PGC NEWS

FromSoftware’s Demon’s Souls (2009) redefined action RPGs, proving gamers crave challenging experiences. This paved the way for the acclaimed Souls series and inspired other developers to follow suit. Team Ninja’s Nioh for PlayStation 4 takes up this mantle, promising a demanding adventure set in Sengoku-era Japan. Does Nioh forge its own identity or simply live in Dark Souls’ shadow? Let’s explore.

Exhilarating Combat and Strategic Depth

Nioh follows the fictionalized journey of William Adams, the first Western samurai, as he battles monstrous Yokai in war-torn Japan. The combat system borrows heavily from the Souls series, featuring dodging, blocking, parrying, and light/heavy attacks. Veterans of Dark Souls will feel at home, but Nioh injects its own flavor with the fast-paced action reminiscent of Team Ninja’s Ninja Gaiden.

Nioh

The frenetic combat is balanced by the Ki system, Nioh’s version of stamina. Every action depletes Ki, and exhaustion leaves you vulnerable. Mastering Ki management is crucial for survival. The Ki Pulse mechanic adds another layer, allowing players to replenish Ki mid-combat for extended combos.

Nioh

Nioh’s stance system further enhances the strategic depth. High, Mid, and Low stances offer trade-offs between attack power, defense, and Ki consumption. Adapting your stance to different enemy types and attack patterns is key to victory. The diverse arsenal of five melee and three ranged weapon types adds further customization to your combat style.

Nioh – Đánh Giá Game

While Nioh is undeniably challenging, Guardian Spirits offer powerful abilities to overcome difficult encounters. These spirits can be summoned to unleash devastating attacks, even against bosses. However, even with their aid, Nioh demands skill and perseverance.

A Diverse Bestiary and Formidable Foes

The Yokai are a highlight of Nioh, each with unique designs, attacks, and weaknesses. Learning their patterns is often a matter of trial and error, requiring multiple attempts to understand and counter their strategies. Bosses are equally impressive, visually striking and relentlessly difficult. Preparing for over ten attempts to defeat a single boss is par for the course.

Nioh

Nioh also introduces Revenants, AI-controlled phantoms of other players. These spectral adversaries mimic the equipment, level, and fighting style of their real-world counterparts, offering unpredictable and challenging encounters. Defeating them can yield valuable rewards.

Nioh

Mission-Based Structure and Extensive Loot

Unlike Dark Souls’ open world, Nioh utilizes a mission-based structure. Each mission takes place in a self-contained map, offering hours of exploration and secrets to uncover. While seemingly restrictive, this design allows for replayability and focused gameplay.

Nioh

Loot is plentiful, reminiscent of Diablo. Enemies drop a wide array of weapons and armor, eliminating the grind for resources. A robust crafting system allows for further customization and upgrades, with options to Soul Match, Disassemble, Reforge, and Refashion your equipment.

Nioh

Technical Prowess and Performance Options

Nioh boasts impressive visuals, detailed character models, and stunning environments. The game offers various graphical settings, allowing players to prioritize resolution or frame rate. The Movie mode emphasizes visuals at 30fps, while Action mode prioritizes a smooth 60fps experience. A third option balances both.

Nioh

Nioh

Fast loading times further enhance the experience, minimizing downtime between deaths and keeping the gameplay flowing.

The Challenge of Difficulty and Co-op Restrictions

Nioh’s difficulty is a double-edged sword. While rewarding, it can also be frustrating for casual players. The co-op system further complicates matters. Players can only summon help for missions they have already completed, potentially hindering newcomers.

Nioh

Conclusion

Nioh successfully carves its own niche within the challenging action RPG genre. While drawing inspiration from Dark Souls and Ninja Gaiden, it combines these influences with its own unique mechanics and setting to deliver a compelling and demanding samurai adventure. While the difficulty may be a barrier for some, those who persevere will find a rewarding combat system, a fascinating world, and a wealth of content to explore.