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| Nioh | |
|---|---|
| Title | Nioh |
| Developer | Team Ninja |
| Publisher | Koei Tecmo |
| Director | Fumihiko Yasuda |
| Producer | Keisuke Kikuchi |
| Designer | Tom Lee |
| Composer | Koei Tecmo Sound Team |
| Platforms | PlayStation 4, Windows, PlayStation 5 |
| Released | 2017, 2021 (Definitive Edition) |
| Genre | Action role-playing |
| Modes | Single-player |
Nioh Nioh is an action role-playing video game developed by Team Ninja and published by Koei Tecmo. The game combines elements from Japanese history and folklore with influences from titles such as Dark Souls, Onimusha, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Bloodborne and Devil May Cry, featuring challenging combat, stamina management, and loot-driven progression. It stars a Western samurai protagonist confronting supernatural threats during the Sengoku period, integrating mechanics inspired by Japanese mythology, samurai culture, and historical events like the Sengoku period and the involvement of figures such as William Adams and Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Nioh's gameplay merges systems seen in Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Devil May Cry, and Monster Hunter with loot and RPG progression reminiscent of Diablo III, Borderlands 2, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Darkest Dungeon. Players control William Adams, adopting combat stances—high, mid, and low—combinable like mechanics from For Honor, Nioh 2, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice to counter enemies drawn from Japanese folklore, yokai traditions featured in works such as Kamikakushi and referenced by authors like Lafcadio Hearn. The ki/stamina and posture systems echo endurance mechanics in Dark Souls II and the poise mechanics discussed in Bloodborne analyses; players manage ki pulses and guard breaks akin to Nioh 2 and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice parry windows. Weapon variety includes katanas, spears, dual swords, and kusarigama, comparable to weapon archetypes in For Honor, Samurai Warriors, Total War: Shogun 2 mod communities, and Onimusha. Equipment and loot drop systems recall Diablo III, Path of Exile, Phantasy Star Online 2, and crafting seen in Monster Hunter: World. The game features a skill tree and Yokai abilities similar to progression in Final Fantasy XV and magic systems from Nioh 2 and Dark Souls III. Multiplayer features include online co-op and trade elements found in Dark Souls series and messaging systems like those popularized by Team Fortress 2 workshop communities.
Set during the late 16th century Sengoku period, the narrative involves historical events and personages such as William Adams, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Oda Nobunaga, and locations including Kyoto, Hizen Province, Himeji Castle, and Mount Hiei. William, a Western sailor whose life intersects with figures like Anjin Miura and references to the Red Seal Ships era, battles yokai influenced by Japanese folklore, Shinto shrine myths, and episodes that echo the conflicts of Sekigahara and the campaigns of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The story weaves with artifacts and legends such as the Tengus and Oni while incorporating conspiracies involving factions comparable to Iga Province ninja and rōnin like those chronicled in records about Miyamoto Musashi and Hattori Hanzō. Plot beats recall narrative structures used in games like Onimusha and historical fiction such as novels about William Adams and dramatizations like the NHK taiga dramas about Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Nioh was produced by Koei Tecmo and developed by Team Ninja under director Fumihiko Yasuda with producer Keisuke Kikuchi; its development history involved influences from Team Ninja's previous titles like Ninja Gaiden, Dead or Alive, and concepts refined from Ni-Oh demo tests and alpha builds shown at events such as Tokyo Game Show and E3 2015. Initial design drew inspiration from action-RPGs including Dark Souls, with early prototypes referencing combat systems from Onimusha and narrative direction consulting historians familiar with Sengoku period sources and accounts of William Adams. The soundtrack and audio design incorporated traditional instruments and compositions reminiscent of scores by composers for Nioh 2 and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, while localization teams coordinated with studios experienced on Final Fantasy XV and The Last Guardian to adapt historical names and kaidan lore. Post-launch support followed patterns set by Destiny and The Witcher 3 with downloadable content, patches, and balance updates influenced by community feedback sourced from forums like Reddit and specialized outlets such as Famitsu and Game Informer.
Nioh launched on PlayStation 4 in 2017, following closed alpha and beta tests similar to those used by Destiny 2 and Overwatch, with later Windows and PlayStation 5 releases paralleling re-releases like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's next-gen update and Dark Souls Trilogy ports. The Definitive Edition bundled base game and DLC expansions akin to practices by Bethesda Game Studios and CD Projekt Red. Marketing involved showcases at E3, Tokyo Game Show, and streams with appearances by Team Ninja staff like Fumihiko Yasuda and collaborations with publishers such as Sony Interactive Entertainment and Koei Tecmo promotional campaigns. Collector's editions and pre-order incentives mirrored strategies used for Bloodborne and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Critics compared Nioh to Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and Onimusha in reviews by outlets including IGN, GameSpot, Polygon, Eurogamer, and Game Informer. Praise centered on its combat depth, loot systems, and fusion of historical and supernatural elements, with criticism aimed at difficulty spikes and pacing paralleling debates around Dark Souls II and Nioh 2's balance. Awards recognition placed Nioh in discussions alongside nominees from The Game Awards and coverage by publications such as Edge (magazine) and Famitsu, while sales performance was compared to contemporaries like Horizon Zero Dawn and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in regional charts.
Nioh influenced subsequent titles and designers at Team Ninja and other studios, contributing mechanics to Nioh 2, informing design conversations for Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice-era stamina systems, and shaping action-RPG trends alongside series like Dark Souls and Bloodborne. Its blend of historical narrative and yokai mythos inspired other media projects exploring Sengoku period settings and contributed to renewed interest in historical figures such as William Adams in popular culture, paralleling revivals seen after titles like Ryse: Son of Rome and Assassin's Creed entries. The game's DLC model and Definitive Edition influenced publishing strategies at Koei Tecmo and informed release plans for later action titles by studios including FromSoftware and Capcom.
Category:Action role-playing video games Category:Video games developed in Japan Category:Team Ninja games