Nioh 3: Is Team Ninja Pulling Off Another Iterative Masterpiece, Or Just More Loot-Filled Chaos?
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Nioh 3 is gearing up to be another fantastic, iterative leap for the soulslike series, introducing hot-swappable Samurai and Ninja combat styles for unprecedented strategic depth, alongside a clever overhaul of Soul Cores and expansive, non-linear open field levels that promise more exploration and rewards.
Right, so Team Ninja's been quietly brewing up Nioh 3, and mate, it's shaping up to be more than just a quick re-skin of its brilliant predecessors. I've been tinkering with the bits and bobs of the early previews, and bloody hell, it’s wilder than it first appeared, offering a tantalizing glimpse into how they plan to 'level up' an already established soulslike titan.
Now, anyone who's plunged into the demonic depths of Nioh 1 or 2 knows that Team Ninja has this uncanny knack for making fast-paced, deeply customizable combat feel… well, *right*. It's got a signature fluidity, like a perfectly executed magical incantation, that sets it apart from its soulslike brethren. And from what I'm seeing, Nioh 3 is sticking to that core, which is good, because why fix what ain't broken? But it's also shaking things up just enough to make veteran players (like yours truly, who's definitely died to a single Yoki more times than I care to admit) rethink their entire approach.
Much like Nioh 2 before it, this isn't a total reinvention. Think of it more like adding new, potent layers onto an already robust spellcasting system. Nioh 2 brought us burst counters and Yokai shifts, which genuinely forced a fresh perspective on combat. Nioh 3, however, is doing something even more fundamental: giving us two distinct, hot-swappable styles – Samurai and Ninja.
Initially, when I first heard about this, I was a bit like, 'Fair dinkum? Two *more* things to manage?' Samurai style sounded like 'Nioh Classic' minus Onmyo Magic, and Ninja style seemed all about raw DPS with some serious drawbacks, like losing Ki Pulses (a staple, mind you!) and the iconic three-stance system. And don't even get me started on the inventory management – because if there's one game that already makes me feel like a digital hoarder with too many trinkets, it's Nioh. Nearly twice the gear? My inner packrat just sighed.
But during my hands-on time, something just *clicked*. It wasn't just understanding *what* each style was good for, but *when* to swap, how they synergized, and the sheer amount of options this brings. It's like having two entirely different grimoires, each with its own skill trees and equipment loadouts, that you can flip between mid-battle, adapting on the fly.
**Samurai Style** is your grounded, tactical approach. You've got your high, medium, and low stances, each with their own unique skills, letting you plant your feet and engage in sustained brawls. And crucially, you can still use Ki Pulses to instantly restore stamina, which is essential for continuous offense. They've even added an 'Arts Proficiency Gauge' – fill it by playing well (damage, guarding), and you get a beefed-up heavy attack. A nice little reward for not getting clobbered, if you ask me.
**Ninja Style**, on the other hand, is where you go full-on chaotic wizard. Your dashes are ridiculously fast and cover more ground, letting you zip around like a caffeinated sprite. Instead of stances, you equip up to three ninja tools – smoke bombs, shurikens, perhaps even a teleportation scroll if you're feeling fancy. Nioh 3 also throws in a jump button (yes, a *jump button*!), which Ninja style fully exploits, letting you punctuate ground combos with jump cancels for those sweet, sweet air combos. It's an expression of combat freedom I usually only get in a character action game, and frankly, it's exhilarating. Of course, you lose Ki Pulses here, so you have to manage that aggression, but the possibilities are electrifying. And this is all *before* we even factor in Guardian Spirit transformations, Soul Core skills, and all the other magical bits and bobs!
Speaking of **Soul Cores**, they're back, but with a clever twist that genuinely excited my curious brain. They still drop from enemies, letting you unleash their signature attacks, but now you can equip them in two ways: Yin or Yang. Yin is the classic approach – stats and the monster's ability. But Yang? Ah, Yang is where the alchemy happens. Slot a core into Yang, and it'll give you consumable spells or items (like invisibility scrolls!) that refresh every time you rest at a shrine. This is genius! Suddenly, a Soul Core with a 'meh' attack can become a tactical powerhouse if its Yang effect gives you invaluable utility. It's not just about power; it's about strategic *resource management* and adaptability, which, for a game already swimming in options, is a welcome layer of depth.
But wait, there's more! The other big tentpole feature is the introduction of **non-linear, open field-type levels**. Nioh has always been a pretty linear affair, with a few branching paths. Now, in areas like the frozen Kamigamo region, you're actually getting wider environments, side quests, and points of interest. While it's not reinventing the open-world wheel, it *is* a refreshing change of pace for the series.
My preview time was peppered with things like 'Crucible Spikes' – sealed combat arenas with waves of baddies. Clear 'em, and you boost your 'Spirit Force' (a new resource for Spirit Skills) and snag new skills. Every time you complete one of these points of interest, your 'exploration level' increases, dishing out bonuses like map reveals, temporary stat boosts, or even skill points for your Samurai or Ninja trees. It's a proper incentive to get out there and actually *explore*, which is exactly what a curious gamer like me wants. It’s not just a bigger map; it's a map brimming with reasons to actually uncover its secrets.
All in all, Nioh 3 feels like Team Ninja is doing that iterative dance they do so well. The Samurai/Ninja style-switching adds layers of depth to an already brilliant combat system, and the more open fields offer a fresh incentive to explore, loaded with fun challenges and rewards. Everything ran smooth as silk too, which made me briefly forget this magical journey is still a ways off, slated for an early 2026 launch. Looks like we've got some time to prepare our spellbooks, mates.
Tags: Nioh3, TeamNinja, Soulslike, ActionRPG, GamingNews
Original article: IGN South Africa