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I’ve recorded countless hours in Nioh 2 on the PS4, so I was delighted to get my hands on Nioh 2: The Complete Edition for PC, a preview version lacking some technical features like HDR support and the ultra wide resolutions that will be in the complete construction. It includes everything in the base version of the action-RPG, of course, alongside the three DLCs. But the real draw here are the PC-specific features, which are mostly visual.
Framerate as smooth as butter? Absolutely. Ultra Wide-Screen compatibility? Pshh, yeah, why not. 4K Ultra-HD support? I’m still not sure what that means, but damn yeah. It certainly makes for an extremely enjoyable appearance to play.
For those who are not familiar with Nioh 2, this is a so called “soul” (ie “like a Dark Souls game”) which still calls itself “masocore”, which is just a term. sophisticated 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 at all. I would say that swaps the complexity of the environments you navigate a Souls in, for more complexity in character customization.
Of great importance is the equipment you equip, the stats you upgrade and the materials you collect. In a weird way, the Nioh 2 community reminds me of Formula 1, so much so that everyone’s fine-tuned weapon and armor builds up in an endless pursuit of the optimum.
This may seem daunting to someone who has never tried Nioh 2, and that’s because it is. There is no grip here. So put on your vintage Sengoku outfit and step outside, mate. If you are maimed to death by a demonic horse wielding a bloody hacksaw, it is your fault.
That said, if you want to try Nioh 2, or if you’re already a mega fan and want the absolute best experience, then the Full Edition is for you. Like a Hello Fresh box the size of a basking shark, you have everything you need to support you for months. And the ingredients are, thanks to the aforementioned framerate, super buttery. It’s a very nutritious experience.
To give you an idea of the difference visually: on my PS4 copy of Nioh 2, I will experience fairly frequent frame rate drops if I move my camera in a busy environment, and occasional hiccups if I am engaged in a fight. with a gigantic chipmunk with a sword for a tail.
In contrast, I have never experienced a single drop in my frame rate while playing on PC. My gear is pretty good, which means I don’t need to tone down the graphics settings either. But there are enough options here to accommodate PCs on a budget, so I wouldn’t mind if you sweep away dustier components. Oh, and there are keyboard and mouse options, as well as controller options, of course. I went for the latter and it worked like a dream.
Just like in the optimization of the kit, precision is paramount in the combat of Nioh 2. You should be aware of the enemy’s combat signals, for example if he is preparing for a wide swing, in order to know if you are have enough Ki to run away, or if they’re about to suddenly drag you into the Yokai Realm, for a titanic clash where they have the home team advantage.
This is where this framerate came in handy on a practical level, as it meant I never missed a beat. Frame drops on the PS4 can take you out of periods of intense focus, but there was no such discord here.
But other than those more devious, PC-specific sliders and toggles, I don’t think there’s much here that’s going to influence those who aren’t Nioh 2 fans in the first place, or even people like me who a lot of time in the PS4 version.
I think part of the problem is that I’m already too far away. Nioh 2 is really tough, and while the Full Edition has some DLC that I miss and has all of these visual delights, I can’t part with my beloved PS4 save. I can not. Starting over will be an overwhelming task, and it’s not as if this new version transforms the game, or adds an exclusive new region to explore, or any new bosses to fight. I can buy the DLC on the PS4, and other than a few FPS drops, I will have actually tinkered with Nioh 2: The Complete Edition – Lite. And that’s enough for me.
Nioh 2: The Complete Edition arrives on Steam on February 5th.