I’ve gone hands-on with Nioh 3 on three separate events at this level: The first was with the limited-time demo which was all about me simply getting my bearings again and remembering find out how to play Nioh after 5 or so years away. The second was a preview occasion that was a part of our IGN First protection, the place I used to be capable of dig deeper into the brand new Ninja Mode and discuss among the evolutions made within the Nioh formulation. For this third, and presumably closing time forward of launch, I instructed myself, “I’m simply gonna have enjoyable with it.”
And so, when my time started, I adjusted my construct to my liking, requested the Crew Ninja Group Lead – who appropriately goes by “Grasp,” – to show me the entire sick tech that he knew, and I used to be off to the races to go up towards the largest problem I’d confronted to date pre-release: A Crucible. It’s a brand new sort of degree that options further powerful enemies that chunk bits of your max life each time they hit you till you hit them again. Suffice it to say, if my aim was to have enjoyable, nicely then, mission completed.
My demo didn’t start within the Crucible, so I used to be capable of work my means as much as meet its problem by first making my means by way of a warped Crimson Mild District that had seemingly been reworked and twisted with evil Yokai energy. Crew Ninja was very beneficiant with our builds, giving me a wholesome assortment of high-level gear with any weapon sort of my selecting. Eager to strive one thing new, I made a decision on going with the Caestus as my important Samurai weapon and the only katana for my Ninja loadout.
I instantly fell in love with the caestus. There’s simply one thing so extremely cathartic about draining an enemy’s stamina, after which if you go in for the execution it is simply aggressive blunt pressure trauma on a demon’s face with a degree of bloodsplatter that would rival a Mortal Kombat brutality. Not solely that, however I additionally had a talent that allowed me to sit down there and channel all of my stamina right into a single Falcon Punch-like strike that may simply obliterate no matter enemy occurred to be standing in entrance of me. The bone-crunching sound results and the same old Crew Ninja animation smoothness solely enhanced the satisfaction.
On the opposite facet of the coin was the only katana in Ninja Mode, and for those who’re a Ninja Gaiden fan, that is in all probability going to be the one you’re going to wish to try. The large star of the weapon in my eyes was a transfer known as the Swallow Slash, and for those who are a giant Ninja Gaiden fan, you in all probability already know what that’s going to appear like. It’s a brilliant quick dashing assault that goes by way of enemies, and might even be upgraded to let you shortly transfer forwards and backwards a number of instances by way of the identical enemy, similar to Ryu’s Flying Swallow. It’s a bit riskier in a recreation with restricted stamina and treacherous terrain that would result in on the spot dying if one had been to Swallow Slash themselves off a cliff, however it’s nonetheless an extremely satisfying approach and an effective way to begin off a battle.
The Crimson Mild District itself was traditional Nioh degree design: A lot of barred-off paths that funnel you thru largely linear design, with a handful of optionally available forks that result in some further loot, with a wholesome dose of traps and enemy ambushes mendacity round each nook. Facet word: Crew Ninja President Fumihiko Yasuda sat down to observe me play for a bit and bought a kick out of how slowly and thoroughly I entered every room, and much more so when even regardless of all of my warning, I’d nonetheless fall for one of many many traps laid all through the extent.
The boss of the extent was Takasugi Shinsaku, a Samurai armed with a Guardian Spirit, a gun, and a sword – and he made liberal use of all three. Like most human-sized Nioh 3 boss fights, it was a tense and fast-paced battle that finds that candy spot of being simply predictable sufficient to have the ability to determine patterns, with sufficient variation in these patterns to make the act of figuring out them satisfyingly difficult.
After defeating Shinsaku, the following space was one of many new open-field ranges that I talked about in my final preview. This time, although, we had been allowed to problem the Crucible, which is principally the final word problem of every open subject in Nioh 3. Getting into the Crucible takes you to a hellish panorama the place Yokai are all buffed to deal elevated injury. Along with that, if injury is taken whereas inside a Crucible, the participant will probably be inflicted with Life Corrosion, which can briefly cut back their max well being till they’re capable of deal injury or defeat enemies. Dying is one other approach to take away the consequences of Life Corrosion, however clearly, not best. On the plus facet, whereas inside a Crucible, you’ll be capable to use your Dwelling Artifact transformation extra steadily, for the reason that Amrita Gauge fills quicker.
The important impression of the Crucible that I bought to play by way of was principally that it was like one other commonplace linear Nioh degree, solely meaner. Vastly damaging spike traps had been all over the place, lightning quick spinning blade demons made working throughout sure paths really feel like making an attempt to weave by way of visitors on a busy road, and highly effective foes waited in ambush in precarious areas the place one errant dodge may result in you falling to your dying.
Identical to each different time I’ve gotten to play Nioh 3, after my time was up, I used to be left wanting extra. Nioh 3 is shaping as much as be my favourite of the collection so far, not solely by way of its substantial enhancements to fight because of the break up of Samurai and Ninja Modes, but additionally with the large addition of the open-field ranges – every of which can embody its personal separate Crucible. It’s a problem I eagerly anticipate taking over with my very own private construct and development, and one which I gained’t have to attend terribly lengthy for, as Nioh 3 releases on PlayStation 5, Xbox Sequence X|S, and PC on February 6, 2026.