Nioh

In no uncertain terms then, Nioh is something special. It’s one of those rare games that surpasses expectations, taking the best elements from a variety of genre-defining titles whilst sprinkling in a handful of its own ideas to create something that feels both familiar yet excitingly fresh. The fluid combat works in tandem with the game’s RPG elements to envelop you into its violent world; a world in which you’ll die time and time again yet always return for more; your pride hanging in the balance until you emerge triumphant. With Nioh, Team Ninja has graced Sony’s PlayStation 4 console with ...

Nioh could well take over 100 hours if you set out to master its many side missions on top of its tough campaign, but it’s a challenge well worth taking. The way it builds on its most obvious inspirations with a highly refined combat system and an unexpectedly charming, yet gritty style all its own allows it to boldly carve out its own identity, standing as a shining example of what action RPGs can be.

Although Nioh may initially seem like a copycat, it does more than enough to stand on its own and outshine other games of its type in many ways making it one of the best action games you can play this year.

Team Ninja took their time to ensure that Nioh was as good as it could possibly be, and that time wasn't wasted. The finished product is a fantastic action RPG that may borrow a lot from the Souls series, but nevertheless adds plenty of great twists to the formula to allow it to stand proudly on its own.

The Japanese have created a great game that skillfully combines elements well known from other productions, resulting in something very different from the titles it was based on.

With its emphasis on challenging combat and light storytelling elements that are at times bordering on parody (in a good way), Nioh feels like a true successor to the Ninja Gaiden series and fills a nice void that Souls left behind. Did Team Ninja ever leave? Whatever the case might be, it’s back.

An iffy port and inconsistent level design trouble an otherwise deep and challenging samurai action RPG.

Nioh is like Dark Souls in so far as the halts to progress and forced repetition of fights function. You move forward, you fall, you learn, you try again. Experience works almost identically, tied to a form of currency that must be cashed in before death, adding a delicious risk/reward factor. The masses of loot initially seem like the biggest difference between this and a From Software game, and could kid you into thinking Nioh is a game about raising stats above all else, but it's not. That's a small part of it. Really, it's a game about raising your own level and mastering one of the finest...

Taking the time to review a strong contender for 2017's Game of the Year. Nioh is Team Ninja's greatest masterpiece since Ninja Gaiden.

A perfect accompaniment to the SoulsBorne series, with plenty of unique ideas of its own and some of the best combat of the generation.

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Republished on Wednesday 30th October 2019: We're bringing this review back from the archives following the announcement of October's PlayStation Plus lineup. The original text follows.