I logged many, many hours in Nioh 2 on the PS4 so I was excited to get my hands on Nioh 2: The Complete Edition for PC, a preview build that lacks some technical features such as HDR support and ultra-wide resolutions included in the full build. It includes everything in the base version of the action RPG, of course, in addition to all three DLCs. But the real draw here is the PC-specific features, which are mostly visual.
Butter-like frame rate? Absolutely. Ultra-wide screen compatibility? Pshh, yes, why not. 4K Ultra-HD support? I’m still not sure what that means, but oh well. It certainly makes it extremely fun to play.
For those unfamiliar with Nioh 2, it’s a so-called “soulslike” (ie, “like a Dark Souls game”) that further describes itself as “masocore,” which is just a fancy term because it’s overwhelmingly difficult. At first glance, it is easy to confuse with a Souls game in Japanese clothing, but this is not the case at all. I’d say it trades the complexity of the environments you navigate a Souls in for greater complexity in character customization.
Great significance lies in the equipment you equip, the stats you improve and the materials you vacuum up. In a weird way, the Nioh 2 community reminds me of Formula 1, that’s how strong is the extent to which everyone’s weapon and armor evolves in an endless pursuit of the optimal.
This may sound daunting to someone who has never tried Nioh 2, and that’s because it is. There is no hand holding here. So put on your Sengoku menstrual clothes and get out, mate. If you are maimed by a devil horse wielding a bloody hacksaw, it is your fault.
Having said all that, if you’re interested in giving Nioh 2 a try, or if you’re already a mega fan and want the absolute best experience, the Complete Edition is for you. Like a basking shark-sized Hello Fresh box, you have everything you need to keep you entertained for months. And the ingredients, thanks to the aforementioned framerate, are super buttery. It’s a very nourishing experience.
To give you a visual sense of the difference, on my PS4 copy of Nioh 2, I experience fairly frequent frame rate drops when I turn my camera around a busy environment, and the occasional hiccup when I argue with a giant chipmunk with a sword for a tail.
In stark contrast, I never experienced a drop in my frame rate when playing this on PC. My rig is quite capable which means I didn’t have to tweak any graphics settings either. But there are plenty of options for budget PCs here, so I wouldn’t worry if you rock dustier components. Oh, and there are keyboard and mouse options, as well as controller options, of course. I chose the latter and it worked like a dream.
As with kit optimization, precision is everything when it comes to Nioh 2’s battle. You need to be aware of the enemy’s combat cues, such as when they are gearing up for a wide swing, so you know if you have enough Ki have to run away, or they’ll suddenly put you in the Yokai Realm, for a titanic battle where they have an advantage to the home team.
This is where that framerate practically came in handy, as it meant I never missed a beat. Frame drops on the PS4 can shock you out of periods of intense concentration, but there was no such thing here.
But aside from these snazzier, PC-specific sliders and switches, I don’t think there’s much here that will affect those who aren’t fans of Nioh 2 in the first place, or even for folks like me who spend 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 damn hard, and while the Complete Edition has DLC that I miss, and has all these visual delights, I can’t part with my beloved PS4 save. I just can not. Starting over is going to be an insurmountable task, and it’s not like this new version will transform the game, or add an exclusive new region to explore, or new bosses to fight. I can buy the DLC on the PS4, and aside from some FPS drops, I have effectively pieced 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.