Nioh 3, an eagerly awaited action RPG, has just released a new gameplay trailer with different new characters, combat styles, and enemy encounters. The trailer was disclosed by Dexerto and it created quite a stir among the die-hard fans of the series. The responses varied from being thrilled to confessing the feeling of trepidation regarding the difficulty level of the game that is known to be difficult. This first impression indicates that Team Ninja is getting ready to present another hardcore but rewarding experience for souls-like genre fans.
Well, the trailer is out now and the vibes are SUPER STRONG. You watch it and within even ten seconds, your body recalls Nioh 2, your fingers grip tightly as if they are ready to play and you almost sweat on the controller. It’s one of those kinds of games. The comments on the tweet provide a very quick glimpse of the Nioh community’s mood, which is basically composed of total enthusiasm mixed with not-so-pleasant memories. For example, a user by the name of Heffe simply wrote, “nioh 3 gameplay dropped, muscle memory oozing already” and to be honest? This is probably going to be the most accurate review you get even before the game is released.
Do we need to analyze the reactions since they are so full of vibes? Robin first of all looks at them and he already has the pure hype squad fighting for him and he said the combat is “crisp” and “Nioh knows how to maintain its identity.” Really, I couldn’t agree more – the trailer obviously shows deep, stance-based combat, incredible weapon arts, and those gigantic, quasi-unfairly looking in the best way, bosses completely filling the screen – they all are the same as before. Another player named Tac watched it for the first time; he called it clean, smooth and “badass” boss. So clearly the visual and gameplay polish is doing its job.
Then there is the downside… the one that remembers. The one that brings suffering. YouriDB put it this way: “It looks like a game where you will scream and cry on the couch because you were already killed and destroyed for the 40th time in a row.” This is the Nioh experience, my friend! It is not just challenging but also personally challenging. It messes with your mind. Samuel Peter told a whole story about getting so mad at Nioh 2 that he quit at 2 a.m. and then woke up thinking about the boss as “unfinished business.” That’s it! The game becomes this addictive puzzle that you can’t help but play in your mind. It’s like a love affair.
And then comes the anxiety regarding the mechanics. NoBanks Nearby pointed out the real question: “the ‘gameplay trailer’ means we finally get to see if the ki pulse loop is still necessary. that pressure is legendary.” For those who have never played before, Ki Pulse is that essential technique where you hit a button after a combo to get back your stamina (ki). Getting caught up in it is the very difference between life and death and it gives combat an incredible rhythm. The fact that players are already nervous about it returning is a sign of how much it is a key feature. Wiwi just wrote “Ki pulse stress flashbacks intensify” without any further explanation. They know.
Some humorous comments in the replies as well. Quad Damage Podcast admitted “Oh man, I can’t believe I actually had the first game and never played it!” which is totally relatable. Many of us have that one game in the library that we keep saying we will get to. Jairo said “I need to finish NiOh 1 and 2 now,” he feels the pressure of the backlog. And ravvyung stated, “I really need to buy a ps5, I’m missing out on a lot of fun,” which is a completely different problem that gamers face nowadays. Not everyone can even have the option to experience it if they do not want to!
One critic, however, OgLD, remarked, “It seems a bit like all the others.” And you know what? Maybe if you looked at it from a distance that would be correct. But everyone who has experienced Nioh is aware of all the differences – the loot, the build crafting, the specific boss patterns. It is a series that continuously changes and gets closer to its own unique formula. In the meantime, NeedLightAmmo made the outrageous statement: “Nioh is the best souls-like game ever and still nobody admits it.” That is a debate for another time, but it does point to the fact that the series has generated this kind of intensity in passion.
So are we just seeing a case of misunderstandings? We are seeing a community that is very much committed, somewhat traumatized, but mostly, very much ready for another round of punishment. The trailer did its job – it reminded players that the series is a premier action RPG experience, though some wish it were also available on Xbox.
