Nioh 3 Review

The Nioh series is one of the highly praised action-RPGs from Team Ninja, offering brutal and tactical combat mechanics. Although the first two titles in the series provide a memorable adventure filled with non-stop action, that does not stop Team Ninja from pushing the bar further. Well, they did push the limit with Nioh 3, the latest installment in the Nioh series. Unlike its predecessors, Team Ninja shifted the mission-based map design to a full open-world experience. It truly opens up the meaning of exploring the dark fantasy world to encounter hidden enemies and get more in-depth lore about the world.  This is our review of Nioh 3, the latest installment in the Nioh series from Team Ninja.

NOTE: The review code for Nioh 3 was provided by the developers.

Story and World Setting

You play as a new warrior in Nioh 3 whose lineage ties both to ninja and samurai clans. With this dual heritage, the game includes two fighting stances, which allow the player to switch between ninja and samurai stances during combat. Unlike the original setting of Nioh 1 & 2, Nioh 3 spans multiple eras of Japanese history. It blends myth, folklore, and the turbulent Sengoku period in one single adventure. This setting allows the player to traverse through different ages through Mystical Veins that connect worlds.

The narrative explores the tension between discipline (samurai order) and freedom (ninja stealth). Japan has been fractured by Yokai (demons) and supernatural forces. Your overall struggle revolves around balancing human ambition with the chaos unleashed by Yokai.

Gameplay

Nioh 3 is an action-RPG in which players take the role of a character with ninja and samurai heritages. The major core evolution in Nioh 3 is the open world. Unlike the previous two titles in the series, you can freely explore the world. You do not feel locked in a mission-based world where everything is limited. The world design in Nioh 3 has interconnected regions, which are accessed through Mystical Veins. It allows you to travel across different eras of Japanese history.

There are 34 primary missions in Nioh 3, with each one having a main boss fight at the end. During the missions, you will get to explore various regions. Moreover, you can explore freely to uncover lore and engage in secret encounters to get your hands on rare loot. Nioh 3 is quite generous with loot. You will get all sorts of weapons in your adventure, allowing you to experiment with different builds, thanks to the free respec mechanic.

Shrines remain the core for saving progress, leveling up the character, and managing Guardian Spirits. You will come to find Shrines all over the map, where you can upgrade your character in 7 primary stats. Each stat shapes a different aspect of combat, survivability, and utility. Moreover, these stats help you with scaling weapons, enhancing stamina, armor, usability, ninjutsu, and magic potency. Throughout your journey, you can freely create a build comfortable to your playstyle. Moreover, you can try hybrid builds, allowing you to have more options when fighting a difficult mob.

Overall, the pace of Nioh 3 is excellent, balancing fight, exploration, and experimentation with the equipment.  

Combat

The combat is better than ever in Nioh 3, due to the new dual combat style. You can freely switch between Samurai and Ninja Stances. The Samurai Stance lets you land heavy, precise strikes, whereas the ninja stance is best for fast, agile combos. With the freedom of using both stances seamlessly, you can take advantage of the new combat flow. You can start with the ninja stance to pressure enemies, lowering their Ki. After that, you can switch to the samurai stance to land heavy finishers.

However, Ki remains the lifeblood of combat for both you and your enemies. You must manage Ki effectively in each fight to avoid getting vulnerable to enemy attacks. The difficulty of Nioh 3 is hard, so it is always great to look for opportunities when fighting a difficult mob. Dodging and blocking is your way to decline the hard hits. Personally, I like blocking more in Nioh 3, as it helps greatly against multi-hit combos, which are harder to evade while dodging. Moreover, parrying is quite crucial in fights. Getting a perfect parry will leave the enemy open for you strike a powerful hit.

In addition to basic combat mechanics, you can enhance your combat abilities by defeating Yokai and mastering Weapon Arts. You can mirror enemy attacks and perform advanced combos and techniques.

Overall, the combat system in Nioh 3 is a refined blend of precision, duality, and adaptability. It greatly rewards the players who embrace both Samurai discipline and Ninja agility.  

Visuals and Audio

The visuals of Nioh 3 are stunning. Team Ninja has done an amazing job of blending a historical Japanese setting with supernatural Yokai aesthetics. Every region is richly detailed with distinct architectural styles, landscapes, and atmospheric lighting.

The sound design of Nioh 3 is also immaculate. The score mixes traditional Japanese instruments with dark orchestral arrangements, enhancing the overall experience. Moreover, the Japanese voice acting is authentic and emotive, making it the best localization option to experience the game.

Verdict – Score 9/10

Nioh 3 is an excellent action-RPG, maybe the best one in the series. It retains the punishing, rewarding combat that fans love, while expanding into an open-world format. The open-world exploration is a great initiative, as it adds more depth to the overall adventure. While the game excels in gameplay and combat mechanics, the bosses lack memorability. Every boss is tough, but not as iconic as the ones in the previous titles. If you are someone who loves the Nioh series, then we highly recommend Nioh 3.

Nioh 3 is currently available on PC and PlayStation 5.

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