Nioh Review Roundup [Update]

As the launch date for Team Ninja's action-RPG Nioh nears, reviews for the long-anticipated title have begun to emerge online.

If you're eager to get a head start, you can check out our Nioh beginner's guide, or our in-depth interview here. After initially posting a review in progress, GameSpot now has a final Nioh review up. But for more opinions, take a look at a collection below.

For a wider view on Nioh's critical reception, check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic.

• Game: Nioh
• Developer: Team Ninja
• Platform: PS4
• Release: February 7 (North America), February 8 (Europe and Australia)
• Price: US $60/£45/AU $85

GameSpot -- 9/10

"Nioh is an immensely layered experience. Through its Dark Souls-inspired combat, you're taught the virtues of patience and the value of defense. With each death, you learn a bit more about yourself and your enemy. This Team Ninja production, set during a time of great social upheaval in Japan, demonstrates the studio's penchant for demanding action-driven gameplay that rewards tactics and high dexterity. And despite all the inevitable dying, Nioh is surprisingly rich with solutions to overcome its many hurdles." -- Miguel Concepcion [Full review]

Game Informer -- 9/10

"Nioh will break you down (and note this clearly, this is an uncompromising game that does not mind crushing your dreams) before it lifts you up, but you soon crave the thrill of mastering a new weapon or toppling a titanic boss. Endless optimization and customization, engaging encounters, and unparalleled combat by yourself or with a friend make Nioh an excellent choice for your next dark action-RPG." -- Daniel Tack [Full review]

IGN -- 9.6/10

"Nioh could well take over 100 hours if you set out to master its many side missions on top of its tough campaign, but it's a challenge well worth taking. The way it builds on its most obvious inspirations with a highly refined combat system and an unexpectedly charming, yet gritty style all its own allows it to boldly carve out its own identity, standing as a shining example of what action-RPGs can be." -- Chloi Rad [Full review]

Destructoid -- 9/10

"With its emphasis on challenging combat and light storytelling elements that are at times bordering on parody (in a good way), Nioh feels like a true successor to the Ninja Gaiden series and fills a nice void that Souls left behind. Did Team Ninja ever leave? Whatever the case might be, it's back." -- Chris Carter [Full review]

USgamer -- 4/5

"Nioh is Team Ninja taking a more measured approach to what they do best, and is a surprisingly feature-heavy and battle-focused heir to the Soulsborne method. But it ultimately stands on its own, and is a worthy addition to any action-RPG library." -- John Learned [Full review]