Can Nioh 2 dethrone the Souls series?
Master the lethal arts of the samurai as a mysterious half-human, half-supernatural Yokai warrior, in this challenging action RPG sequel. Explore violent Sengoku-era Japan and the deadly Dark Realm, both plagued with grotesque, merciless demons. Unsheathe your deadly weapons and cut down all enemies in your path using a revamped combat system and the ability to transform into a full Yokai to unleash devastating paranormal powers.
I actually missed out on the first Nioh game, but after playing the sequel I will definitely pick it up at some point. Team Ninja have always been known for their tough games with the likes of Ninja Gaiden and while Nioh 2 is more Dark Souls orientated by design, it’s their own take on it and it does things a bit differently in comparison.
That’s not to say it still won’t completely kick your backside over and over again, it’s part of the so-called charm of the Souls games, so it’s only right that the same applies for anything trying to emulate it. I can’t say I’ve ever been good at these types of games, I usually get a way in but hit a brick wall and can’t get any further. I can’t claim to have beaten Nioh 2 and I honestly don’t know if I ever will, but I’m okay with that and being currently under lockdown for the foreseeable future due to the hell that is Covid-19, I’m sure I can find enough time to practise and eventually surpass my own expectations.
Nioh 2 definitely isn’t a game for everyone though, even though the combat is responsive and the game handles well, the difficulty will naturally be off-putting. All I can say is that this handles slightly differently to the Souls games and as a result, may have a style of combat more suited to you. It’s definitely one more for those gamers who like these types of games, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t be enjoyable for you. I’ve never beaten a Ninja Gaiden game before either, but I got pretty far and enjoyed it regardless.
The visuals are impressive for a game like this, it supports HDR even on PS4 Slim which is a nice touch. The locations are nicely detailed, the character models are animated well and the overall production is a lot nicer than I was expecting.
The Verdict
Nioh 2 is a worthy adversary to the likes of Dark Souls/Sekiro and while it won’t appeal to everyone because of its difficulty, it’s still a beautiful game and one that Team Ninja should be proud of.
Score: 8.5