Nioh 2 is just as tough as its predecessor, but new features give the player better tools to tackle the challenge
We’ve done this dance before. Steel meets steel, we keep a close eye on the stamina that determines our health as we attack and dodge a series of attacks outside the enemy’s attack range. However, Nioh 2 wasn’t an improvement from the first game, it was generally an improvement from the Soulsborne genre.
The three steps we take are fat and intricately designed, a vast area full of winding roads and hidden shortcuts. Not only does it provide a bridge for progress on our way back to the safe shrine where we can rest, but also the dam before revealing what has sunk. A cave where mystery awaits. Dangerous enemies, humans and demons guard everything you care about, but there is always something new to see.
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summon the soul
Ocha-Tee can even summon real human players, and it’s fun to ask for help from up to 2 other players. As with any Soulsborne game, this feature can be really helpful in emergencies, and use gestures to communicate, giving you a nice sense of quiet cooperation as you traverse difficult areas full of terrifying demons.
Nioh 2 is absolutely still the first “Masocore” title, but the new Yokai abilities and improved online play make us even stronger. Areas that seem overwhelming are much easier to defeat with help from others. It’s an overlooked but essential aspect of the Soulborne game by some.
This genre does not simply present a difficult challenge. It’s up to you to figure out your enemy’s attack patterns, use your own combo options to become a monster yourself, or team up with others online to overcome them. And collaboration is in the DNA of the genre. It’s good to see it expand to AI-controlled ghosts, as it addresses the question of how developers can keep up with this genre of games even as their player base shrinks. We didn’t find any problems while playing the game. People are willing to jump in and stand by us while we prepare our axes to dive into the dark.
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(Image credit: Future)
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Nioh 2 is just as tough as its predecessor, but new features give the player better tools to tackle the challenge
We’ve done this dance before: steel clashes against steel, and we’re keeping a close eye on our stamina-dictating ki as we unleash strings of attacks, dodging just out of reach of enemy strikes. But Nioh 2 improves not just on the first game but on the Soulsborne genre in general.
The three stages we get hands-on with are meaty and intricately designed, massive areas full of looping pathways and hidden shortcuts, from trails that lead back to safe shrines where we can rest, to dams that not only provide bridges to progress but reveal previously submerged caves where secrets await. There’s always something new to see, though dangerous enemies, human and demon alike, guard anything of interest.
Save up to 49% on Official PlayStation Magazine subscriptions
Summoning Spirits
Ocha tea can also summon real-life human players, and it is great fun to call on the aid of up to two other gamers. As with any Soulsborne game, this is what can really help in a pinch, and there’s a lovely sense of silent co-operation as you communicate with gestures to forge through tough areas laced with fearsome demons.
While Nioh 2 is absolutely still the ‘masocore’ title the first one was, the new yokai abilities and improved online play make us feel like we have even more power. Areas that appear overwhelming can be bested a lot more easily with someone else there to help you out. It’s an aspect of the Soulsborne games that some overlook, but an integral one.
The genre isn’t just about presenting tough-as-demon-meat challenges – it’s about overcoming them, whether that’s by nailing an enemy attack pattern, becoming a monster yourself with your own combo option, or teaming up with other people online. And cooperation is in the DNA of the genre. It’s great to see this expand into the AI-controlled spirits, as it solves the problem of how devs can keep a game in this genre going even when the player base falls off. Not that we find that’s a problem during our time with the game – people are more than happy to jump in at a moment’s notice and stand by our side as we ready our axes to delve into the darkness.
To read more about PS5 and the hottest upcoming PS4 games, check out the latest Official PlayStation Magazine subscription offers.
(Image credit: Future)
#Nioh #tough #predecessor #features #give #player #tools #tackle #challenge
Nioh 2 is just as tough as its predecessor, but new features give the player better tools to tackle the challenge
We’ve done this dance before: steel clashes against steel, and we’re keeping a close eye on our stamina-dictating ki as we unleash strings of attacks, dodging just out of reach of enemy strikes. But Nioh 2 improves not just on the first game but on the Soulsborne genre in general.
The three stages we get hands-on with are meaty and intricately designed, massive areas full of looping pathways and hidden shortcuts, from trails that lead back to safe shrines where we can rest, to dams that not only provide bridges to progress but reveal previously submerged caves where secrets await. There’s always something new to see, though dangerous enemies, human and demon alike, guard anything of interest.
Save up to 49% on Official PlayStation Magazine subscriptions
Summoning Spirits
Ocha tea can also summon real-life human players, and it is great fun to call on the aid of up to two other gamers. As with any Soulsborne game, this is what can really help in a pinch, and there’s a lovely sense of silent co-operation as you communicate with gestures to forge through tough areas laced with fearsome demons.
While Nioh 2 is absolutely still the ‘masocore’ title the first one was, the new yokai abilities and improved online play make us feel like we have even more power. Areas that appear overwhelming can be bested a lot more easily with someone else there to help you out. It’s an aspect of the Soulsborne games that some overlook, but an integral one.
The genre isn’t just about presenting tough-as-demon-meat challenges – it’s about overcoming them, whether that’s by nailing an enemy attack pattern, becoming a monster yourself with your own combo option, or teaming up with other people online. And cooperation is in the DNA of the genre. It’s great to see this expand into the AI-controlled spirits, as it solves the problem of how devs can keep a game in this genre going even when the player base falls off. Not that we find that’s a problem during our time with the game – people are more than happy to jump in at a moment’s notice and stand by our side as we ready our axes to delve into the darkness.
To read more about PS5 and the hottest upcoming PS4 games, check out the latest Official PlayStation Magazine subscription offers.
(Image credit: Future)
#Nioh #tough #predecessor #features #give #player #tools #tackle #challenge
Synthetic: Vik News
