Nioh 3 Review - Team Ninja latest Soulslike Action RPG featuring new Samurai and Ninja combat styles

Nioh 3 Review presents Team Ninja most exceptional work

The Nioh 3 review presents Team Ninja's most exceptional work. The Nioh like sub genre provides a reliable yet predictable alternative to all other Soulslike sub genres. Team Ninja has spent ten years perfecting its core gameplay which began with Nioh and continued through Wo Long and Stranger of Paradise. The introduction of Nioh 3 brings forth new gameplay elements which have never been seen before. The third installment of the series improves upon its predecessor by creating an experience which bears similarities to Elden Ring while maintaining distinct elements. The two gaming companies have shown their development through time.

This game exceeds the quality standard for Soulslike games because it provides an excellent Action RPG experience which competes with major character action franchises such as Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden.

Combat The Pinnacle of Action

Nioh 3 presents combat which operates at a high level of performance. The system provides quick and responsive gameplay which stands as the most advanced combat experience in Soulslike games. The game retains all the complex elements which define the series including its three stances and Ki pulses and weapon skill trees but it now operates with better performance than all its previous versions.

The Samurai vs. The Ninja

The game introduces two distinct playstyles which players can access at any time through a button press as its primary new feature.

• Samurai Style This is the traditional Nioh experience. The system uses three combat positions which include High and Mid and Low while players use Ki Pulse to control their energy levels. The design creates a complex system which operates with rhythmic patterns and heavy elements.
• Ninja Style This style is faster, more mobile, and surprisingly, simpler. The system uses standard stamina rules which focus on dodging and ranged attacks while it discards all stances and Ki Pulse functions.

Players can switch their combat styles at any time even during air combat while attacking an enemy who is suspended in mid air. The game becomes easier to understand because it contains two different gameplay styles. If the complex stance dancing of the Samurai intimidates you, the Ninja style offers a flashy, reactive entry point and vice versa. The new jump button functions as a critical addition which finally introduces vertical combat elements that the series had needed for combat.

The World A Semi Open Evolution

Nioh 3 implements broad exploration spaces which follow Elden Ring because it abandons its previous requirement of players to complete straight mission paths. The game features four extensive non linear environments which function as open worlds because they contain Crucible dungeons that operate like Legacy Dungeons. The game introduces these checklist missions which resemble Ubisoft style through tasks that require players to clear outposts and pursue spirits and discover points of interest.

The game provides players with direct exploration advantages which enable them to acquire skill points and new moves and items that boost their healing potential. The game marks important loot on the map, ensuring you don't miss skill books or crucial upgrades. The map presents too much visual information which makes the gameplay experience confusing because it reveals every loot spot and the map allows players to solve tasks according to their own schedule.

Difficulty and Accessibility

Nioh 3 stands as the most accessible installment within the entire trilogy. The first 40 hours of the game function as a tutorial period that requires players to explore all their available combat abilities. Open world gameplay allows players to exceed their main story quest levels which results in bosses becoming easier to defeat once players reach maximum power.

The game presents multiple challenges to players. Enemies possess the ability to execute instant kills through their ultimate combo attacks. Players receive the following choices in their game experience.

• Summons You can bring in NPCs or other players. Bosses exhibit little level increase when players bring friends to battle them.
• Cheese Tactics Poison and damage over time effects act as strong advantages that players can use to gain power.

The game allows players to reset their attributes and abilities at any shrine without charge which leads to ongoing skill testing. The game contains two major difficulty zones which occur in Act 3 and the Crucible dungeons test your skills at advanced performance levels while the game gives players as much time as they need to complete all battle challenges.

Systems Loot Builds and Customization

The Diablo style loot system returns. Enemies explode into multiple treasure piles which contain mostly worthless items. The game requires players to manage their inventory because they need to navigate through multiple menus for gear selling and disassembly. The game includes operational elements which automatically dismantle items and filter loot to help users handle repetitive tasks.

The game offers players an extensive range of character builds. The game has 14 weapon types which each contain their own specialized skill tree. Players receive an excessive amount of skill points which allows them to achieve maximum level in multiple skill trees. Players can find special loot in dungeons which gives them access to exclusive weapon moves through the Crucible Weapons system. Players must switch between different equipment items because using these items results in permanent weapon class knowledge.

The character creator lets users design characters with extreme detail by providing separate model options for their Samurai and Ninja forms. Users who want to copy community creations can share codes which enable them to access the custom character models.

Presentation and Narrative

Nioh 3 delivers decent visual quality but lacks modern visual standards. The game operates smoothly on PC systems while maintaining stable performance for PS5 users yet its textures display low resolution images and its models show signs of outdated design. The artistic direction together with its unique historical settings maintains visual originality.

The story reaches its predictable conclusion by presenting complete nonsense. The story uses time travel and Japanese historical figures and evil Yokai but its structure makes it impossible to understand. Characters in the story sometimes pronounce names differently because of localization issues. Players should not treat the plot as a serious narrative because it serves as the fundamental element that supports their gameplay.

The game consists of two segments which include highly intense combat sections and extensive periods of player interface interaction. The game provides its best experience during character mobility and combat because it has reached its maximum level of quality.

Final Thoughts

Nioh 3 is a massive, confident step forward. The game retains its core series elements while removing entry barriers that prevented new players from joining. The game provides more than 100 hours of gameplay which includes a 50 hour campaign and New Game+ remix modes with hidden bosses. The Action RPG offers an addictive experience which keeps players engaged whether they are newcomers or experienced players.

Review Summary

Pros

Cons

Nioh 3 stands as the top game in the series because it represents Team Ninja's finest work in the Soulslike genre. The game successfully combines hardcore action elements with RPG elements that involve exploration and character growth. The game provides multiple menu based experiences combined with an illogical narrative yet the fun gameplay experience makes it essential to own.