were utterly astonished. Anyone who had played the game understood its extreme challenge. And here, he claimed to have completed it without taking a single hit? Unless it was a scripted demise, he wouldn't be wounded at all?
"??? No damage? My eyes aren't deceiving me, are they?!" "Is Shi Xiaolong truly this formidable? He can achieve such a feat?" "Well, he has dedicated years to martial arts training since childhood, so perhaps his reflexes are indeed exceptional!" "Still... I never anticipated Shi Xiaolong would venture into posting walkthroughs. Has he pivoted to become a game streamer?"
Shi Xiaolong was a familiar figure – a celebrated child actor, rigorously trained in martial arts from a young age, and a star of countless films. However, as he matured, his career trajectory faltered, leading him to low-budget productions with dwindling recognition. His recent endeavors had been quite somber.
It was at this juncture that his agent identified a new avenue: the rapidly expanding realm of game content creation. Fueled by the phenomenal success of games within the [New World] series, numerous streamers had ascended to stardom. The most prominent example was Sister Zhou, whose fame rivaled that of top-tier celebrities.
Of course, replicating Sister Zhou's success was not universally achievable. After all, she ostensibly had connections with the game developers, granting her access to exclusive resources. Yet, other creators, such as "Pure White," had achieved meteoric fame simply by capitalizing on the prevailing trends. Prior to the release of Silent Hill, Pure White boasted a mere few hundred followers. Now? Tens of millions.
The opportunity presented was too enticing to ignore.
Shi Xiaolong's agent convinced him that even a small portion of this audience could revitalize his career. Shi Xiaolong, who had recently become deeply engrossed in Sekiro, readily agreed. Their plan was ambitious: not merely to create walkthroughs, but to undertake a no-damage clear of Sekiro to capture widespread attention.
They engaged a professional video editor, incorporated subtitles, and meticulously polished the production. Finally, the inaugural video was uploaded.
The video commenced with Wu's voice.
"To begin, this marks my first attempt at creating a video of this nature. My experience is limited, so please bear with any imperfections. Regarding this 'no-damage challenge,' it is merely a personal endeavor. Frankly, a second episode might not even materialize, as we are all acutely aware of Sekiro's imposing difficulty. I cannot guarantee my ability to maintain an unblemished performance throughout."
This humble introduction immediately resonated with the viewers. After all, every player understood Sekiro's unforgiving nature.
The video soon transitioned to gameplay footage. The introductory level? Navigated with seamless precision. Then came the initial significant hurdle: General Yamauchi.
"Yamauchi employs a singular primary attack. Observe his timing meticulously; execute two perfect deflects, and his defeat is assured."
As Wu narrated, the footage was deliberately slowed, employing slow-motion to clearly illustrate the precise moments at which players should strike to perfectly parry Yamauchi's offense. His careful instruction quickly captivated the audience. For a debut creator, he exhibited remarkable professionalism and thoughtfulness.
Following Yamauchi's defeat without incurring any damage, the subsequent adversary emerged: Genichiro.
However, it was common knowledge that this particular foe was exceptionally challenging. A flawless, no-hit encounter against him was deemed virtually insurmountable. Consequently, Wu opted to absorb the attacks, remain stationary, and proceed swiftly past this segment.
Shortly thereafter, the video reached the area within Ashina Castle Town.
"Proceed to this alcove initially to avoid detection by the guards.
"Ascend to this position, neutralize the marksman at the summit, and subsequently eliminate the riflemen positioned in this vicinity..."
As Wu meticulously detailed each step, his gameplay unfolded like a scene from a cinematic martial arts epic. He expertly navigated by flanking enemy patrols, executing clean assassinations to neutralize threats.
Throughout his journey, whether confronting Ashina soldiers, colossal Taro brutes, or riflemen, Wu employed assassination tactics exclusively. He deliberately avoided direct confrontations, understanding that any open combat risked incurring damage. Through stealth, this potential harm was entirely eliminated.
The audience could hardly contain their excitement.
"Damn, Wu looks exceptionally cool right now!"
"This stealth approach is absolutely incredible. He wasn't detected even once!"
"Hold on, this is considered infiltration? He took out everyone! How is that stealth?"
"It's stealth, naturally. If no one remains alive, who will notice your presence?"
"Hahaha, that's undeniably true!"
Viewers were not only impressed but also grasped a crucial element: to conquer Sekiro without sustaining any damage, strategic route planning was as vital as combat prowess. In essence, the game demanded more strategic thinking than pure action.
Naturally, discovering pathways that allowed for complete stealth eliminations was no simple feat. While Wu appeared as a masterful assassin in the video, silent and deadly, behind the scenes, he had dedicated countless hours to rigorous practice.
He wasn't alone in this endeavor; he enlisted his friends to assist in testing routes and practicing runs. Former martial arts actors with whom he had trained previously also joined, diligently studying enemy attack patterns and collaboratively devising assassination strategies.
Before long, Wu's character had eliminated all subordinate enemies, expertly bypassed the massive divine white serpent, and finally reached the formidable Corrupted Monk.
Upon encountering this formidable boss, he reverted to his teaching persona. As before, he slowed the playback speed of the video, dissecting each individual move, elaborating on attack patterns in meticulous detail, and guiding players on the precise moments for their reactions. His explanations were so lucid that even novice players felt a sense of capability.
The viewers were absolutely captivated.
"Excellent! I truly comprehend it now. I'm attempting this later!"
"My brain understands. My body... will it understand? Yeah, unlikely."
"Still, Wu's explanations are remarkably precise. He leaves no stone unturned!"
Following the detailed slow-motion analysis, he replayed the original footage at its intended speed, presenting the viewers with a thrilling, cinematic confrontation straight from a wuxia masterpiece.
By the conclusion of this initial episode, Wu had only progressed as far as the Corrupted Monk. However, given his objective of a no-hit run, he was compelled to advance with extreme caution.
Although the pace was measured, the caliber of content was exceptionally high. The allure of a no-hit victory was overwhelmingly potent. His video achieved viral status almost instantaneously, surpassing ten million views, with the count continuing its upward trajectory. His social media profiles also experienced an unprecedented surge in new followers.
Certainly, he was not the sole individual endeavoring to conquer Sekiro. Across all major digital platforms, content creators were actively producing guides and strategic recommendations. However, due to the game's inherently punishing difficulty, no one else had successfully achieved a complete, unblemished playthrough.
To distinguish themselves, some creators resorted to employing unconventional tactics. One creator uploaded a complete stealth run, vowing to abstain from drawing his sword except during boss encounters. Another dedicated himself to probing for exploits and glitches, hoping to uncover a convenient 'skip everything' mechanism.
Both of these approaches were extraordinarily challenging, and very few managed to even complete the game using them.
However, the most audacious attempt was encapsulated in a video bearing the title.
[Just for Fun: Conquering the Entire Game Using Only Shuriken!]
Initially, everyone found it amusing. Shuriken? Those insignificant projectiles? Too far away, they wouldn't reach. Too close, and one might as well use a blade. Yet, upon clicking to watch...
...their amusement evaporated.
The reason was that the uploader had, in reality, navigated the entire game utilizing nothing but shuriken. No swordplay was involved. Only darts were employed.
And his accuracy was nothing short of terrifying. Almost every single thrown projectile found its mark precisely. Even more astonishingly, the majority landed directly on the heads of enemies, resulting in instant kills for lesser foes. A headshot truly represented a one-hit knockout.
The spectacle bore a closer resemblance to CS:GO than to Sekiro. The player would simply lurk in the shadows, an enemy eliminated. Another headshot followed.
The viewers were utterly astonished. The true 'clown' in this scenario wasn't the uploader, but themselves.
"Holy crap, his aim is absolutely phenomenal!"
"Wait, he's actually landing headshots with those?"
"Bro has transformed Sekiro into an FPS!"
"Before watching: What's the purpose of shuriken? After watching: Oh my god, shuriken are absolutely overpowered!"
