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Nioh 3 Review: Is Team Ninja's Latest Offering Its Own Open-World Masterpiece?

From the moment you step out of Nioh 3's tutorial, a breathtaking, ominous red sky stretches across the horizon, dominated by a colossal, demonic eye with descending claws. It’s a truly stunning visual, signaling that protagonist Tokugawa Takechiro (your soon-to-be shogun self!) is entering a world in crisis. And right then, it hits you: Nioh 3 clearly takes inspiration from the colossal success of *Elden Ring*. It's a bigger, bolder sequel, aiming for its own open-world grandeur, yet striving to forge a distinct identity in the crowded Soulslike genre.

Make no mistake, this is a Soulslike through and through. You'll find the familiar brutal combat that punishes every misstep, periodic shrines acting as checkpoints that respawn foes upon rest, and cunningly designed sections that reward daring exploration. Yet, Nioh 3 doesn't just rest on genre laurels; it confidently stands on its own two feet, ready to duke it out with the best of them.

Venturing into the "Open-Field"

The most significant departure for the series is its embrace of open-world design – or rather, "open-field," as Team Ninja's marketing cleverly puts it. Unlike the seamlessly connected Lands Between of *Elden Ring*, Nioh 3 presents players with four massive, distinct open regions. Each of these can be freely explored once unlocked, categorized not just by geographical region but also by unique time periods. It’s a fascinating twist on the formula, offering vast new landscapes to conquer.

 

 

 

The narrative whisks you away to 1622, where a petty familial squabble spirals into a world-ending threat. Your younger brother, Tokugawa Kunimatsu, consumed by jealousy over your impending ascension to the throne, unleashes hordes of yokai – the malevolent spirits and demons of Japanese folklore – to thwart your destiny. Your quest? To journey through these four different time periods to put an end to Kunimatsu's rampage, and more importantly, to the entity possessing him: Hiruko. As is often the case with Soulslikes, the story serves as an epic, dramatic framework to justify the incredible, often grotesque, beings you'll encounter across Nioh 3's visually spectacular lands.

The Loot Conundrum and Accessibility Twist

While the initial awe of exploration is palpable, it eventually runs into a familiar Soulslike problem, albeit one dialed up to eleven: loot. Good lord, does this game have a lot of loot! Arguably, too much. You'll often find yourself inundated with duplicate weapons and armor, each with minuscule differences in stats or abilities. This leads to what can only be described as a menu management mini-game, where you spend an inordinate amount of time comparing gear, selling, or scrapping the rest.

This constant menu-diving can seriously hinder the flow of the game. While you can opt to sift through your spoils only at the start or end of a session, you risk overlooking a powerful piece of gear that could turn the tide in an upcoming battle. It's a stark contrast to other Souls games, where each piece of loot feels meaningful and impactful, rather than just another item in a seemingly endless inventory.

However, Nioh 3 isn't just a tough nut to crack. It takes a surprising, almost Ubisoft-esque approach to its open-world design, making it remarkably more accessible than its peers. *Elden Ring* delights in its deliberate obfuscation, hiding quest details and world information, pushing players to discover everything for themselves. Nioh 3, on the other hand, is a benevolent guide. Each subregion is clearly annotated with a recommended level, and as you complete objectives, more tasks and secrets gradually reveal themselves on the map. This makes leveling up surprisingly straightforward, transforming most fodder enemies into a walk in the park once you've invested a little time into exploration.

Boss Battles: Creative Horrors and Cooperative Salvation

While regular enemies might become manageable, Nioh 3's bosses are a different beast entirely. These magnificent, often grotesque creations are where the true challenge lies. From the hulking Baba Nobuharu, wielding a massive greataxe with golden antlers and skin like a sea monster, to the bafflingly mechanical, dual-bodied centaur Ryomen Sukuna (who fires icy arrows from its blue side and swings a fiery axe with its red), each boss is a unique, unforgiving puzzle. They demand precise timing and careful study, though thankfully, none quite reach the soul-crushing difficulty of *Elden Ring's* most notorious encounters.

 

 

To balance this challenge, Nioh 3 employs a unique summoning system. Unlike FromSoftware games that might offer a single, strategically placed NPC summon, Nioh 3 lets you call upon the avatars of other players. Boss arena entrances are often littered with blue swords, signaling tough fights ahead and ample opportunities to recruit help by using your Righteous Jasper item. Crucially, unlike many Souls games where summoning an ally often buffs the boss's health, Nioh 3 doesn't punish you for seeking aid. While some bosses will still have you tearing your hair out, they rarely feel unfair, thanks to the option of going two-on-one against these monstrous foes. In a surprising twist, the toughest boss for many might be the very first one, during the tutorial, as you're still grappling with the game's intricate mechanics.

Mastering the Art of Combat: Ninja vs. Samurai

Beyond the open-world, Nioh 3's combat system has benefited immensely from this expansion. While *Nioh 2* dabbled in ninja skills, Nioh 3 lets you truly embody the developer's namesake. You can now adopt a full-fledged ninja style, emphasizing ranged attacks, agile dodges, and swift movement. This perfectly complements the established samurai style, which focuses on heavy weapons, powerful stances, and direct confrontation.

The genius lies in the ability to switch between these styles mid-fight with a press of a button. Mastering this fluidity is the first step to truly conquering Nioh 3's combat. While it has a steep learning curve, many players (myself included!) will find themselves gravitating towards one style. My dedication to the skill attribute and a trusty kusarigama made the ninja style my go-to, providing a satisfying blend of swift strikes and evasive maneuvers.

Each style boasts a vast array of weapon types, offering endless combos and playstyles, though perhaps not quite the sheer arsenal of *Elden Ring*. Every weapon comes with its own set of martial arts – essentially special attacks – meaning true mastery takes time and dedication. Beyond the blades and chains, ninjas gain access to powerful "ninjutsu" abilities like lightning bolts or poison shurikens, while both styles can harness "onmyo magic" for active and passive buffs gleaned from vanquished foes. It’s a deep, rewarding system that constantly encourages experimentation.

Finding Its Own Identity in a Crowded Field

There's no denying it: Nioh 3 is packed with mechanics. For newcomers to the series or the genre, it might feel overwhelming at first. I confess, were I not reviewing it, I might have bounced off it initially. But I'm incredibly glad I stuck with it. After about 10 hours, something truly clicked. Team Ninja's third installment is a more accessible open-world Soulslike that, in its combat fluidity and pace, feels closer to *Sekiro* than anything else. It's a fantastic entry point for new players and a refreshing evolution for veterans.

While Nioh 3 proudly wears its *Elden Ring* inspiration on its sleeve, it skillfully carves out its own identity. It’s a Soulslike that I suspect will boast a higher player retention rate for those new to the genre, thanks to its blend of guided exploration and deep, rewarding combat. If you're looking for a challenging yet welcoming adventure in a beautifully brutal world, Nioh 3 might just be your next obsession.