MeinMMO author Ody has already spent over 100 hours hunting demons in feudal Japan in Nioh 2, and now you can get the action RPG on Steam for half price.
Nioh 2 is an action RPG for PC as well as PS4 and PS5. The game was first released in 2020 only for the PS4. In 2021, it followed its release on Steam and in the Epic Games Store. Nioh 2 has a total of 88% positive reviews on Steam.
Until February 6, Nioh 2 on Steam is available for half price, so for only 29.99 Euros. This version already includes all the DLCs for the game.
As a Samurai Hunting Evil Spirits
Nioh 2 sends you to Japan during the Sengoku era. At this time, the country was divided under the rule of various warlords. However, the world of Nioh 2 differs somewhat from reality, as it is haunted by demons.
These demons are called Yokai, which is a term in Japanese for many types of supernatural beings – demons are just one of them, but the term fits well here. Yokai originate from Japanese mythology and come in all kinds of sizes and shapes.
The first boss in the game, however, is the character editor: it is significantly more detailed than you might be used to from the Souls series or Elden Ring. For your main character, you also choose a Yokai form, because you are half human, half Yokai.
You can see a trailer for the game here:
A Complex Combat System That Wants to Be Mastered
Due to its difficulty, Nioh 2 is often referred to as a Soulslike. While I would agree with that, the game also takes many of its own paths, differentiating it quite strongly from the Souls games. Loving one doesn’t necessarily mean that you will enjoy the other – I am lucky to love both.
The combat system in Nioh 2 consists not only of blocking, attacking, dodging, and attacking again. There are three different stances to master:
- the High Stance costs you more Ki (endurance) and is somewhat slower, but deals more damage
- the Low Stance is the fastest and most Ki-friendly, but also deals the least damage
- the Mid Stance offers a balance between High and Low
Some enemy types are particularly sensitive or resistant to attacks from a certain combat stance. You shouldn’t even attack large monsters like Yoki or Enki with the Low Stance, but the small Gaki can easily be taken down with it.
After an attack, you can switch your stance for the next attack and perform combos. This makes the fights not only significantly faster and more action-oriented, but they have still been enjoyable for me even after over 100 hours. I was able to try out new strong combos time and again and didn’t just keep using the same tactics.
Focus on Loot and Grind That Is Fun
You find weapons and armor in Nioh 2 much more frequently – almost too frequently. If you don’t regularly visit the blacksmith, especially later in the game, you will spend a lot of time dismantling junk when you want to clear your inventory. This can be annoying, but there is also a lot of good loot and cool armor sets.
Nioh 2 does not have an open world, by the way. Instead, you take on missions from your hub that lead you to smaller or larger levels. Be prepared to repeat these often to level up your character. You shouldn’t be averse to a certain grind when playing Nioh 2. However, as the combat system does not wear out quickly, the grind is also hardly bothersome.
Even though I already have around 100 hours in the game (though with several characters), you won’t need that long if you just want to play through the main story. About 45 hours are enough for that (via howlongtobeat.com).
If you are unsure because of the two in the name: You do not necessarily need to have played the predecessor to find your way in Nioh 2. However, if you still want to start with part 1, you can get Nioh on Steam for the price of a McDonald’s meal, as the game now only costs 9.99 €.
