Sekiro

Played some more last night and absolutely smashing through this now! The second Snake Eyes guy went down first go, then got a bit stuck on the 2nd Ape fight. Took a little while to get through the 2nd phase as I'm definitely not used to fighting multiple enemies at once (Ornstein and Smough took me forever!), but eventually got past it with liberal use of firecrackers. Killed the Glutton on the first go, then Mist Noble was a joke, didn't even try and hit me. On to Mibu Village, Orin took a couple of goes as I got greedy, and now onto the Corrupted Monk. Got his posture almost all the way down on my first attempt in a close fight, but it was late so decided I was too tired to have another go and went to bed.

What's the best way of getting money? I never seem to have very much, and theres loads of prosthetic upgrades I want to buy, and I've just met a memorial mob selling another gourd and some fancy sake I haven't seen before, but its all multiple hundreds/thousands of sen!

You can buy the purses to stop you losing money on death. Keep them for the more expensive stuff. Don't know any ways of farming it though

I remembered struggling a fair bit first time around. Possibly just got lucky and managed to seperate them enough.

Seems like you're using the extraneous stuff a lot more than I did wunty - if it genuinely useful?

The only thing I ever used was Divine Confetti against the Headless - all the other collectibles I categorised as 'Junk' and left them well alone

You should go back and read bichii's posts. She's mad on it all

I keep telling myself that if I can finish a game never using the good stuff, I should just enjoy it and use it as I get it as it won't stop me completing it if I run out, but I just keep hoarding it all anyway. I think that's part of the fun. Like having all the good weapons left at the end of Fire Emblem because I'm always using iron weapons until about 2/3 of the way though, then grudgingly begin the transition to steel weapons. The good stuff is for the final boss, nothing else!

Re emblems make sure you stock up a tonne early. They cost 10 before you kill genichiro. 20 or 30 after you kill guardian ape or spirit monk and 50 after you kill the other one of those two.

Juzou the Drunkard dispatched on the third attempt. Clearing the area was a must, but my “oh you silly nobber” moment was when I thought to let him reset and go for the sneaky death blow… and *then* invite my mate to join in.

I can’t be far away from an actual boss now, I’d wager. Shitting it, if I’m just scraping by the mini-bosses!

Don't know about that. The lone shadows on the roof of Ashina just kicked my arse quite a lot!

You’re punking me, aren’t you? I’ve been punked before and this is what it felt like.

As it happens Lady Butterfly wasn’t too terrifying. Can reliably get her heath to 50% in phase 2 but haven’t quite nailed a strategy for the other stuff going on. Feels doable, but slightly beyond me now.

Went to other way, and ended up fighting a dude on a horse. NFI about that one yet. So. Bosses. Finally. Let’s see what I’m made of.

I managed to nail Owl on my second go, so that's quite good. Back at Hirata now so on track for that ending. I may do Fountainhead first though just for the extra beads etc before I go back.

Also firecrackers fuck him up.

But yeah

Oh god. Owl Father is a bit tough isn't he. Had about an hour on him last night and called it. Going to finish going through Fountainhead first I think. I know I'll be able to get him eventually but there's not much room for error. Phase 1 I'm just trying to stay on him until he either does the two hit then firecracker combo, or jumps away, then I'm legging it to him again and repeat. I have mortal draw and trying to punish the slow overhead attacks with it and also the unblockable sweep he does (by jumping and then getting two hits in while he then raises his sword).

But yeah. Bloody tough. In fact the only easy fucker left is that dragon and then it'll either be Owl, Isshin or Demon of Hatred. Joy.

Oh it's awesome, just really hard! I was starting to get him though. Phase 2 also doesn't look as though it throws TOO much extra shit into the mix. Just trying to time my dodge for his flaming owl so I can get ready for the mikiri. The rest is pretty much as phase 1 it seems barring the odd teleport and extra shuriken.