Team Ninja is pushing the boundaries of its acclaimed Soulslike franchise with Nioh 3, introducing groundbreaking ninja combat mechanics and revolutionary open-field level design that promise to deliver the series' most ambitious entry yet.
Revolutionary Combat Evolution
During an extensive four-hour hands-on preview session, it became immediately apparent that Nioh 3 represents a significant evolution in the franchise's combat system. The game retains the core mechanics that made previous entries successful – including weapon switching, Guardian Spirit skills, and the satisfying Ki Pulse system – while introducing a completely new ninja combat style that fundamentally changes how players approach battles.
The new ninja style offers dramatically faster movement and attack speeds, creating a stark contrast to the more methodical samurai approach. Players can now seamlessly switch between combat styles with a simple button press, and mastering this transition becomes crucial for countering powerful Yokai Burst attacks. Properly timing a style swap allows players to parry these devastating moves, dealing significant damage and creating openings for follow-up assaults.
Open-Field Level Design Transforms Exploration
Nioh 3 abandons the corridor-driven level design typical of the genre in favour of what developers term an 'open-field' approach. This doesn't mean the game has transformed into an open-world experience, but rather that each time period now features multi-area maps that can be tackled through various pathways and strategies.
The Bakumatsu period demo showcased this new design philosophy beautifully. While a conventional linear path remains available for those seeking traditional progression, players can now discover numerous optional combat opportunities that reward exploration with powerful gear and experience. Among the most engaging additions are enemy bases – controlled areas filled with set numbers of foes that, when cleared, unlock chests containing valuable armour and weapons.
Surprising Encounters and Enhanced Challenge
The open-field design creates unexpected moments that keep players constantly engaged. During the preview, what initially appeared to be a standard optional Yokai boss fight transformed into a challenging boss rush encounter in a pit-like arena. These surprise elements demand quick thinking and adaptability, often forcing players to consume elixirs and employ elemental magic to survive.
One particularly memorable optional enemy was the lightning-fuelled Raiju, who unleashes devastating electrical attacks that test players' mastery of the new combat systems. The gunslinger boss encountered midway through the demo served as an excellent examination of all acquired skills, combining ranged and melee attacks that require precise timing and style switching to overcome.
Balancing Depth and Accessibility
While the ninja style might appear more accessible to newcomers, Nioh 3 maintains its challenging Soulslike credentials. The Ki Pulse mechanic remains central to combat effectiveness, though it now depletes more slowly when using the ninja style, encouraging strategic style switching based on combat situations.
Team Ninja maintains that Nioh 3 can be completed using either combat style exclusively, but players who master both will find themselves at a significant advantage. The development team appears to have struck a delicate balance between introducing new complexity and maintaining the series' signature challenge.
With time travel serving as a major narrative component and Crucible sections promising even greater challenges, Nioh 3 appears poised to become Team Ninja's most accomplished Soulslike to date. The core satisfaction of battling Yokai as a powerful warrior remains intact, now enhanced by expanded combat options and more dynamic level design that should please both series veterans and newcomers alike.
