Nioh Review by Babinro

[babinro]

Important Note: This is largely a review by comparison. I feel like those new to the Souls genre could still gain something from this review but it largely assumes you are coming to this game after having experienced or learned about the core concept from its better known competitors.

To put my thoughts into better context this is what you should know:

I come from a background of playing Dark Souls 3 and then Dark Souls 2 in that order and really loving both games. Nioh for me was meant to be another fix in that genre and while I didn't expect it to live up to that franchise I was proven wrong. Nioh is incredible. It only deviates from the Souls formula slightly but those changes elevate it into something superior. So much so that I haven't had any desire to revisit the Souls games since.

Nioh was the best game I played in 2018.

• I don't play hard games.
• 90% of the games I own I play on easy mode and I enjoy them enough I'll either bump up difficulty during play or on a future playthrough.
• Dark Souls was an exception to this that hooked me because the game had systems in place to reward a bad gamer in order to ensure they could eventually overcome the challenges.
• I never got into the Souls genre for boss battles. The draw to me has always been the experience of playing through the levels or environments and 'regular' combat leading up to said bosses. The bosses were more a hurdle that got in the way of the next bit of 'fun' for me.

So what made Nioh superior?

• Combat is more fun and involved. The single most important part as far as I'm concerned. The styles between weapons and stances combined with the abilities you unlock make for a much better experience all around. The choice to focus on two bars (health or stamina) was brilliant and just adds to your options.
• Bosses are easier (at least outside of the DLCs')
• The game has more built in systems to make tough encounters easier if you choose to use them (Quick Change and Sloth in particular)
• Nioh has phenomenal build flexibility. Where Souls asks that you attach yourself to a weapon that might not even drop until you are 80% into the game...Nioh asks that you choose that weapon and have access to it for the entire game. You then build around that weapon choice or even multiple weapons if you prefer.
• Nioh's gear system takes a Diablo style grind that could be a headache, and gives us a reforge system that makes progress within a mass RNG mess a lot more enjoyable. This game realizes that its already challenging...and so the random rolls on equipment aren't there to hinder your progress...but instead tailor it with minimum frustration.
• Nioh's ultimate end game (which I didn't achieve but I've seen from videos)...lets you turn into a god mode tearing apart everything like a joke. Which is a huge pro when you consider it shows a very slow but natural progression even in the face of multiple new game plus modes.

Nitpicks:

• The second boss is way too difficult for its placement. Hino-Enma took me about 3-4 hours of attempts to learn and defeat on my first playthrough. This kind of wall would have been acceptable in the DLC or in the latter 10% of the game but facing a challenge like this so early while players are still becoming familiar with the spells system and their weapon was a poor design choice.
• Low visibility, fog, lack of color. I love this games setting but too many levels went for the lowest common denominator of dark and gritty. Think DC universe versus Marvel. Or just think of the muddy FPS years. Nioh is actively hurt by leaning on this visual crutch too often. The early levels are VASTLY superior because they more clear in general.
• Similar rooms and textures. It can be easy to get turned around in this game. Sometimes that's intentional but in levels where this is not intentional that's a frustration. There were far too many times where I just ran around the map for 3 minutes looking for the progression path because I got my direction/path confused from a big battle zone. This is never fun and since there's no way to 'ping' where to go you are left to the level design to pick out unique visuals. Nioh does not have enough of them.
• Quality of life nitpick. The ability to auto-dissemble, auto-sell, auto-offer based on rarity. This would be a massive improvement without actually being 'too easy' or breaking game balance in any meaningful way.

Summary: 9 / 10
I highly recommend Nioh to anyone whose a fan of Souls games and to those who were hesitant to ever try them because they seemed too hard or overwhelming. Nioh is not an easy game, but it is more welcoming than similar Souls game in its design decisions. This game doesn't reinvent the genre but instead takes a creative approach to give it a unique but familiar feel.

[Erebus]

One of the things I liked about Nioh was that there's alot more build options thanks to all of the variety of equipment and set bonuses. Being able to summon npc versions of players to farm drops made the grind easier. It's one of the better souls like games

[FeroxInimicus]

I also being wanting to play this game, looks interesting thing. I love the creativity that Japanese devs put in their games. I'm more excited to try since I heard a sequel is coming out. Seems like the right time to try it.

[babinro]

Make no mistake it is challenging and there will be a learning curve but its well worth the risk. The game is pretty cheap these days if you wait for a sale too. Hope you enjoy it!

[JackofTears]

I have been wanting to try this game, though I am not a fan of games which punish the player too heavily, such as Dark Souls. I want to have fun, not beat my face into the desk out of frustration. I really want to play a game with an Asain aesthetic, however, so I will probably wait until the game is on sale for $10.