Nioh, a samurai action RPG, first made a big splash during the Tokyo Game Show in 2015 where it was announced in the form of a video reel. Enthusiasts who have been anticipating the title since will be pleased to know that it has gone gold and poised to be unleashed next month.
Masocore Game
At this point, some members of the gaming public have already seen Nioh and tried it via demos and hands-ons as well as participations in the game's two public betas. In addition, therefore, to the claim that it is an eye candy, we now have more insights about it such as how the title is said to be immensely challenging.
Team Ninja, Nioh's developer, underscored that it can be classified as a masocore so they made out of their way to ensure that gameplay is not easy. A masocore is derived from "masochistic" and "hardcore," words that highlight the degree of difficulty one can expect in playing it.
"Nioh was influenced by [the] Bloodborne and Souls series. For RPG/hack 'n slash elements, especially the looting system, we looked to Diablo as well as Borderlands," Fumihiko Yasuda said in an interview. "As for samurai depiction, we took hints from movies such Lone Wolf and Cub by Kenji Misumi and Yojimbo by Akira Kurosawa, as well as numerous Japanese period pieces."
Nioh's Game Development
Between this point and its announcement in 2015, the game has undergone several changes. The masocore aspect, for example, has been toned down or made easier according to players who tried its most recent build. Team Ninja told Destructoid that a word to describe this particular shift is "streamlined."
Observers believe that Team Ninja has been paying attention to the feedback of fans. Yasuda also acknowledged this stating that they are learning their lesson from the experiences of other difficult games such as Ninja Gaiden 3, which gained mixed reception because of their challenging gameplay. Many believe that this factor has relegated such titles in the niche category instead of being appreciated by the mainstream players.
More Nioh Info
For those who are wondering what the gold label is in game development, this is the stage where all development has been completed and the game file is ready to be stored in discs. Expect to learn more about it, along with information you need to know about Nioh in a livestream happening on Jan. 20, which will be hosted by Yosuke Hayashi, Nioh's game director. It can be accessed through Koei Tecmo's channel at YouTube.
Nioh will be released exclusive to the PlayStation 4 on Feb. 7 in North America.
