Enotria: The Last Songs Parry Mechanic Strikes a Middle Ground Between Dark Souls and Sekiro

Enotria: The Last Songs Parry Mechanic Strikes a Middle Ground Between Dark Souls and Sekiro

As a seasoned gamer with years of experience under my belt, I’ve seen my fair share of Soulslikes, but none have quite captured my heart like Enotria: The Last Song. This game, much like a skilled swordsman, stands at the crossroads of tradition and innovation, blending the best elements of Dark Souls and Sekiro in a way that’s as harmonious as a well-strummed lute.


As more Soulslikes emerge, the influence of FromSoftware’s games is undeniable within this genre. A recurring element that ties all Soulslikes together is the inclusion of a parry mechanism, where strategic, stamina-based combat and responding to enemy actions form the core foundation of gameplay encounters. Jyamma Games’ title Enotria: The Last Song also falls under this category, but it differentiates itself. Instead of just mimicking the parry/riposte system from Dark Souls, Enotria incorporates elements of Sekiro in its approach to countering enemies, making its combat system a unique blend of these influential games.

In all contemporary FromSoftware role-playing games, such as 2009’s “Demon’s Souls”, the skill of deflecting enemies has been a consistent feature, shaping the gameplay style. However, while “Dark Souls” uses stats like poise to decide if a single parry can stun an enemy for a counterattack, FromSoftware introduced a stagger meter in “Sekiro”. This meter provides players with a visual aid for stunning enemies, enabling more aggressive follow-up attacks. “Enotria”, on the other hand, combines elements from both games, offering a combat experience that’s fluid yet less rigid compared to its predecessors.

Enotria: The Last Song’s Unraveling is Sekiro’s Posture in All But Name

In contrast to other games from FromSoftware’s “Soulsborne” series, Sekiro restricts players to a more focused gameplay style rather than allowing for extensive customization. While there are various prosthetics and strategies that can be employed by different players, the core mechanics revolve around depleting enemies’ posture meters and executing Deathblows. Enotria, on the other hand, offers a wider range of character building options and allows multiple builds to be saved, but its combat fundamentals are built upon a similar foundation.

Instead of calling this meter the enemy’s “posture” meter, Enotria instead refers to it as their “unraveled” state. By inflicting damage and successfully dodging attacks, similar to how Wolf breaks posture in Sekiro, enemies become susceptible to a powerful counterattack that can drastically lower their health. Thus, the unravel mechanic represents both a traditional and contemporary Soulslike approach to parrying, offering players the flexibility of expression within Dark Souls while depicting a buildable stagger meter reminiscent of Sekiro.

Enotria’s ‘Middle Ground’ Approach is Less Rigid and More Forgiving Than Sekiro

Enotria: The Last Songs Parry Mechanic Strikes a Middle Ground Between Dark Souls and Sekiro

In a nutshell, Sekiro’s combat stands out as one of the most finely-crafted and well-balanced fight sequences in FromSoftware’s extensive collection. However, don’t be fooled – it’s not a walk in the park. Most battles are about exchanging blows and hoping to emerge victorious. Some even consider Sekiro’s combat the benchmark for parry-based fight designs (which is why it forms the foundation of Lies of P). But make no mistake, its rigidity can be quite formidable, and mastering this single-minded approach is a persistent challenge.

Dark Souls. Consequently, Enotria could function as an excellent starting point for any player grappling with parry mechanics, helping them grasp the sensation and rhythm of deflecting blows and exchanging strikes with enemies.

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2024-09-24 19:23