The Nioh Collection (online)
Lone wolves are so 2019
The path of a lone samurai is one you can walk in both of these Nioh games, but expect it to be a tough one. Tricky bosses will put your skills truly to the test solo, with fights that’d make even Yojimbo’s knees quiver. But if tough-as-a-demon’s-horns soulslike combat isn’t what you crave, plentiful online features can offer some assistance.
Nioh 2 allows two players – friends or strangers – to hop into your game at once.
These remasters run and look nicer than the original releases, but both games’ online offerings are mostly the same as before. Almost every level can play home to co-op spirits you summon by offering ochako cups, which are easily obtained – you can find them hidden around levels, earn them as rewards for beating rival spirits, or buy them at a shrine (funds are very easy to come by, so you won’t be short of resources for buying cups).
While in Nioh you’re mostly limited to one helping hand (besides in The Abyss mode), Nioh 2 allows two players to hop into your game at once, whether they’re from your friends list or strangers looking to help out whoever is in need.
Also unique to Nioh 2 is the option to summon a blue, AI-controlled spirit, which is a ghost based on another player character (plus some extras laid down by devs themselves). It’s a great option to bolster your team, or get help if you’re struggling to find people playing online. Though, seeing as
crossplay is supported as well as a free PS5 upgrade and save transfer, the community is very much still alive, particularly for the newer Nioh 2.
SEEING RED
PvP (player versus player) doesn’t fare as well as co-op, in that it’s hardly a feature at all. Nioh has Skill Battles, a distinct mode which is mediocre at best (originally added as DLC), and Nioh 2 doesn’t have any. There are no soulslike-style invasions inside levels, which are geared almost entirely towards jolly co-operation.
Instead, you’ll encounter red-coloured spirits of players, essentially ghost data laid down where they died in a level. Fighting them is optional, and can yield some great rewards. That said, while some gear sets can be tough to match up against, it’s usually fairly simple to get one up on the AI-controlled spirits, which means it doesn’t have the same draw as pitting yourself against other players in, say, Demon’s Souls.
With these complete editions remastered for PS5, there are almost 200 hours of co-op action to battle through, and it’s hard to argue that isn’t excellent in and of itself. The only mark we’d put against it is that some bosses don’t take being ganged up on very well, especially the human-type enemies (and more so with three players in Nioh 2). Still, the legions of demons will put your friendship through its paces as you stand back to back with your blades out. It’s a hell of a good time.
Is there a better action co-op game on PS5? Doubtful. With smooth connections and triple-digit hours of content on offer, it’s well worth teaming up. Oscar Taylor-Kent