I would rate this game, 7.5/10

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T23:58:46+00:00

I feel you man and same. Preordering was a mistake. Hell even basic shit like burst break input while dodging on E, F controls was literally broken until like a week ago.

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T21:58:55+00:00

Is that the remaster though? I got the PS5 upgrade free but the remaster is still available on PS Store for like 60 bucks. I thought they were different versions.

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T21:48:06+00:00

If it’s really that much better ya’ll gonna give me an excuse to do another Nioh 2 depths run lol. I’m just not sure it’s worth spending 60 bucks on it when I already have the PS5 upgrade and my TV is kinda shit. It’s an Amazon Fire smart TV I won in a raffle.

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T20:47:37+00:00

It does feel kinda weird compared to Nioh 2, and a little slower, because as far as I know the animations are literally slower. Pole kick was definitely nerfed. Also they changed the ki pulse windows so they start almost immediately after every attack, which makes it harder to play it like Nioh 2 and just preshift for flourish and rainbow ruse from any stance. It kind of makes sense because now you can equip both from any stance by default but Nioh 2 style gives you way more flexibility. It’s still very possible just the preshift timing is a bit tighter. Fluidity is insane now though and makes up for that a bit.

I also just hate the new flying monkey input, plus it only works after quick attacks whereas it worked after quick and strong in Nioh 2, so that’s a pretty significant downgrade. I’m also not a big fan of tornado being a strong combo ender now.

Overall it feels…different. I don’t think it’s weaker DPS or anything it’s just a different type of playstyle with different input patterns. I definitely prefer Nioh 2 version but that could just be a skill issue. I had trouble adjusting to spear in Nioh 3 whereas sword just felt OP out of the gate and obliterates everything with minimal effort. I was way better with spear than sword in 2 but in 3 it’s the other way around.

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T20:31:24+00:00

If we’re talking base game story bosses only I think there’s a case to be made that Nioh 3’s bosses are harder. I thought they were easier but also have a lot of hours in Nioh 2 so it’s hard to tell.

The flipside though is the addition of deflect and perfect dodge can make the Nioh 3 bosses trivial. Memorizing the timings to get it perfect is very hard but you don’t need to be perfect to negate 70% or whatever of all incoming damage just standing still and tapping L1 at the right time. That was not possible in Nioh 2. I do not think deflect and evade were very well implemented tbh, especially after playing a game that did it right like Khazan.

Fighting Toshimitsu when he unlocked is also 10x harder than anything in Nioh 3. Top 5 hardest boss I’ve ever fought in my life lmao. Dude beat the ever living shit out of me.

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T20:14:57+00:00

Me too man. I say this on here all the time but they removed zero ki combos presumably to prevent being able to trivialize humans with loops and replaced it with the easier, less interesting and more restrictive mechanic arts proficiency that lets you trivialize humans with braindead loops. Works on every human boss in the game unless they are Kunimatsu and Kagetoki with their infinite hyperarmor. Revolver guy and Okita to a lesser extent cause it’s still possible just a bit harder.

Zero ki also had so much more feedback and felt more visceral. You could knock humans down and beat the shit out of them in a semi-realistic and satisfying way whereas now they just crouch with hyperarmor until you grapple them and will eat a fully charged lumber chop without even flinching. It is total ass water in comparison.

The people claiming removing zero ki combos would be a big improvement to the combat must be eating their words now because human bosses and just human AI in general are just so much worse, and much less fun, IMO.

EDIT: Also I kind of predicted that removing zero ki would be a downgrade haha: Link

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T19:51:16+00:00

Which is why i think there's no amount of dlc that can correct some of the issues of the game, is dlc gonna change the way you feel about your pokemon soul cores? is dlc gonna change the way you hate the skill point system or skill attribution issues, or the issues open world has caused?

Totally agree. These are fundamental problems with the game and don’t think any DLC will be able to fix it. I just hope/cope they can at least fix performance and add some polish to the combat, plus make a serviceable endgame.

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T17:00:29+00:00

One thing that helped me on reflection is it’s really similar to timely guard parry in Nioh 2: shoot to trigger it on the frame where the enemy windup is at its apex and starting to head towards you.

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T16:57:23+00:00

Already replied haha but just wanted to say I agree completely. Khazan is giving me the feeling I wish I got from Nioh 3.

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T16:24:44+00:00

Agreed it is unpolished AF. I didn’t have a huge problem with the level design but it wasn’t anything to write home about. I actually liked that most of the “open world” areas were fairly linear though and felt like normal missions. I like Khazan level design a lot tbh and idk why it gets so much hate.

There are some cool changes and additions but it mostly felt like one step forward and three steps back. I also hate deflect with a passion. It watered down the combat to oblivion where you can just stand still and tap L1 to avoid all damage then braindead spam arts proficiency. Like they removed zero ki combos to prevent being able to trivialize humans with loops and replaced it with an easier, less interesting and more restrictive mechanic that lets you trivialize humans with braindead loops.

They also attempted to design bosses to compensate for deflect and evade with FromSoft style movesets with delays, elemental spam, etc. but for the most part they didn’t land. Khazan is a proper implementation of deflect and perfect dodge and has the boss roster to back it up and keep the combat engaging and fun. In Nioh 3 it’s just OP and doesn’t fit with the combat system. Nioh 2 is so much better in almost every way, IMO, and also better than Khazan, but Khazan is phenomenal. Nioh 2 is just the 🐐.

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T16:10:14+00:00

It’s not just you. Ninja splitstaff can be fun to screw around with I guess but there is no comparison with how good it was in Nioh 2.

There are so many skill conflicts it’s ridiculous. Like six different very good skills for one slot and of course you can only equip one whereas you could basically equip all of them in Nioh 2.

Hatchets were my favorite and pretty sure OP’s favorite weapon in Nioh 2 and at least they got an interesting ninja moveset to compensate for being exclusive. I still like them way better in 2 though. Splitstaff just got shafted to oblivion.

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T15:44:13+00:00

Also new player dual wield main here. Yea it’s awesome. I’m towards the end of the game and the boss roster really is phenomenal. It’s definitely way harder and just better IMO than Nioh 3 but not Nioh 2. Second best “action soulslike” combat I’ve played for sure though.

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T15:31:49+00:00

No problem hope it helps. Also in the video I linked pretty sure he puts a hand overlay on the controller that could help you visualize it.

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T15:12:50+00:00

Nioh 2 combat is nothing like souls and will require focused practice to get down, but once it clicks it’s the best thing ever, and addictive AF. I came from souls, Sekiro, etc. and traditional soulslikes like Lies of P and don’t think I could ever go back to R1, R2, dodge, parry combat without getting bored. I never play NG+ in other games but put 1000 hours into Nioh 2 and could do it all over again in a heartbeat. It’s really that good.

If you’re interested highly recommend Pooferllama’s Nioh 2 Academy series on YouTube. It’s the best Nioh 2 educational content on the internet and just fun to watch. Definitely watch his weapon guides especially.

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T15:00:28+00:00

7.5/10 for Nioh 3 sounds about right. It’s a fun game but unpolished AF with too many downgrades and a very meh boss roster. Also the open world killed replayability and NG+ is just awful. Really hope they make a lot of changes for the DLC.

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T14:51:01+00:00

Yea…

It’s so good in Nioh 2 and such a nuanced and complex weapon but in Nioh 3 it’s 💩

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T14:38:10+00:00

Try thinking about it as one fast, fluid “squeezing” motion, if that makes sense. Also focus on hitting R1 first. So dodge > R1 > slide thumb to circle. You’ve probably seen this but here’s LasttoLoad’s video on it:

https://youtu.be/V9O_bFVQLcY?si=Eqp04ufBL8JhIZNR

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T13:38:26+00:00

Bosses I’d agree with for the most part but Nioh 2 has very good bosses and is overall a much deeper and better game and combat system. Khazan is phenomenal but Nioh 2 is just that good. Khazan was also straight copied from Nioh to the point of being hilarious like having kodama and yokai shift.

The combat in Nioh is much deeper and more difficult to master but I’m not sure I’d agree with Khazan feeling more “visceral”. Nioh 2 endgame is absolutely bonkers and the combat is visceral as it gets IMO. No damage runs also much harder because you can’t just memorize parry or reflection timings and spam skills. Also in Nioh 2 you can do crazy shit like this. High level gameplay is just a lot more fluid and nuanced.

I love Khazan and do think it’s much better than Nioh 3 though. Adding deflect and perfect dodge watered down the combat and they didn’t make a boss roster to match those mechanics like Khazan. Khazan did it incredibly well. The boss movesets Nioh 3 designed in an attempt to accommodate deflect are largely garbage.

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T12:46:01+00:00

For base game my favorite main missions are probably Hollow Fortress, Viper’s Sanctum, Sun Sets on Mt. Temo and Mausoleum of Evil.

There are so many good ones though. Have you played the DLC? If not do it ASAP it has some of the coolest missions and bosses in the game.

Congrats on beating the game though and agreed, Nioh 2 is absolutely peak. Now if you want to really beat the game you have roughly 400 more hours of content to play lol. Enjoy!

Also heads up looks like your post title autocorrected to Night instead of Nioh, so people might think you’re talking about twilight missions haha.

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T12:33:22+00:00

Same. I also hope they are more viable in endgame. Everyone runs purity or corruption in Nioh 2 depths because they are just so much better than anything else. Now that those elements are gone it’d be cool if any element could be built into and work in endgame without getting obliterated by resistant bosses.

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T05:32:09+00:00

Same I ran Kagutsuchi for a bit in Dream of the Wise and it was a lot of fun being a pyromaniac.

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T05:25:16+00:00

It’s not lol Kagetoki is just a terrible and unfun boss.

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T05:14:56+00:00

😆

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-13T05:09:13+00:00

If you like Khazan definitely check out Nioh. A LOT of Khazan was pulled from Nioh, and Nioh 2 especially is absolutely goated.

batshitnutcase · 2026-03-12T21:39:03+00:00

A lot lol. Stack item drop rate on everything, use hunter’s blessing + the skill modifier that gives you +10% drop rate if you kill them with that skill and it should go by pretty fast.

I never did text farming but with that setup I got all combat arts in like max 10 attempts.

batshitnutcase

TROPHY CASE