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When looking at From Software’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, it’s clear that it’s built on the foundations of the team’s previous work on the Dark Souls series. Focusing on an uncompromising and stoic design sense that rewards patient players who learn from their mistakes, the developer’s next big title definitely channels some of the best of what their last ten years of games have to offer. However, Sekiro is a major shift away from the slower, and more cautious playstyle of action-RPG Dark Souls and even Bloodborne–moving further into the direction of what seems to be a traditional action game.

In Sekiro, you’re tasked with using some unorthodox gadgets, a sharp blade, and a ninja’s cunning and agility to overcome foes that can drop you in only a few strikes. Just prior to Gamescom, we dove into a brief section of Sekiro, which showcased the unique combat and stealth encounters, and got an idea of how it recontextualizes the Souls-formula into a stealth-action experience.

Set in a heavily fictionalized take on Sengoku-era Japan in 1500, you play as a shinobi who faces a brutal defeat at the hands of a rival samurai, losing their left arm in the process. Defying death, the warrior is given a new arm by a mysterious monk who names him the “One-Armed Wolf”. From here, the main character begins his quest for revenge against the samurai and his clan that roam the lands. But during his adventure, he’ll encounter other dangerous beasts and larger than life monsters, slowly revealing a much greater threat that will push his shinobi training to its limits.

Unlike From Software’s past titles, Sekiro focuses on the story of a defined character, and with stripped down RPG mechanics–there’s a greater emphasis on the more action-oriented gameplay and smart use of the tools you have on hand. As more of a spiritual successor to From Software’s previous games–which were also directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki–many of the familiar touchstones from the Souls games remain intact–but with many notable differences.

At its heart, Sekiro is a stealth-action game, and many encounters involve getting the jump up on unsuspecting enemies for quick and efficient kill, or by avoiding packs of foes altogether. With the One-Armed Wolf’s grappling hook, there’s a stronger focus on verticality and movement throughout the levels, where gaining the high-ground above your opponents can mean all the difference in your chances for survival. Though you’re certainly free to engage them head-on, most areas are heavily guarded, and you can easily find yourself outmatched by ranged foes and close-range fighters. The enemies in Sekiro are incredibly aggressive, and they prefer to fight in numbers.

During my time with Sekiro, I was impressed with the versatility of the game’s main character, which quickly asked you to learn the ins and outs of his arsenal. With the ability to sneak, hug walls, climb steep surfaces, and even jump, the protagonist’s skills give him an incredible amount of flexibility and range, allowing you to uncover hidden vantages above groups of enemies, or secret encounters off the beaten path–such as a Shinobi-hunting monk who’s immune to many of the Wolf’s tricks. But the protagonist’s most valuable tool in his arsenal is the Shinobi Prosthetic, which acts as your all-in-one support item, akin to Bloodborne’s trick weapons. Allowing you to toss shurikens, spew fire, blind foes, and unleash a powerful axe that can break through enemy defenses, the One-Armed Wolf can pull off all sorts of clever moves on the fly–such as igniting your sword on fire to add extra damage.

Like other titles from the Souls series, death plays a large role in Sekiro. While the One-Armed Wolf is an extremely lethal fighter with gadgets and weapons that allow him to kill most common enemies in only a single blow, he’s extremely vulnerable as well. While you’re certainly able to face off against groups of foes, it’s usually the smarter option not to. During one challenging section, I entered a courtyard with several guards trying to a contain an imprisoned Ogre, only to be spotting by ranged bowmen who had the high ground. With the stealthy approach out the window, I tried to engage each target one-by-one–but then the Ogre broke free and joined the fight. What followed was a cascade of violent blows and flying arrows–culminating in the large Ogre powerbombing me and tossing me like a ragdoll.

You’ll die a lot in Sekiro. But as the subtitle of the game suggests, there’s more to death than what it seems. Referred to as the Resurrection mechanic and used as somewhat of a tactical respawn, you’re able to use up a life token (two at max)–found from resting at Sculptor’s Idols, essentially bonfires–to instantly revive on the spot and pick up where you left. In most situations, you can wait for enemies to walk away, revive, and then sneak up for a kill when their guard is down. But of course, if the situation looks too dire–some enemies will choose to stick around your body–you can accept your death instead, which will send you back to the nearest Sculptor’s Idol. And of course, all common foes will return after visiting the rest point, forcing you to take on that familiar gauntlet once again.

Eventually, you’ll come across elite foes that guard the only path forward. These mid-bosses are among the more dangerous opponents you’ll encounter, and battling them feels more like a game of wits and quick reflexes, rather than brute force. Much like stealth gameplay, melee combat is all about taking advantage of your opponent’s vulnerabilities. With the Posture System, aggressive attacks, timed parries and blocks will add pressure to your opponent. Once the Posture gauge tops out, they’ll enter a stunned state, opening them up to critical attacks. However, the elite enemies can do the same to you, which will decimate your life bar in a single blow.

There were definitely a lot of surprises to be found in this relatively modest demo for the game. After passing through the castle grounds, we entered a large canyon guarded by a massive snake. With the only way forward ahead of it, we had to time our jumps and grapples correctly to enter small cave in time to evade its attacks. Soon after, we faced off against the demo’s boss on a bridge surrounded by sparkling red trees–one of the demo’s most visually stunning areas. Known as the Cursed Monk, this multi-phased fight forces you to use every skill you have–even grappling to higher ground to avoid attacks. It was easily the hardest fight in the demo, and unsurprisingly, we couldn’t beat it.

After playing more than half-an-hour of the game, it’s clear that the roots of the Souls genre are still there–yet it’s undeniably its own beast. One of the more common sensations felt when playing games like Dark Souls and Bloodborne is the sense of apprehension and dread. While those feelings are still present in Sekiro to an extent, the tools and skills that the protagonist possessed gave me much more of an empowered feeling throughout. Having said that, there’s still much we have to learn about Sekiro, and just how far it will go with its mashup of stealth-action gameplay and the best of what the Souls series is all about.

For more on our continuing coverage of Gamescom 2018, which includes our hands-on impressions of Devil May Cry 5 and Hitman 2, be sure to check out GameSpot’s hub page for all the latest news and videos.

We got our first look at Doom Eternal in a gameplay trailer during QuakeCon 2018, and what we saw was just as fast-paced and bloody as 2016’s Doom. But we noticed quite a few new mechanics and features too, such as an invasion PvP mode and never-before seen weapons and abilities.

One of the major takeaways from the gameplay trailer was movement. Doom Eternal adds plenty of new ways for players to navigate the environment, including dashing, free-running, and firing out a grappling hook. In the video above, Jean-Luc discusses the new mobility system in Doom Eternal and how it will impact the first-person shooter.

Despite the changes to Doom’s formula in Doom Eternal, the gameplay has us feeling excited for what’s to come. We can’t wait to see more examples of how the game will make players feel like a powerful demon hunter.

Doom Eternal brings hell to Earth in a gory display of frantic demon eviscerations and bloody executions. If you want to know more about the game, we’ve compiled everything we know about Doom Eternal so far. We also put together a gallery of the 11 things you probably missed from Doom Eternal’s QuakeCon gameplay trailer. An official release date hasn’t been revealed yet, but Bethesda has announced Doom Eternal will be available on Xbox One, PS4, PC, and Switch sometime in 2019. It’s still unknown whether the Switch version will launch with the others or release later.

If you’re looking to catch up on Doom before its sequel comes out, you can nab it for free via Xbox Game Pass. In our Doom review, Peter Brown wrote, “…without a doubt, the loud and chaotic campaign is Doom’s strongest component. It’s straightforward and simple, but it serves its purpose: to thrust you into increasingly dire scenarios fueled by rage and the spirit of heavy metal. Many shooters chase the thrill Doom delivers, but few are as potent in their execution. It captures the essence of what made the classic Doom games touchstones of their day, and translates it to suit modern palates with impressively rendered hellscapes and a steady influx of tantalizing upgrades.”

Doom is available on Xbox One, PS4, PC, and Switch.

Trinket Studios has announced a PS4 port for Battle Chef Brigade. Called Battle Chef Brigade Deluxe, the game comes with a few updates that will be free for whoever already owns the game on Nintendo Switch or PC.

The largest update included in Battle Chef Brigade Deluxe is one that fans have been requesting for a while: split-screen multiplayer. Two new modes, Survival and Free Play, are also being added. You’ll be able to play as Ziggy–the undead chef who makes sarcastic quips–too, and you’ll be able to create new cooking combination with nine new items. Deluxe also come with an illustration gallery to look through, new maps to play on, and accessibility improvements–such as a color-blind option.

Released in 2017, Battle Chef Brigade attracted a fierce following for managing to mix the mechanics of cooking, puzzle, and hack-and-slash games, and then packaging those features into a charming story about an immature girl growing up to become a young chef. You play as Mina, who wants to become her world’s version of a knight, a battle chef. Battle chefs hunt down dangerous creatures and cook them into exquisite dishes for the people. To become one, Mina has to pass a series of cooking competitions that play out like a monstrous version of the TV series Chopped.

You take control of Mina during the competition and must cook dishes that contain certain ingredients and flavors. You’ll have to hunt down the animals and plants you need, return to the kitchen, cook your food, and serve your dish in the time allowed. Between tournament rounds, Mina can speak to her fellow chefs, run errands, and sign up for part-time jobs to earn a paycheck. Money can be spent on different types of pots and pans, ingredients Mina can take with her into competitions, or combat upgrades to make hunting monsters easier.

Battle Chef Brigade can be bought right now on Switch or PC. The Deluxe version won’t be available until August 28.

Bandai Namco has announced the Dark Souls Trilogy, a new compilation pack that brings together the three challenging games into one package. The Dark Souls Trilogy launches on October 19 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One with a price tag of $80 USD.

The package includes Dark Souls: Remastered, Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin, and Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition. So that’s all three games in their best form with all previously released DLC. The games come in a steelbook case. The first Souls game, Demon’s Souls, is not included.

“The Dark Souls Trilogy gives those who haven’t played the Dark Souls series a great opportunity to jump in and experience what has become one of the most influential video game series of the past decade,” Bandai Namco executive Jenn Tsang said in a statement. “The magic of Dark Souls lies within its ability to challenge players with highly rewarding gameplay and deliver a euphoric sense of accomplishment after beating a particularly tough boss, or area in the game.”

According to Bandai Namco, the Dark Souls Trilogy will see a “limited” release for its physical versions in America. The game will also be available digitally.

While no new Dark Souls games have been announced, Dark Souls: Remastered is coming to Nintendo Switch on October 19 (the same day the Trilogy comes out for PS4 and Xbox One). Bandai Namco is also releasing the Solaire of Astora Amiibo on that date.

Bandai Namco announced the Dark Souls Trilogy as part of Gamescom. Dark Souls developer From Software’s next game, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, got a new trailer and news about a collector’s edition at the big-time European gaming show. For more from Gamescom, you can follow all of GameSpot’s coverage here.

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