I recorded many, many hours in Nioh 2 on the PS4, so I was excited to get my hands on Nioh 2: The Complete Edition for a PC, a preview build missing some technical features like HDR support and ultra wide resolutions that are in full build. Of course, it contains everything that is in the basic version of the action RPG, along with all three DLCs. But the real draw here is PC-specific features, which are mostly visual.
Butter-happy framerate? Absolutely. Ultra wide screen compatibility? Pshh, yes, why not. 4K Ultra-HD support? I’m still not sure what that means, but yes. It definitely makes it look really fun to play.
For those unfamiliar with Nioh 2, it’s a so-called ‘soulslike’ (that is, ‘like a Dark Souls game’) that calls itself beyond ‘masocore’, which is just a fine term to to be crushingly difficult. At first glance, it’s easy to mistake this with a Souls game featuring Japanese drag, but that’s not the case at all. I would say it’s about the complexity of the environments you navigate in a Souls, for greater complexity in character customization.
Great importance lies in the equipment you equip, the stats you reinforce and the materials you lift. In a strange way, the Nioh 2 community reminds me of Formula 1, so is the extent to which everyone’s weapon and armor all end up in the pursuit of the optimal.
This may sound daunting to someone who’s never tried Nioh 2 before, and it’s because it’s so. There is no handle here. So put on your Sengoku period and get out of there, friend. If you die by a demonic horse carrying a bloodied hacksaw, it’s your own fault.
That being said, if you’re interested in giving Nioh 2 a try, or if you’ve already a big fan and want the best experience, then the Complete Edition is for you. Like a Hello Fresh box as big as a shark, you have everything you need to maintain you for months. And the ingredients are, thanks to the above frame rates, super buttery. It’s a very nourishing experience.
To give you a visual idea of the difference: on my PS4 copy of Nioh 2 I will experience fairly frequent frame rate drops when I move my camera around in a busy environment, and occasionally a hitch when I’m busy giant chipmunk with a sword for a tail.
In stark contrast, I have never once experienced a drop in my frame rate by playing it on a computer. My rig is pretty capable, which means I do not have to show any graphics settings either. But there are plenty of options to accommodate budget computers, so I would not worry if you have more dusty components. Oh, and of course there are keyboard and mouse options, as well as controller options. I opted for the latter and it worked like a dream.
Just like in the kit optimization, precision is everything when it comes to Nioh 2’s battles. You need to be aware of the enemy’s battle directions, for example if they’re getting ready for a wide swing so you know if you have enough Ki to chase away, or if they’re suddenly about to point you around the Yokai Realm, for a titanic clash where they have the advantage of the home side.
It was here that that framework came in handy on a practical level because it meant I never miss a partner. Frame drops on the PS4 may shock you from periods of intense concentration, but here was no such crack.
But aside from these funny, computer-specific slides and buttons, I do not think there is much here that those who are not fans of Nioh 2 in the first place, or even for people like me who spend a lot of time in the PS4 version.
I think part of the problem is that I’m too far away. Nioh 2 is bloody hard, and although the full edition contains DLC that I miss, and has all these visual goodies, I can not separate with my beloved PS4. I just can not. Starting all over again is going to be an insurmountable task, and it’s not like this new version is transforming the game or adding an exclusive new region or any new bosses to fight. I can buy the DLC on the PS4, and apart from a few FPS drops, I effectively scraped together Nioh 2: The Complete Edition – Lite. And that’s enough for me.
Nioh 2: The Complete Edition will be released on Steam on February 5th.