NiOh
Release Date: February 7, 2017
RPG, TPP, fantasy, remaster/remake, co-op, Japanese mythology, samurai, action RPG, slasher, soulslike, PS Plus Premium, PS Plus Extra, multiplayer, singleplayer, internet
OpenCritic
Steam
A third-person action game developed by Team Ninja studio (known from titles like Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden) under the supervision of Koei Tecmo company. We play as a samurai fighting against various enemies, among which we will find both humans and monsters. We cut our way through the enemies not only with conventional weaponry, but also with special abilities of our hero and the magical power enchanted in his sword.
NiOh is an action game created by famous Japanese studio Team Ninja, known from titles like Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden series or Metroid: Other M. Studio belongs to Koei Tecmo company, which took care of publishing matters. Interestingly, one of the game’s producers is Kou Shibusawa, one of founders of Koei, which combined with Tecmo in 2009, creating current corporation. NiOh has been officially announced in 2005 and was supposed to be one of the starting titles for PlayStation 3 console. In the mean time, however, developing didn’t go as expected and we did not hear of NiOh for a while. It has resurfaced again at September 2015 during Tokyo Game Show event, during which the game has been announced once more, this time as a title for PlayStation 4.
Plot
The story of NioH for PC and PS4 takes place in alternate version of Sengoku era (15th to 16th century). Japanese provinces are in the midst of civil war, and a new great danger appeared in form of dangerous demons called yokai. Meanwhile, a blond warrior from the West named William arrives in Japan in his pursuit of Edward Kelly. The hero quickly joins forces with Ieyasu Tokugawa and his servant Hanzo Hattori. Together they will go after the enemy and hunt down yokai.
Game mechanics
In NiOh for PC and PS4, we play as a samurai fighting against various enemies, both human and not. To prevail in battles against monstrous enemies, hero must use not only his skills, but also a power enchanted in his sword. Gameplay resembles a mix between Onimusha and Dark Souls series, forcing player to act cautiously, dodging and blocking, as well as dealing fast and deadly blows.
Fighting system bases on three main stances: High, Mid and Low. The first one focuses on performing powerful, high-damaging attacks, but doesn’t offer much in dodges and blocks. The second is best suited for defense, though with rather weak attacks. Finally, Low Stance let players enjoy easier dodging.
Game modes
Like Dark Souls series, NiOh includes a very unusual multiplayer. While we can traverse the world by ourselves, it is possible to summon others in special shrines. This is helpful during some tasks, especially with not the easiest difficulty of Team Ninja’s game. There are also skirmishes to enjoy – though we don’t actually fight with other player, but special NPC that appears in place that someone died.
Technical aspects
NiOh has been optimized for PlayStation 4 Pro console and offers a few modes. Movie Mode lets us play 1920:1080 resolution, with anti-aliasing on and 30 frames per second, while Action Mode supports 1920:1080 and 60 fps, but at the cost of worse visuals. There is also option for 4K TVs – Movie Mode (3830:2160 and 30 frames).
Last updated on April 13, 2016
Last Update: February 22, 2017
NiOh Game Guide
The NiOh game guide contains a detailed walkthrough with the locations of key items and hidden elements that yield further benefits when discovered. It also offers sections on the protagonist’s development and on the gameplay mechanics.
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Videos and Screens
[1:37] NiOh Steam version trailer
[1:41] NiOh launch trailer - Defy Death
OpenCritic Rating
Game is Recomended by 98% of Critics. There are 132 Critic Reviews.
Eurogamer: by Jeffrey Matulef
This delicious blend of Ninja Gaiden and Dark Souls isn't quite a masterpiece, but it's a stirring return to form for Team Ninja.
Forbes: 9.5 / 10 by Erik Kain
Nioh is a fantastic Samurai action-RPG with excellent Dark Souls inspired combat, multiplayer options and tons of content. Not for the faint of heart. Boss fights can be as tedious as they are challenging.
GameSpot: 9 / 10 by Miguel Concepcion
By adapting the Dark Souls formula to the ways of the bushido, we find Team Ninja at the top of their game.
The main pros of the game
- Combat Mechanics: Players appreciate the dynamic combat system, which includes various weapon types, customizable movesets, and the use of magic and ninjutsu, allowing for diverse playstyles.
- Difficulty Balance: Many users feel the difficulty is fair, stating that while the game starts challenging, it becomes easier as players gain better skills and equipment, culminating in a challenging but rewarding endgame.
- Visuals and Performance: The graphics are praised for their quality, especially for the game's release year, and users report good performance without significant technical issues.
- Engaging Story: The narrative, set during the Sengoku period in Japan, is described as interesting, with a unique blend of historical and supernatural elements.
- Replayability: The ability to reset levels and try different builds is highlighted as a positive feature, encouraging experimentation with various combat styles.
The main cons of the game
- Leveling and Balance Issues: Some players express frustration with the leveling system, noting that the balance can feel off, especially in higher difficulties where enemies can deal massive damage while players may feel underpowered.
- Repetitive Gameplay: Several reviews mention that the game can become repetitive, particularly in New Game Plus modes, where grinding and reusing maps can detract from the experience.
- Enemy Design and AI: Users criticize the AI of human bosses for not adhering to the same combat logic as players, leading to perceived unfair advantages. Additionally, some feel that enemy variety is lacking, with many enemies being reused.
- Map Design: Complaints about the level design include repetitive dungeon aesthetics and the feeling of being confined to certain areas, which can hinder immersion.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Better Map Variety: Users express a desire for more distinct and varied environments, as many areas feel reused or reskinned, reducing the sense of exploration.
- Improved Difficulty Scaling: Some players would like a more balanced difficulty curve, especially in the transition to DLC content, where they feel the challenge spikes too dramatically.
- Enhanced Character Development: A few reviews suggest that character development could be deeper, with more engaging narratives for the main character, William Adams, compared to the historical figures in the game.
- Quality of Life Improvements: Players mention issues like inability to change resolution settings and technical glitches that could use attention to enhance the overall experience.
Summary
- Overall, "Nioh: Complete Edition" is viewed positively by many players, especially those who enjoy challenging action RPGs, but there are notable critiques regarding balance, repetition, and some design choices that could be improved.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 775 votes. 417 players anticipated the game.
3
GAMES
in NiOh Game Series
Game Series
NiOh Series
A series of soulslike action RPGs. The development of the series is overseen by Japanese studio Team Ninja, and its publisher is Koei Tecmo.
3 video games
NiOh Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows November 7, 2017
PlayStation 5 February 5, 2021
PlayStation 4 February 7, 2017
Developer: Team Ninja
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
NiOh System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i5 3550 3.30 GHz, 6 GB RAM, graphic card 3 GB GeForce GTX 780/Radeon R9 280 or better, 100 GB HDD, Windows 7/8.1/10 64-bit
Recommended: Intel Core i7 4770K 3.5 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 6 GB GeForce GTX 1060/Radeon R9 380X or better, 100 GB HDD, Windows 7/8.1/10 64-bit
Nioh 2 Complete Edition Coming to PC and PS4; Remasters of Both Games on PS5
Koei Tecmo announced NiOh: The Complete Edition, including classic soulslike games NiOh 1 and 2 from Team Ninja. The Japanese hask'n'slash gamew will be released as remasters on PlayStation 5, and the second game will finally be released on PC.
video games
Bart Woldanski
November 13, 2020
NiOH Sold 3 Million Copies; Team Ninja Plans New Franchise on PS5
Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo reported that NiOh has already sold over 3 million copies. The developers have also revealed that they want to create a new franchise for PlayStation 5.
video games
Adrian Werner
February 9, 2020
NiOh Moved More Than 2.5 Million Copies
Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo have announced that the action RPG NiOh has sold in more than 2.5 million copies.
video games
Adrian Werner
February 5, 2019