Do you like hard-hitting action RPGs that allow you to send demonic Yokai back to hell in the best Souls-like manner? Then you should take a closer look at the Nioh 2 Complete Edition, the PS4 exclusive title is finally available on PC and PlayStation 5. Our review reveals why it's worth buying.
About a year ago, Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo released the second part of their Soulslike saga Nioh. The crisp action RPG already left an excellent impression in the PS4 version. The now released Nioh 2 Complete Edition for PC and PlayStation 5, however, is even better, especially technically.
Nioh 2: Where Demons Live
Nioh 2 is a prequel set a few years before the events of the first part of the series and transports you directly to 16th century Japan. While the Japanese empires wage a bitter civil war, the borders between the world of humans and that of the demons, the Yokai, become blurred.
Nioh 2 makes it unmistakably clear to you in the very first minutes of the game that there are some pretty nasty enemies hiding behind the sometimes cute facade of the monsters.
This action RPG is not for the faint-hearted! Similar to the Demon's Souls remake for PS5, every step you take here needs to be well thought out because any mistake will inevitably lead to your demise - and the associated restart at the last checkpoint.
Yes, Nioh 2 is a tough Souls-like RPG, and that's expected. However, the role-playing game garnishes its continuous action with an excellent combat system, cool Yokai abilities, and an extensive character editor. And let's be honest: Demons in ancient Japan are much cooler than knights in Lordran anyway, right?
Nioh 2 Remains a Feast for Genre Fans
If you know what you're getting into with Nioh 2, you'll get one of the best representatives of the genre. The PS4 version already impressed with its multi-faceted combat system, in which you can find the play style that suits you best thanks to the change of stances and the varied arsenal of weapons. The first-class boss fights distinguish the Soulslike adventure, while the level design invites you to explore thanks to numerous shortcuts and secret paths.
The only drawback about a year ago was the technology, and this is where the Nioh 2 Complete Edition for PC and PlayStation 5 comes in. The new edition also includes all three DLC expansions, namely The Tengu's Disciple, Darkness in the Capital, and The First Samurai. Yep, the Complete Edition really is complete. You can't get more Nioh 2 than this.
- READ MORE: Mass Effect Legendary Edition: Release Date, Multiplayer, Story Tweaks - Everything We Know
More Beautiful Than Ever: The Technology of the Nioh 2 Remake.
In terms of weak textures and low frame rates, Nioh 2 could not truly shine on the PS4. This is especially annoying when a slowdown at the wrong moment results in your own screen death. Fortunately, the remake improves noticeably at exactly this point. The game flickers across the screen in 4K resolution and with up to 120 FPS - and that's on both PC and PlayStation 5.
A souslike game in 60 or 120 FPS is an unprecedented gaming experience, which also cushions some unsightly peaks in the difficulty level. Since the quality of the textures has also been significantly increased and the lighting effects look even better, you can really expect the ultimate Nioh 2 gaming experience here, which justifies the new purchase even for connoisseurs of the original.
Verdict on Nioh 2
With Nioh 2, Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja already delivered an outstanding action role-playing game about a year ago, which could easily keep up with the big names (Dark Souls and Demon's Souls) in terms of gameplay variety and staging. The freshly released Nioh 2 Complete Edition skillfully eliminates all points of criticism of the original and plays even better than ever before thanks to noticeably improved technology.
If you haven't played the game yet - for whatever reason - and like crisp action role-playing games or a Japan setting, you should definitely get it now. Both the PC version (exclusively available on Steam) and the Nioh Collection for PlayStation 5 (starting around 60 Euros) with the remakes of Part One and Part Two belong in every well-stocked game collection.
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Original article by EarlyGame's Philipp Briel.
