I recorded many, many hours on Nioh 2 on PS4, so I was excited to get my hands on Nioh 2: The Complete Edition for PC, a preview version without some technical features like HDR support and ultra-wide resolutions that will be in full build. It includes everything that is in the basic version of the action RPG, of course, alongside all three DLCs. But the real draw here is the PC’s specific features, which are mostly visual.
Smooth buttery framerate? Absolutely. Compatibility with ultra wide screen? Pshh, yes, why not. Compatible with 4K Ultra-HD? I’m still not sure what that means, but yes. It certainly makes it look extremely enjoyable to play.
For those unfamiliar with Nioh 2, it is a so-called “soul-like” (that is, “like a Dark Souls game”) that calls itself “masocore”, which is just a fancy term to be extremely difficult . At first glance, it’s easy to mistake it for a Souls game wearing Japanese clothing, but that’s not the case. I would say that you change the complexity of the environments in which you navigate in Souls, for a greater complexity in character customization.
Great importance lies in the equipment you are equipping, the statistics you are increasing and the materials you are aspiring for. In a strange way, the Nioh 2 community reminds me of Formula 1, such is the extent to which everyone’s fine-tuned weapons and armor are built in an endless search for the ideal.
This may seem scary to someone who has never tried Nioh 2, and it is because it really is. There is no hand in hand here. So put on your Sengoku period costume and get out of there, buddy. If you are maimed to death by a demonic horse wielding a bloody saw, it is your fault.
That said, if you’re interested in giving Nioh 2 a chance, or if you’re already a mega fan and want the absolute best experience, then the Full Edition is for you. Like a basking shark-sized Hello Fresh box, you have everything you need to support yourself for months. Thanks to the mentioned frame rate, the ingredients are super buttery. It is a very nutritious experience.
To give you an idea of the visual difference: on my PS4 copy of Nioh 2, I will experience very frequent frame rate drops if I rotate my camera around a busy environment and the occasional hitch if I’m in a fight with a giant squirrel with a sword in place of the tail.
In contrast, I have never experienced a drop in the frame rate when playing on the PC. My equipment is reasonably capable, which means that I didn’t have to tone down any graphics settings. But there are enough options here to accommodate cost-effective PCs, so I wouldn’t worry if you are carrying more dusty components. Oh, and there are keyboard and mouse options, as well as controller options, of course. I opted for the latter and it worked like a dream.
As with kit optimization, accuracy is everything in Nioh 2 combat. You need to be aware of the enemy’s combat tips, for example, if they are preparing for a big hit, then you know if you have enough Ki to get out running, or if they are suddenly about to drag you to the Yokai Realm, for a titanic showdown where they have the home team advantage.
This is where the frame rate was useful on a practical level, as it meant that I never missed a beat. Picture drops on PS4 can take you out of periods of intense concentration, but there was no such shock here.
But in addition to these PC-specific sliders and switches, I don’t think there’s much here that will influence those who aren’t fans of Nioh 2 in the first place, or even for people like me, who served a long time on the PS4 version.
I think part of the problem is that I’m already too far away. Nioh 2 is incredibly difficult, and although the Complete Edition contains DLC I’m missing and has all these visual delights, I can’t get rid of my beloved PS4 save. I just can’t do it. Starting over will be an insurmountable task, and it’s not as if this new version transformed the game, or added a new exclusive region to explore, or any new bosses to fight. I can buy the DLC on PS4 and, in addition to some drops of FPS, I will have effectively patched Nioh 2: The Complete Edition – Lite. And that is enough for me.
Nioh 2: The Complete Edition hits Steam on February 5.