Sekiro has really spoiled me with it's incredible combat. I finished the game a couple weeks ago with all bosses of the Purification ending done and thought it'd be time to play something else from my backlog. Tried to continue a few games I had started but somehow couldn't stop thinking about Sekiro so started a NG+ aiming for the Shura ending. I finished that yesterday night and thought "alright this time let's wrap it up", but here I am, excited to go home to start a NG++.
It's funny because when the game came out and I started to play, I thought it was way too hard, not enjoyable and I'd never make it. I was all on board with "the game should have an easy mode" complaints and I've actually changed my mind entirely. Not that I'm against it being an option, but it's just that if the game had an easy mode, I would have chosen it, probably finished the game enjoying the world design and story, and never came back. I'm glad I had no option but to play the game this way and train myself against these boss fights and encounters, which allowed me to enjoy the depth of the combat system, learn it, and become addicted.
I guess the game really clicked when I defeated Genichiro. I felt so strong when on my NG+ I was able to beat him a the start of the game without even really trying. The Owl in Hirata Estate will stay my main roadblock though, I learned so much against him. Probably spent at least 6 hours training and it truly felt like an achievement when I finally stabbed him once and for all. I love how you can feel your own growth through the game once you down such bosses. The Shura bosses were once again a big challenge, the only one I had on NG+ really. But after a few more hours, learning the moves and how to counter, being able to pass the first two phases without damage after a couple hours of training is rewarding like no other games. I just love this game SO much. Probably need to play some RPG or something with a very different gameplay to get other it!