Info about Nioh 2 – The Complete Edition:

Official game description:
  
UNLEASH YOUR DARKNESS  
Experience the thrill of taking on hordes of fearsome yokai in a battle to the death in this brutal masocore Action RPG. Create your own original protagonist and embark on an adventure that will take you through devastated locales across Japan during the Sengoku period.  
Much like the previous title which garnered much praise from fans and critics alike, Nioh 2 contains an original profound story surrounding military commanders from the Sengoku period. However, Nioh 2 goes above and beyond its predecessor by including the new Yokai Shift ability which allows the protagonist to utilize new powerful forms to defeat even the most formidable yokai in battle. New to Nioh 2, your enemies can now create a Dark Realm which raises the stakes of battle and creates new challenges for your protagonist to overcome. We hope you enjoy conquering fearsome monsters as you unleash your darkness in the world of Nioh 2.  
■Included Content
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Nioh 2: Complete Edition includes all of the content from Nioh 2 along with all 3 DLC expansions, The Tengu’s Disciple, Darkness in the Capital, and The First Samurai.  
◆ The Tengu’s Disciple  
The Tengu’s Disciple takes the protagonist to the end of the Heian period, where the Genji and Heike clans were competing ruthlessly with one another. Experience the battle that acts as a prologue which reveals how the story of Nioh 2 came to be.  
◆ Darkness in the Capital  
Darkness in the Capital takes place during the middle of the Heian period, a point in history where evil spirits and yokai ran rampant throughout Japan. The protagonist is brought back to this period and ventures to the capital where they will uncover the connections between an even more distant past and the present time period from which they came.  
◆ The First Samurai  
The First Samurai brings the protagonist to the Suzuka Pass during the beginning of the Heian period. In the climactic 3rd expansion of the Nioh 2 saga, the protagonist will once again confront their arch-nemesis, Otakemaru.
■PC Features:
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\- Full Mouse & Keyboard customisation  
\- Gamepad compatibility  
\- 4K Ultra-HD support\*  
\- Ultra Wide-Screen compatibility\*  
\- HDR & 144Hz monitor support\*  
\- 60/120 FPS\*  
\*Requires a monitor/PC components that support these modes.
■Steam ver. Exclusive Bonus
---------------------------
Receive the Valve Helmet as an exclusive bonus for the Steam version of Nioh 2.  
Access the Shrine menu and select the Boons tab in order to obtain the bonus.

Release date: 5 Feb, 2021

Categories: Action RPG, Soulslike Combat, Cooperative Multiplayer, Character Customization, Weapon Customization, Strategic Combat, Mission-based Gameplay, Character Progression


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Deep, complex, rewarding combat (weight 0.78): The combat system is a major highlight, praised for its depth, complexity, and responsiveness. It features diverse weapon types, stances, skills, and combos, drawing comparisons to character action games like Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden. Many reviewers feel the combat system is among the best in the action RPG genre.
- Strategic stance-based combat system (weight 0.66): The stance system (high, mid, low) adds a layer of strategic depth to combat, influencing attack styles and patterns. Mastering stance switching and Ki Pulses is crucial for success, allowing for aggressive or passive playstyles. The controls are tight and responsive, with fighting-game influences.
- Diverse weapon selection and playstyles (weight 0.48): The game offers a wide variety of weapons, each with unique mechanics, movesets, and skill trees. This encourages experimentation and allows players to tailor their combat style to their preferences. Mastering each weapon requires a significant time investment.
- High replayability and extensive content (weight 0.35): The game offers a substantial amount of content and high replayability, with New Game Plus modes, optional challenges, and a deep endgame. Players can spend hundreds of hours mastering the game's intricate mechanics and exploring different builds.
- Enjoyable, fun, and addictive experience (weight 0.35): Many reviewers express that the game is enjoyable, fun, and addictive. They praise the overall experience and find it engaging, often highlighting that the game becomes increasingly captivating as they progress and master its systems.
- Significant improvements over predecessor (weight 0.25): Many reviewers feel the game is a significant improvement over the first game in the series, with better balance, more content, and refined mechanics. Quality of life changes make the game less draining compared to the first game.
- Incorporates Japanese mythology and Yokai (weight 0.14): The game incorporates elements of Japanese mythology and folklore, with diverse and distinctive Yokai (demons) playing a significant role in the story and combat. Players can utilize Yokai abilities and transformations, adding depth and variety to the gameplay.
- Excellent and accessible multiplayer (weight 0.1): The game's multiplayer mode is praised for its ease of use and stable netcode, allowing players to complete the entire game with friends. Some reviewers feel the game is the best soulslike game of their life.
- Onmyo magic and Ninjutsu enhance gameplay (weight 0.06): The game features Onmyo magic and Ninjutsu, providing players with a variety of offensive and defensive options. These skills can be used to buff weapons, inflict elemental damage, and debuff enemies, making the game more accessible to players who are not skilled in action games.
- Enjoyable hack and slash experience (weight 0.06): The reviewer enjoyed the game as a "hack and slash" experience after introducing mods and trainers. The reviewer enjoyed the game enough to get the platinum trophy on PlayStation.
- Fast-paced and intricate combat (weight 0.05): The combat is very fast-paced and intricate, offering a lot of options and creativity. The game is really trained for combat.

Common complaints:
- Poor, frustrating level design (weight 0.96): The game suffers from poor level design, featuring repetitive environments, confusing layouts, and uninspired shortcuts.  Enemy placement is often unfair, with ambushes and traps that lead to cheap deaths.  These issues contribute to a frustrating and tedious experience, especially when combined with the game's high difficulty.
- Unbalanced, artificial difficulty (weight 0.87): The game's difficulty is artificially inflated through unbalanced enemy stats, cheap tactics, and excessive enemy density.  Enemies often have high health, deal significant damage, and can easily stun-lock the player, leading to frustrating and unfair encounters.  This imbalance makes the game feel punishing rather than challenging.
- Frustrating enemy, boss design (weight 0.84): Enemy design is frustrating, with excessive spam, unfair placements, and reliance on cheap tactics.  Many enemies have uninterruptible attacks, high health, and can easily stun-lock the player.  Bosses are often recycled, have uninspired movesets, and can feel cheap due to unbalanced stats and mechanics.
- Weak, uninspired story (weight 0.71): The story is uninteresting, predictable, and poorly told, with weak characters and a confusing plot.  Many reviewers found the narrative to be a significant drawback, especially compared to other games in the genre or the first game in the series.  Some reviewers admitted to skipping cutscenes entirely.
- Steep curve, poor tutorials (weight 0.7): The game has a steep learning curve and inadequate tutorials, leaving players overwhelmed and confused.  Many mechanics are poorly explained, requiring players to consult external guides.  The initial experience can be frustrating and discouraging, especially for new players.
- Overwhelming, poor loot system (weight 0.68): The loot system is overwhelming and poorly designed, with excessive drops of mostly useless gear.  Inventory management becomes a tedious chore, requiring constant sorting and disposal of items.  The reliance on RNG for desirable stats and affixes adds to the frustration, making meaningful character progression feel like a grind.
- Brutal early game (weight 0.66): The early game is particularly difficult and frustrating, potentially deterring new players.  The lack of initial skills, limited resources, and unbalanced enemy encounters make the first few hours a slog.  Many reviewers noted that the game becomes more enjoyable after overcoming this initial hurdle.
- Poor graphics, visual clutter (weight 0.66): The game suffers from poor graphics and visual design, including excessive visual effects, light pollution, and dark environments.  These issues can cause eye strain and make it difficult to see enemies and navigate the levels.  Some reviewers also criticized the outdated graphics and unappealing art style.
- Bugs, malicious enemy placement (weight 0.58): The game suffers from various bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience.  Some reviewers also found the enemy placement to be malicious and unpleasant.  These issues, combined with the game's other flaws, contribute to a frustrating and unenjoyable experience.
- Technical issues, poor controls (weight 0.11): The game suffers from technical issues, including input drops, frame rate instability, and controller incompatibility.  The complex control scheme can be difficult to master, and button responsiveness is often poor.  These issues detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- Too similar to Nioh 1 (weight 0.1): The game feels too similar to the first Nioh, with recycled content and a lack of innovation.  Some reviewers felt that the game doesn't evolve enough from its predecessor, making it feel like a rehash rather than a true sequel.  This lack of novelty can lead to a sense of déjà vu for returning players.
- Extensive grinding, slow progression (weight 0.07): The game requires extensive grinding and exploration to unlock skills and progress.  The skill floor is high, making it difficult to progress without help due to the extensive customization options.  The early game can be a slog, and the stat point allocation system doesn't provide a clear sense of progression.
- Subjective dislikes, specific mechanics (weight 0.06): The reviewer expresses personal dislikes regarding specific game elements, such as the inclusion of guns and the design of the stamina bar.  These points are subjective and may not reflect the experiences of all players.  The reviewer also criticizes the high difficulty and the need to run past enemies instead of engaging in combat.
- Poor co-op implementation (weight 0.04): The co-op system is not user-friendly and can be more difficult than playing solo.  The shared revival gauge and increased enemy stats make cooperative play a frustrating experience.  Some reviewers also noted technical issues and connectivity problems with the online multiplayer mode.

Gameplay feedback:
- Deep, complex, customizable combat (weight 0.25): The game features a deep and complex combat system with a high skill ceiling, diverse weapon types (11 melee, 3 ranged), stances, and extensive customization options. This depth can be overwhelming for new players, but the game provides a tutorial area to help players learn the mechanics. Mastering the combat system is key to success.
- Stamina management is crucial (weight 0.13): Combat emphasizes stamina (Ki) management via the Ki Pulse mechanic, Yokai Skills, and strategic use of stances. Depleting enemy Ki opens them up for critical attacks. Mastering these mechanics is crucial for aggressive play and controlling the fight.
- Genre blend: ARPG, Soulslike (weight 0.1): The game blends elements from various genres, including action RPGs, Soulslikes, and Diablo-like loot systems. It is more action-oriented than a typical Souls game, with faster-paced combat and a focus on aggressive play. The game is not open world.
- Mission-based level structure (weight 0.1): The game uses a mission-based structure with linear levels featuring shortcuts and secrets, rather than an open world. Missions can be replayed, and NG+ cycles incentivize further playthroughs with increased difficulty and better gear. Level design incorporates shortcuts and well-placed respawn points.
- Ninjutsu/Magic provide powerful support (weight 0.03): Ninjutsu and Onmyo magic provide buffs, debuffs, and offensive options, significantly reducing difficulty. Some reviewers found Onmyo magic and Ninjutsu particularly useful for clearing difficult content. Leveling these skills is recommended for easier progression.
- Collectibles grant bonuses/abilities (weight 0.03): Players can collect Kodamas hidden in levels for bonuses and Soul Cores from defeated Yokai to use their skills. Donating old equipment at the Kodama Bazaar provides divine rice for refilling consumables. These mechanics add depth to exploration and character customization.
- Guardian Spirits provide bonuses (weight 0.03): The Guardian Spirit system provides stat bonuses and special abilities, with different spirits offering unique effects. Demon scrolls offer extra stat buffs, becoming more common in later playthroughs. Initial guardian spirit selection impacts early gameplay.
- Balanced stat leveling recommended (weight 0.02): Leveling is stat-based, encouraging a balanced approach initially to maximize bonuses. Stat points provide the most bonuses at low levels. Weapon leveling is tied to damage dealt, leading to inconsistent progression.
- Enemies are fast and punishing (weight 0.02): Enemies are fast, have high health, high-damage combos, wide hitboxes, and super armor. Frame-perfect dodging is nearly impossible, and getting hit causes significant flinching. This can lead to a frustrating experience, especially in the mid-game where enemies can defeat the player with two hits.
- Grinding is a core element (weight 0.01): The game involves grinding, especially in NG+ cycles, for specific items, weapons, and armor. New Game+ offers stronger equipment and new features. The game essentially becomes a grinding game after the initial playthrough.
- Diverse builds encourage experimentation (weight 0.01): The game offers a variety of builds catering to different playstyles, such as output, survival, or farming. Experimenting with different builds is encouraged to discover effective strategies. The game is for players who enjoy farming items.
- Story: fantasy Sengoku retelling (weight 0.01): The story is a fantasy-based retelling of 16th-century Japanese events during the Sengoku period. It serves as a backdrop for the player's custom character within a historical fiction setting. The story includes elements such as Nobunaga Oda leading a Yokai war.
- Strategic planning is necessary (weight 0.01): Nioh 2 provides twilight missions that change up the enemy spawns. Nioh 2 requires planning to counter boss attacks, such as using Firestop talismans to reduce fire damage. NPCs in Nioh 2 are intelligent and use combos to defeat the player.
- Yokai abilities are useful (weight 0.01): Players can equip the souls of defeated Yokai to use some of their skills, but some skills are not effective. Yokai abilities should be utilized. Yokai are a mix of modified/artificial and wild types, making their role somewhat unclear.
- Transformation mechanic exists (weight 0.01): The game includes a transformation mechanic activated via a combination of buttons. The game requires the use of all buttons on a standard gamepad. The protagonist can transform into a demon form at will.
- Weapon preference varies (weight 0): This cluster consists of personal preferences for weapon choice. This information is not broadly applicable or constructive for understanding the game's features or mechanics.

Performance notes:
- Inconsistent graphics and performance (weight 0.11): The game's performance and graphics receive mixed reviews. Some players report excellent optimization, smooth frame rates (even at 4K), and detailed visuals, while others experience stuttering, blurry textures, poor optimization, and outdated graphics. Excessive lighting effects and visual clarity issues are also mentioned.
- Decent Steam Deck performance (weight 0.06): The game generally runs well on the Steam Deck, maintaining 30-40 FPS, though some users experience occasional dips or need to adjust settings for optimal performance. Some users have reported that the game runs decently on Steam Deck with High quality preset (shadows set to medium).
- Occasional crashes/stability issues (weight 0.06): The game is generally stable, but some players have reported occasional crashes or issues when alt-tabbing. Autosaving helps to minimize the impact of crashes.
- Robust, well-optimized PC port (weight 0.01): The PC port is generally considered robust and well-optimized, with some reviewers noting that it runs better than the first Nioh game.
- Demanding hardware requirements (weight 0.01): The game requires high-end hardware and a significant amount of storage space (90GB), which could be a barrier for some players.
- Game-breaking map bug (weight 0.01): A game-breaking bug causes the screen to turn black when in the map (mission selection), preventing progression.
- Infinite loading screen bug (weight 0): Some players encounter an infinite loading screen when searching for other players, requiring a force quit, which is a significant inconvenience.
- Harsh, confusing lighting (weight 0): Confusing and harsh lighting effects in some areas, especially when combined with darkness, make it difficult to see and navigate.
- DLSS performance issues (weight 0): Turning off DLSS and limiting FPS to 60 in Big Picture Mode improved performance for some users, suggesting potential optimization issues with DLSS or higher frame rates.
- Fast online matchmaking (weight 0): Online matchmaking is generally fast with minimal lag, providing a positive multiplayer experience.

Recommendations:
- Challenging, rewarding action RPG (weight 0.48): The game is a challenging action RPG, often compared to the Souls series but with its own unique combat depth and systems. Mastering the mechanics and overcoming the initial difficulty curve is key to enjoying the rewarding gameplay loop and extensive content. Many reviewers recommend it to fans of the genre who are looking for a complex and engaging experience.
- Not for casual players (weight 0.35): The game's high difficulty and complex systems may not appeal to everyone. It is not recommended for casual players, newcomers to the genre, or those who are easily frustrated. Players should be prepared for a steep learning curve and a demanding experience.
- Worth buying on sale (weight 0.23): Many reviewers suggest waiting for a sale before purchasing the game. While they find the game enjoyable and worthwhile, they believe the full price may be too high. Purchasing on sale makes the game a cost-effective and worthwhile investment.
- Desire for a sequel (weight 0.03): Many reviewers express a strong desire for a sequel to the game. They hope that a potential Nioh 3 will build upon the foundation of its predecessors and further improve the experience. Some reviewers also express disappointment with other games from the developer.
- Experiment with weapons/skills (weight 0.03): Experimenting with different weapons and skills is important for finding a playstyle that suits the player. New players should check out guides to ease the initial difficulty. Some reviewers recommend specific weapons for beginners.
- DLC is worth purchasing (weight 0.02): The DLC is considered worth purchasing, despite being more challenging. Players should complete the game and DLC before using a randomizer mod to improve the experience.
- Generally positive reviews (weight 0.02): These clusters consist of overall scores and ratings. While positive, they lack specific details about the game's features or mechanics, reducing their overall importance.
- Controller is recommended (weight 0.02): The game is better played with a controller. New players should check out guides to ease the initial difficulty.
- Team Ninja's best work (weight 0.01): The game is considered Team Ninja's best work by some reviewers. It is the top samurai sword-fighting game, despite the existence of other good action games.
- Appeals to Japanese history buffs (weight 0.01): Players who are interested in Japanese history and culture will get more out of the story. The game includes samurai elements.
- Play at 60 FPS (weight 0.01): It is recommended to play the game at 60 frames per second. Avoid playing at 120fps to maintain sanity and enjoy the intended game experience.
- Underrated masterpiece (weight 0.01): The game is considered one of the greatest. The game deserves more recognition.
- Forced learning is good (weight 0.01): The reviewer liked the beginning 30 hours when bosses made them play by their rules, these games shine when you're forced to learn.
- Hesitant recommendation (weight 0.01): The reviewer gives a 'medium' recommendation, advising careful consideration before buying. Recommends purchasing only if it is on sale for 75% off.

Other player notes:
- Story blends history, Yokai (weight 0.05): The game's story is set in Japan's Sengoku period and incorporates Japanese folklore, Yokai, and historical figures. Understanding the narrative may be challenging for those unfamiliar with Japanese history and culture. The story blends historical events with supernatural elements, offering a unique take on the era.
- Prequel reuses prior content (weight 0.04): Nioh 2 is a prequel to Nioh 1, featuring returning characters and throwbacks. However, a significant portion of the game reuses content from the first game, including enemies, locations, and animations, which may feel repetitive to some players.
- Poor tutorial, complex systems (weight 0.02): The game's tutorial is inadequate, failing to explain complex systems effectively, which can overwhelm new players. Understanding equipment effects and stat progression often requires external guides or wikis due to the game's non-linear and arbitrary nature.
- Replayability through enemy changes (weight 0.01): Multiple playthroughs offer new experiences by changing enemy configurations, stats, and AI. Enemy placement and terrain design encourage strategic play, rewarding careful players and punishing those who rush in without thinking.
- Inconsistent power scaling/balancing (weight 0.01): The game's power scaling and balancing feel inconsistent, with some enemies and bosses capable of one-shotting the player while dealing minimal damage with regular attacks. This can lead to frustrating and unpredictable combat encounters.
- Inconsistent level design quality (weight 0.01): The game's level design is inconsistent, with some areas being well-structured while others suffer from repetitive environments and illogical obstacle placement. This inconsistency can detract from the overall exploration experience.
- Equipment quickly becomes obsolete (weight 0.01): Equipment becomes obsolete in later playthroughs, making it unnecessary to invest in anything other than the highest rarity items. Players are advised to donate lower-rarity items for Amrita and progress to the next playthrough as soon as possible.
- Enemy designs inspired by folklore (weight 0.01): Enemy and boss designs are well-done and inspired by eastern folklore and legends. This adds a unique and thematic element to the game's combat encounters.

Emotions:
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