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Thanks to the quickfire stance shifting and pulse timing, playing this on keyboard is the domain of those who love to touch type business emails directly into cryptographic ciphers. At time of writing, there were issues with the keyboard overlay not displaying, but I have to recommend a controller for this one anyway. In my experience performance was great, easily handling a smooth 60fps, and even supporting 120fps (which has a tougher time when particle effects are buzzing away). Ghost data, previously the reserve of duels with player spirits where they’d been killed, can also be used to summon friendly AI-controlled assistance. Up to two friends can be summoned in to fight by your side (making the game much easier). It’s a world as lonely as you want to make it, too.
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Little else in the genre has such satisfying gameplay, but there’s a limit to how much repetition you can avoid in a game this long. And that’s not to mention the three pieces of bundled DLC that add even more at several hours apiece. Besides main missions it boosts plenty of side content, reworking previous maps into new challenges that feel fresh. There’s plenty to see, as the game easily took me about 70 hours to beat.
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Even so, each distinct level is masterfully crafted, multiple paths weaving together alongside shortcuts to Kodama shrine checkpoints (Nioh 2’s brand of bonfires, where you revive sans your re-collectable upgrade currency when you croak).Įach distinct level is masterfully crafted, multiple paths weaving together alongside shortcuts to Kodama shrine checkpoints You’ll see a lot of forests, caves, shrines, and forts. Though, as it’s always Japan, areas can feel a little repetitive. A time of bloody war, it’s a great excuse to send you across Japan. The backdrop for all this slaughter is Japan’s Sengoku period. Elemental weapons have also been nixed from Nioh, instead coming now only in blessed (more damage to yokai creatures) or yokai variants (forged from yokai bones, they 'awaken' over time to gain temporary power boosts). Though, as you’re only improving what you’re using, skill progression ends up matching your own pace. Throw in special ninja tools and onmyo magic (which you can craft at shrines), and things start to get a little complicated.
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