Nioh is an action-RPG that is more than simply "inspired by" by Dark Souls - it takes numerous elements from the Souls series and makes it its own.
The first thing someone new to Nioh will notice, is the fast often frantic pace of the fighting. When engaged in battles, including boss battles, you will need to do much more than simply rolling out of the way looking for an opening - although truth be told, you will do that too! You will also parry, use magic, ninjutsu, and collect an insane number of weapons, armor, and skills! The loot, is really half the fun of Nioh. You never know when you will find an exceptionally rare item, and even small powerful items can make all the difference. On a fundamental level, Nioh could be described as a combination of Bloodborne and Diablo, but once again this is not being fair to the game which is much more than the sum of its parts.
In the first Nioh, you play as William, an Englishman who has to escape from the Tower of London before making his way to Japan during the Sengoku period. One of the beautiful aspects of Nioh (both I and II) is that it is a fictional world with magic and monsters, but based on our world and features historical characters. Furthermore, the monsters you fight - Yōkai - are based upon Japanese folklore and mythology. Nioh 2 includes a database of these monsters as you fight them, and it is beautiful.
The music, voice acting (English and Japanese), cinematics, and overall aesthetics are simply phenomenal. Although a game does NOT need to be a so-called AAA game to be beautiful and wonderful, Nioh clearly shows what amazing magic can be accomplished when talented people are given the necessary support from a major publisher.
Both Nioh games were originally released on the PS4. The PS5 offers a few advantages:
+All DLC is included on disc - yes!
+Load times are incredibly fast.
+Graphics and textures are improved.
+Free PS5 upgrades to PS4 owners of Nioh 2 (but not the original Nioh)
While Nioh is a challenging game, sometimes brutal, sometimes a bit unfair, it is not overly frustrating. You can ALWAYS search for better loot, level-up, and try new ways to tackle a challenging level or boss. The worst thing I can say about the Nioh games is that they are VERY addictive - be warned!
GOOD
=====
+ALL DLC on disc
+Challenging but extremely fun gameplay
+Lovely music and visuals
+Includes historical characters and Japanese folklore
+Numerous, numerous, hours of gameplay for each game
+Some fun online features (no invasions fortunately)
+VERY addictive
BAD
===
-Basically the same game as on the PS4
-Online connection issues (might be a PS5 issue)
-VERY addictive
Bottom Lines: If this game has intrigued you at all, purchase it. Individually Nioh and Nioh 2 are phenomenal games, together in this package it is "must play" and currently my favorite PS5 game released.
Also, to answer my clickbait title: while I am hesitant to call one game or series necessarily "better" than another, I have no desire to play any of the Souls games again (I finished all three Dark Souls along with Bloodborne and Demon's Souls for the record) - this is my second playthrough of Nioh.
Final Score: 96/100 -- highest possible recommendation.
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From the manufacturer
Defy Death and Unleash your Darkness
In this expansive collection, journey through Sengoku-era Japan to face nightmarish foes and legendary warriors in blisteringly fast hardcore combat. Master the way of the samurai in Nioh, then unleash your inner darkness in Nioh 2 – each expertly remastered and enhanced for PS5.
The Nioh Collection
Discover the complete Nioh saga with all six major expansions included.
Battle the Yokai threat at a targeted 120fps* with ultra-fast load times.
*gameplay at 120fps requires a compatible monitor that can support this feature
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Customer Review: five stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ really fast
Carlos Sarmiento
