The Nioh Collection
Two games for plenty of double-edged action
Like soulslikes? Then how do you fancy almost 200 hours of two of the best, enhanced for PS5? You can’t say you don’t get bang for your buck here, and thanks to Team Ninja’s unique flavour these samurai slashers are like nothing else in the genre.
We rated both games 9/10 when they were first released. Not only are these improved versions, but they include all the DLC (it’s a massive package). To top it off, they’re free upgrades that allow you to transfer your saves.
While some textures might show their age, and naturally utilising PS5-specific features like the DualSense’s haptics are minimal (and won’t light your bonfire quite like Demon’s Souls did), Nioh has always been about action and performance. Leveraging the power of PS5, both run like a dream. Comboing with your chosen weapon, dodging, blocking strikes, and counter-attacking at just the right time feels all the more satisfying.
FRAME ADVANTAGE
Like Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition, both Nioh games feature three visual modes. Both the 4K mode and the PS5 Standard mode target 60fps, with the former gunning for native 4K, and the latter settling for around 1800p. Don’t be fooled though, PS5 mode isn’t just for people without 4K TVs. It actually utilises PS5’s power to add other graphical enhancements, like better lighting, shadows, and draw distance. In terms of visual quality, both games look and run better in this mode, at the cost of that true 4K sharpness.
The duology joins the ranks of 120fps PS5 games (you need a TV that supports it). As the games are all about responsive combat, it’s a great addition – though we did see noticeable drops in Nioh 2, which can feel inconsistent against the locked lower 60fps. The first Nioh manages to pull it off better, hitting 120fps much more smoothly. It’s a less demanding game overall, especially as far as particle effects go, so it fares better from the upgrade, and is nearly flawless in every mode.
You might want to skip doubling up the frames on Nioh 2, but it runs better than ever nonetheless, and the effects, characters, and certain environments are still magnificent to behold. This isn’t just thanks to increased frames, but the SSD too. Respawning after a death and even loading into levels fresh takes only a couple of seconds. These games might be harder than a cursed blade’s steel, but with blazing loads and extra responsiveness the fight against yokai has never felt so fair. And if it’s too tough? Ask a friend (or stranger) to hop in for a true co-op samurai epic.
The first game fares better from the upgrade and is nearly flawless in every mode.