Nioh Is Not a Souls-Like

Lightgun Galaxy writes: "I found myself in a bit of a quandary when it came to picking up Nioh. I’ve been an ardent fan of the Souls series since the awkwardly possessive first title Demon’s Souls. Each time a new entry was released, I devoured it with a ravenous glee. Now that the Dark Souls trilogy has come to an end — with no sign of Bloodborne 2 on the horizon — I’ve anxiously searched for Souls-likes to fill the void."

[hangdang]

I partly agree and partly disagree. I think it's borderline silly to say that it isn't a souls-like. There are WAY too many similarities to dismiss that title. But I will also say the second half of Nioh is much more Ninja Gaiden than it is SoulsBorne.

[Tapani]

Absolutely. I think the loot system is similar to Diablo, whereas the action is a samurai version of Ninja Gaiden (no jumping and running on the walls etc). So in that regards I wouldn't describe Nioh strictly as a "Souls" game, but perhaps as "Souls-like" game.

In Japan, however, Nioh does belong to the Shinige (死にゲ）or "dying game" genre which refers to the often dying aspect of Souls and Nioh games. So while it is not mechanically entirely similar, it is still in Japan referred as their own version of "Souls" games. After all, they are the ones that made the genre, so maybe we should respect the origins and their notions of how to categorize it.

Go figure!

[hangdang]

Yea, I will also say that I found Nioh to be WAY easier than any of the Souls games

[starchild]

I fully agree. It shares similarities with the Souls games and will generally or broadly appeal to the same kinds of gamers, but it also shares a lot of DNA with the Ninja Gaiden games and also has plenty to make it unique. It's one of my favorite action RPGs games of all time.

[bluefox755]

It does have some similar mechanics, but it sets itself apart enough to be it's own thing.

[ravens52]

It's souls like but not souls like. Its more.

[CrimsonWing69]

Sure fooled me

[Fist4achin]

I can't wait to dig into this game. So many new games coming out, so little time and money at the moment...

[SpinalRemains138]

Same here with the backlog. I've been hitting Nioh for a couple hours every three days or so and I'm on level 12 now. I want to get through so that I can begin Sniper Elite Italy and then of course Horizon. So many heavy hitters here and coming that I feel like a PS2 gamer again. Good times.

[Fist4achin]

That's awesome man. We do what we can!!!

[callahan09]

I think it's basically a Souls-like with Ninja Gaiden-ified combat and a Diablo-style loot system. But when actually playing the game and considering character builds, etc, it's clear that the game its most similar to is a Souls-like.

[SpinalRemains138]

That's probably the best description I have seen. Well done, sir.

[Sharingan_no_Kakashi]

It's similar enough in gameplay to draw the comparison but more than different enough in overall design to make it unique.

[chris235]

when i hear soulslike i get underwhelmed

[opinionated]

Yes! Thank you. Finally someone gets it. The fact is the the media is too lazy to not rely on such comparisons.

[cberg25]

I feel like it's still the most natural (and popular) point of comparison, though. If you've played a Souls game, Nioh can be easily described on the back of that knowledge.

[opinionated]

Easily being the keyword. That's my point. It's easy to make comparisons, I feel that is lazy for a professional though. Professional as in you make your living doing it. I personally don't like souls games but I love nioh. It feels completely different to me.

[cberg25]

Being a professional doesn't necessarily mean you're trying to describe the game as accurately and in as much detail as possible. Your goal is often to make most people understand what a game is, and if they'll enjoy it. Using a popular game as a comparison point isn't lazy, it's efficient.

[opinionated]

"Your goal is often to make most people understand what a game is"

Right. How is this -

"trying to describe the game as accurately and in as much detail as possible"

- not as efficient as making a comparison? I see that as lazy. You can make that comparison to help people understand but if I went by the popular comparison then I never would have bought it. Luckily I got to try two betas and decide for myself.

[cberg25]

There's a difference between describing a game in perfect technical detail, and describing it in a way that the largest percentage of people will understand. You could say Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing is a driving game with cartoonish visuals, combat mechanics, lap-based racing, and a variety of playable characters and vehicles. Or you could say 'It's a lot like Mario Kart'. Both are saying the same thing, and more people are likely to understand your message. Good writing is often about communicating complex ideas with simple language.

[opinionated]

Oh yeah, the complex ideas of sonic racing lol. Sounds like an excuse for being lazy to me. You are lazy because your audience is stupid, I get it. Are you the author from the representation in horizon article?

[OhReginald]

Just started playing last night. It's definitely souls-like...the only thing I can think of that it's not souls like is loot drop system that is similar to diablo games and tenchu mission style linear level design for the story line...

bloodborne (souls-like) + tenchu + ninja gaiden + diablo

[Trez1234]

Combat is totally different thought.

[OhReginald]

Could you explain how it's different? Not trying to sound like an ass or anything. I would just like to hear your explanation.

[Trez1234]

Ki pulse, Iframe almost none existent, different parry, no back stab, faster aim bow/guns and headahots does real damage, more skills per weapon and all around faster combat than soulsborne.

It's only similar with the fact that both are sword play games and shares the same rules of dodge, counter , combo then agian, those similarities are present in almost every single swordplay games ( devil may cry, bayonetta, onimusha etc..) but nioh, ninja gaiden and souls are more punishing.

I don't know if I made sense but i tried :)

[OhReginald]

You made sense. I understand where you are coming from, but I don't consider it vastly different, just slight tweaks to separate itself and be it's own game in which I applaud the Nioh team's effort for innovation. I am a huge dark souls/ bloodborne fan, so if Nioh didn't play like a soulsborne game, I probably wouldn't even be playing it right now. In these types of games there is a huge emphasis in combat by being patient and valuing defense, attacking and dodging at the right times, while maintaining your stamina bar. Games like devil may cry, bayonetta, onimusha do not have stamina bars.

[Trez1234]

I know what you mean by maintaining stamina but if you master ki pulse in nioh, you can chain combos after combos without worrying about your stamina and maybe it's my style but I'm very offensive and the way I play nioh, I could never play souls like that because I'll keep dying. Even bloodborne which is more offensive based than souls, I could never play it like nioh. Ki pulse makes a massive difference between the two and its definitely not a slight tweak.

Always good to debate with a fellow sword master :)

[OhReginald]

I actually had to youtube Ki pulse lol. That's first I heard of it. I think the game doesn't properly explain it? Or maybe I just missed the tutorial explanation. Should help me lot in Nioh. Thanks.

And yes good debate lol.

[TXIDarkAvenger]

It most certainly is a Souls-like game. No idea why some people take that as an insult.

[feraldrgn]

It looks more like Onimusha to me.

[pody]

Might look like it, definitely doesn't play like it.

[jznrpg]

NioH is soulsish at some points , but varies on other ways. Loota everywhere are cool difference

[Tumaras]

It's definitely a Souls-like. It's just not a complete ripoff pushing the copyright limits for the Souls games like some have (Salt&Sanctuary for example). There are plenty of differences and Nioh can stand on it's own. There's nothing wrong with being like another game and heavily influenced though.

[SilverDemon]

it is a souls-like
what its NOT is a souls-clone (lords of the fallen)

it has similarities but also differences that sets it a part from Fromsoft's games

[SpinalRemains138]

I disagree. I find it to be very Souls like. From the gestures, to the combat (which is actually better), to the difficulty and level designs w/ shortcuts.

To say that Nioh is not a souls like game, is simply trying to differentiate your opinion from the mainstream obvious one.

[Gamist2dot0]

They took the Soulborne series and combined it with Omnimusha and Ninja Gaiden with some Diablo. Haven't finish the game yet (hopefully this weekend), but I'm already hoping for a sequel.

[MSF89]

Much better than souls games in every aspect Team Ninja set the bar so high in term of skilled combat gameplay FromSoftware need to step their game up