If FromSoftware’s video games have been a portray, they might be a Goya — darkly visceral, but marked by a restraint that deepens their suave gloom. The Nioh franchise, against this, has all of the manic, infernal frenzy of a Hieronymus Bosch.
Since 2017, Nioh’s eclectic mixture of closely altered Japanese historical past and folklore, high-velocity fight and plots that care extra about spectacle than sense has stored the collection largely within the shadow of different hardcore motion role-playing video games — usually dubbed “soulslikes,” after the FromSoftware-developed Darkish Souls franchise credited with popularizing the style.
Nonetheless, the Nioh collection’ newest entry represents a sea change in high quality. Set for launch Feb. 6, Nioh 3 is just not solely the strongest recreation within the franchise but additionally makes a convincing case as an early contender for recreation of the 12 months.
