PlayStation
A Journey Through the Sengoku Period
Released in 2017 by Team Ninja, Nioh takes players on a brutal journey through a supernatural version of Japan’s Sengoku period. Inspired by Dark Souls, Nioh blends samurai combat with yokai mythologies, offering a unique challenge to fans of the action RPG genre. Players control William, a foreigner caught in Japan’s feudal conflict, as he battles through both human and supernatural enemies. The game’s intricate combat system, challenging difficulty, and rewarding progression mechanics quickly earned it critical acclaim.
Graphics: Beautifully Brutal Landscapes
Despite being released in 2017 and being in production for at least two years prior (I believe it was originally planned to released on PlayStation 3), the PlayStation 4 version of Nioh offers visually stunning and beautifully designed environments that range from lush forests to dark, eerie castles, all with a gritty and atmospheric design. If you get the upgraded PS5 edition, everything looks even more vibrant and gorgeous. The character models in the game are nicely detailed, with William’s movements flowing smoothly during combat. You will see the occasional texture pop-ins, but it’s nothing jarring. The unique, supernatural enemies are often grotesque but beautifully designed, and the overall visual tone contributes to the game’s eerie, historical setting. I love it.
Controls: Precision and Mastery
This is where Nioh really shines. Team Ninja is no stranger to fast, vicious combat, they made the rebooted Ninja Gaiden series! The combat here is fluid yet unforgiving, requiring precision and mastery of its deep mechanics. Veterans of other Soulslikes, in particular actual Souls-games, may find things quite intimidating at first. There is a lot here to master. The stance system allows players to switch between high, mid, and low stances, each suited for different types of attacks and counters. Then there is your usual stamina management, called Ki, which is critical to understand. There is a rebound system of sorts, where after your onslaught of attacks, you have a brief window to replenish your used Ki. This method is called a Ki Pulse, and it’s your best friend and key to success in the game. Starting off, the challenge can feel overwhelming at times, but once mastered, the combat becomes an incredibly rewarding experience.
Sound: Intense and Atmospheric
The sound design in Nioh is no slouch and adds significantly to the tension of each encounter. The soundtrack is dramatic and fitting, with intense, atmospheric music that kicks in during boss battles and key moments. Even better, the sound effects of weapons clashing, enemies growling, and environmental noises immerse you deeply into the world of Nioh. The voice acting here, both in Japanese and English, adds an additional layer of authenticity to the setting. My preference is, of course, Japanese – full immersion here!
Visually stunning environments and fluid yet unforgiving combat.
Replayability: A Grindy but Rewarding Challenge
As with probably any Soulslike experience out there, Nioh offers a lot of replay value, especially for completionists and those seeking higher difficulty levels. The game features multiple difficulty tiers, including the usual New Game+ (and beyond), which allows players to revisit the world with tougher enemies and better loot. There are also side missions, collectibles, and a variety of weapons and armor to explore, though the grind can be daunting for some. The game’s tough difficulty and intricate progression systems encourage multiple playthroughs. That being said, it’s extremely easy to over-level yourself, making a massive chunk of this game too easy – I would argue. If you start using certain onmyo (magic) everything just becomes absurdly easy. So, your mileage will vary in difficulty – but that’s really a beauty of this game. It can be brutally difficult (but always fair) or jokingly easy.
Final Verdict: A True Test of Skill and Patience, for Most
It’s fair to say that Nioh presents a challenging and rewarding experience for almost anyone who loves difficult action games, especially soulslikes. There is certain to be some players that find it too easy, but most of you will likely find a good battle here. I love the game’s deep combat mechanics, rich historical setting, and relentless difficulty that provides a sense of satisfaction rarely found in modern games. Even though the steep learning curve and grind may not be for everyone, the rewarding combat and immersive world make it a standout in the samurai action genre. In a slew (some may say “over-saturation”) of soulslikes, Nioh (and Nioh 2) continues to be at the top of the list. This game is soulslike perfection, in my humble opinion.
