Nioh 3 Steps Into Open Fields and Retains Team Ninja's Habit of Endless Loot
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Team Ninja's Nioh 3 shifts the series to a sprawling open-field format inspired by Elden Ring, balancing guided map progression with its signature heavy loot systems and brutal boss fights.
Team Ninja is back with Nioh 3, and the studio is making a clear play for the open world throne that FromSoftware currently occupies. According to a recent review by Ford James over at Polygon, the game drops players into a sweeping alternate 1622 setting where protagonist Tokugawa Takechiro must track down his possessed brother across four distinct open zones and time periods. It is a stunning visual leap for the series, featuring skies choked with ominous red hues and massive demonic eyes, but the structural influence of Elden Ring is impossible to miss from the opening moments.
Yet, for all its grand open field ambitions, Nioh 3 still struggles to shake some stubborn franchise habits, most notably its relentless loot drops. Players will spend significant chunks of their play sessions buried in inventory menus, sorting through endless duplicates of weapons and armor just to find minor stat bumps. It is a stark contrast to the intentional gear design found in other contemporary action RPGs, and it frequently interrupts the otherwise sharp combat flow.
Where the game successfully carves out its own identity is in its map design and progression pacing. Unlike the notoriously opaque exploration of The Lands Between, Nioh 3 borrows a page from modern open world design by clearly annotating subregions, tracking recommended levels, and populating the map as you complete objectives. While regular mob encounters become a breeze if you take the time to grind and explore, the signature Team Ninja bosses still pack enough of a punch to keep veteran action RPG fans on their toes. You can read the full review over at Polygon.
Tags: Nioh 3, Team Ninja, Action RPG, Soulslike, Polygon
Original article: Polygon