The Nioh games are intentionally difficult mountain battles against all kinds of demonic enemies. As you slaughter your way through each level, the experiences feature serious loot customization and a variety of content, tons of content to grind and conquer, and the chance to face big bosses with friends. Oh, and there are also many deaths as the Nioh games are brutal with no regrets. The tough samurai slashers are now available as a reworked double feature in the Nioh collection of PlayStation 5.
This is a great time to dive into the franchise if you’ve moved it for whatever reason, as the pack includes revamped versions of Nioh and Nioh 2, along with their associated DLCs and add-ons. I find it hard to recommend going back to the original Nioh when Nioh 2 significantly refines that experience, but it’s a bonus history lesson if you’re hungry for more (although you can also purchase these remasters individually). Chances are, you won’t, as you can easily spend around a hundred hours on the Nioh 2 content alone if you’re shooting for Deep Endgame, DLC, and more.
The remastered titles in the Nioh collection offer 4K graphics and up to 120 frames per second. If your TV or monitor does not support these conveniences, this is not a problem. Both games run incredibly well and look amazing regardless of your setup. Running at 60 FPS is important for games in the Action / RPG genre because you want to effectively assess the situation before swinging, dodging, blocking, or ki-pulsing your path to victory, and you have that regardless of how great yours Setup is. The f ast load times enabled by the PS5 217;s SSD are another extreme benefit considering how often you’ll be reloading after death.
Going back to the Nioh games after checking them both separately at launch is an interesting task. Although Nioh games share similarities with From Software’s Souls series, Team Ninja has made some notable design choices that players need to consider before diving in. For example, Nioh’s worlds are actively hostile and seek your death with some sort of sick cruelty behind enemy placement, boss skills, and more. If you’re ready to be beaten up by a bully and smile as you get stronger, call your friends in to help, and grind yourself into a huge set of powerful gear, Nioh is for you. Hours later, returning to your oppressive enemies with a variety of gadgets and magical options, and slaying demonic yokai that have brought you nightmares is fun, but you need to have the right temperament and attitude to face the challenges that are facing you Series poses to properly enjoy you.
If you can put on a happy face while being shot by a demon once, enjoy repeating loot side missions to create a perfectly rolled item, and eventually defeat the most vicious enemies, you’re right at home. On the flip side, there are plenty of other action / role-playing games that you should try out before you get to Nioh, if you don’t necessarily get crushed in the dirt before slowly scratching your way back up.
I recommend going to Nioh 2 right away, regardless of whether you’ve played the original or not. Nioh 2 refines and builds on virtually every system the first game offered, giving you a ton of content and options to explore. Some content is almost entirely reused from the original game, so you can get all of the nioh you need by diving right into the second game. The original looks and plays a lot better than before, but it feels more like a prototype concept compared to the sequel.
Don’t worry that you are no longer okay. History has never been a huge draw for me with this series and you won’t miss out on much there.
Even if you’ve played Nioh 2 before and know what to expect, I recommend seeing some of the new weapons and options on offer here with the full DLC. The fist weapons are great for beating, kicking and beating your way to victory and shouldn’t be missing for those looking for a new experience. The extensive DLC content in both games is tailored to make even the biggest and most evil demon slayer a challenge. So these offer another good reason to revisit these games.
The Nioh collection is a worthwhile return for seasoned professionals to experience tweaked graphics, DLC content, or various weapons and abilities. For new players, this revamped collection is the absolute best way to experience the Nioh games. Just be aware of what demonic joys you are signing up for!
