Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition

This game is peak and if you didn't know well you should know that it is peak. When compared to Nioh 3, you lack deflect, ninja mode, and a bit less customization. Also no open world, but you aren't missing much there in my opinion. Nioh 2 on the other hand is a cheaper game, you get all dlc included, technically more weapons as ninja mode took some away in 3 and reduced their movesets. You also get a yokai system which allows you to use monster abilities, as well as being able to transform into a monster yourself. A quick word on the customization, it is just as much of a dress up dream as nioh 3 is so if you are into that you will not be missing much by going with this instead. I personally believe that Nioh 2 is a much more well rounded experience than 3, but if you are looking for a lower skill floor requirement and a much softer on-boarding experience, go with 3. But in 2's case, once you get it, you will fall into a rabbit hole of systems that for the most part are quite balanced. There are ways to break this balance with the rpg mechanics, but when talking about the pure push and pull of combat, you are getting a very freeform, and nuanced experience that allows for a lot of player expression. Nioh 2 was also just about the last game before Team Ninja stopped innovating on this genre and turned their titles into pure parry slop and clones of each other(Besides SoP, that one is special). The problem with parry(deflect) is you do see a lot less movement in play as players learn the movesets of enemies. What sets nioh 2/1 apart from the rest is that even though there are parries, you cannot completely nullify other defensive mechanics like positioning and blocking. Deflect on the other hand falls into the trap of being too good. With it, you can ignore positioning, movement, spacing all the while constantly being topped off on your stamina. Of course as a new player you will not see an issue, but as you get better and better and learn the movesets of bosses, movement becomes less of a need and more of a choice. Which in my opinion is a bad thing. Action games like this are at their best when they get you to think on your feet, but strong ass parries, will more quickly push you towards rote memory. If this has in anyway convinced you give nioh 2 a shot and it is your first time with the series, a few tips. Approach this game like a 3d person beat em up/ character action game if you want to have a good time. If you come at it like souls, you will have a terrible experience. Let yourself be aggressive, press your advantage states if you have the resources. You can block anything too, don't be afraid to block. If you are unsure about a dodge, you can always hold block during dodges at a reduced stamina recovery making evading attacks much safer than you'd expect. Of course you will make mistakes, but if you allow yourself to make them, you will learn a lot quicker. Playing safe and waiting only for enemies to let up eventually catches up and the later bosses and enemies mess around a whole lot less. Its better to learn how to be aggressive as soon as you begin, and you will find yourself running into significantly less difficulty spikes. If you are struggling on a boss, the game has tools to help you, such as the sloth spell that practically forces enemies including bosses to go into slow motion for a short time. You can also turn into a yokai and be safe from any damage to your character for a short time, use it. You can use the yellow crystals to refill that bar quicker as well. Also, noobie friendly weapons are dual swords and fists. Duals have a very simple somewhat limited moveset that just flows once you begin unlocking skills and it gets really sick and you will feel like a badass. Fists on the other hand just shred. This is probably the only weapon you could call braindead easy yet are also super complex if you want it to be. Good luck and I hope you have a good time.