Nioh , the latest game from Team Ninja has arrived, wearing its influences proudly on its sleeve. Team Ninja took the core mechanics of Dark Souls and Bloodborne and added their own unique twist on combat and exploration to deliver what is undoubtably going to be a game remembered when talking about...

Fantastic combat mechanics; Great environments; Epic boss fights; Rewarding challenges; Replay value

William is not very interesting

As a hardcore SoulsBorne fan, this game ticks all the boxes – yet also stands as it's own beast. The loot system is a throwback to Diablo, the fast combat to Bloodborne, the art direction to Onimusha. Nioh is beautifully made, plays well and is the right level of challenge (punishing, but also doable with determination). I'm 10 hours down and have loved every second of it.

Nioh is brutal, fast-paced, and crushingly difficult - so everything I was hoping it would be, really. Team Ninja has taken a lot of familiar mechanics, then added its own twist on them, with the resulting game keeping both Dark Souls and Ninja Gaiden fans happy. I’m tempted to say it’s even tougher than FromSoftware’s epic adventure series, with so many more systems and abilities to master. The combat is more nuanced here, with weapon stances and Japanese folklore-inspired magical abilities adding to the familiar mix of recognising enemy patterns, learning to parry and striking at the exact moment to avoid a nasty counterattack. Nioh’s world doesn’t feel as alive as Dark Souls III’s Lothric, though - even if it looks beautiful when you get a second to breathe and take it all in. An overabundance of menu management and a fairly simple story mean it isn’t a masterpiece, but if you want a serious challenge, it’s still a must-buy.

Looks gorgeous in motion; Massive game with huge gameplay variety; Uber challenging, just what Dark Souls fans will love;

Uber challenging, if you hate Dark Souls you’ll hate this too; Complex mechanics and modes take a while to master; Seriously, it’s bloody hard;

After over 12 years in development, Nioh plays like a compilation of every hack-and-slash RPG since the early 2000s, and while it's almost tempting to write off most of the gameplay as being derivative of From Software's recent action RPGs, like Bloodborne and the Dark Souls franchise, there's so...

Combat is skillful and loads of fun; Open maps stuffed with encounters and secrets; Customization options are a welcome bonus; Adorable Kodama with cute little bowls for hats

Story is a bit bland; The first level is easily the worst part of the game

It isn't often that a new IP releases in the gaming industry, especially one made by a veteran studio like Team Ninja. Responsible for Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden , this iconic studio has admittedly played a minor role in recent years. That changes starting today.

Thrilling combat system; Huge number of attractive skills and items; Diverse and interesting enemies; Non-linear world map; Co-op saves the day

Underwhelming visual quality; Tags

Nioh is an interesting game. At first glance many would happily write it off as a clone of Dark Souls, albeit with a distinctly Japanese flavour. But upon spending hours upon hours with Nioh, it's clear that there's more that meets the eye here.

Concept: Battle through an unforgiving and demon-infested version of feudal Japan on a quest to find your nemesis Graphics: Characters and enemies look great, but environments feel repetitive and drab at times Sound: The clash of steel, voice taunts, and a spectacular (if limited) soundtrack carry...

Nioh owes a lot to Dark Souls. That's a phrase you hear all the time these days, but in this case it's more accurate than most. From its demanding but rewarding combat to its labyrinthine levels full of thrilling danger and secrets, the influence of FromSoftware's action RPG series undeniably forms...

Nioh isn't a masterpiece then. It's not quite fresh or original enough to be. But it is a return to form for Team Ninja, a studio many feel had lost its way after the departure of its founder Tomonobu Itagaki in 2008.

Conceptually, Nioh seems to be tailor-made to suit our tastes. Far Eastern swordplay dressed up in a challenging, contemporary robe. An action-RPG in the vein of Dark Souls that adds supernatural spirits, demonic powers, and rapid sword fighting to the backdrop of a setting sun.