So how hard / clunky is this?

[Mister Magician]

Probably won't get it, but I liked "final fantasy origins" at least on easy and hated "nioh."

Does this have the weird rhythm combat that nioh did?

How hard is it overall?

[Skylers Meth]

Having not played it i cannot speak from experience, but the reviews ive watched say that while it can be challenging on normal, it's not as difficult as their previous games. Thankfully, this has an easy mode so those that don't like frustration can play too.

[boblick]

Having played this on PS5, normal mode in this game is really hard mode on most other games and easy mode is challenging-ish normal. Then there's also the third difficulty level above easy and normal, but I haven't tried it. Combat is heavily based on learning the parry mechanic well. To my experience, parry timings don't change between normal and easy, but you'll get much less damage if you fail to parry on easy. Frankly, just play it on easy if you're not absolutely confident in your parrying, the game isn't easy even on the easiest difficulty level, but I personally felt it was just right for me

[Karkarov]

Clunky, not even slightly. The combat is insanely smooth and very good. It is and isn't hard, it comes down a lot to approach. It is similar to nioh but less mechanically demanding.... to a point. You can be mr parry god, or you can rely on dodging. You can do a lot of stealth work in this game as well that can make things easier. You also have a fully functioning block though it is stamina intensive so a little risky.

When in doubt, you can chug healing items to some extent as well.

Normal is harder than "most" games, but there is the catch that this is a level and gear game. So even if an encounter is difficult better gear and grinding some new skills/stats make a noticeable difference. Honestly if you can beat nioh or dark souls this shouldn't be particularly hard though you may see a rough moment or two.

Unless you go into the post game. The post game hates you and wants to make you hate yourself too. Hard would be a massive understatement, it is downright brutal and abusive, and anything less than perfectly executed cheese, or 0 mistake play will see you most likely dead.

[Lestrad]

As someone who despises Souls games on principle (ironic considering I 100%ed Elden Ring), I wouldn't say it's hard at all. Not anywhere to the same degree at least. Sure there are some fights that are a bit 'wtf', but main story wise it's not bad at all. Especially considering that in later missions you have at least two NPC characters with you as well.

[Mister Magician]

I hear this is a "rhythmless rhythm" game like sekiro. super armor everywhere, enemies do not follow the rules you have to, lots of random pauses in enemy attacks and delayed enemy combos.

I also hear the visual and auditory cues for enemy attacks are purposely wrong just to discourage reaction-based play as well.

[Purpleetea]

Name one clunky Koei techmo game i will wait?

[causality]

Originally posted by Purpleetea:

Name one clunky Koei techmo game i will wait?

Clunky is usually a blanket term for unwilling to invest time in learning or improving in a game.

[MH DOOM]

There are a lot of things I can understand people disliking about Nioh but "clunky" is not one of thiem. As someone who was turned off by Souls' slow and punishing combat (which isn't to say i'm very good), Nioh and Nioh 2's smooth combat is why i keep reinstalling it and just picking fights with endgame monsters. It's so satisfying and rewarding.

It can be difficult, overwhelming, even obtuse, but it's got so much flow.

[dafter]

Originally posted by Mister Magician:

I hear this is a "rhythmless rhythm" game like sekiro. super armor everywhere, enemies do not follow the rules you have to, lots of random pauses in enemy attacks and delayed enemy combos.

I also hear the visual and auditory cues for enemy attacks are purposely wrong just to discourage reaction-based play as well.

You hear wrong.

[Mister Magician]

Originally posted by dafter:

Originally posted by Mister Magician:

I hear this is a "rhythmless rhythm" game like sekiro. super armor everywhere, enemies do not follow the rules you have to, lots of random pauses in enemy attacks and delayed enemy combos.

I also hear the visual and auditory cues for enemy attacks are purposely wrong just to discourage reaction-based play as well.

You hear wrong.

It's a pretty common complaint from when the first game came out.

[Kashra Fall]

Nioh had weird rhythm combat? Since when? Because you could stance switch? o.O

[ダミ]

Made by the creators of Nioh should have scared you off from the start. The game will be good, provided you want to invest the time to learn how to play.

[Mister Magician]

Originally posted by Kashra Fall:

Nioh had weird rhythm combat? Since when? Because you could stance switch? o.O

it was a base requirement just to regain the meager stamina, and you could only tell by an obscure visual cue.

from all the release reception of the ps5 version, this seems 100x worse.

[Majestic]

As some one that has invested ALOT of time into team ninja games. From Gaiden to Nioh and even Wu Long. Team Ninja has always had top notch combat as far as character action goes. They are also notorious for difficult games, Though it seems to me they have been trying to make things a little more accessible these days. The Jury is still out on if that's going to be a good or a bad thing in the long run. As far as the difficulty goes for this particular title from what I've seen, It certainly does not seem as difficult as previous titles.

[Kashra Fall]

Originally posted by Mister Magician:

Originally posted by Kashra Fall:

Nioh had weird rhythm combat? Since when? Because you could stance switch? o.O

it was a base requirement just to regain the meager stamina, and you could only tell by an obscure visual cue.

from all the release reception of the ps5 version, this seems 100x worse.

You talking about ki pulsing? That isn't rhythm, you just tap RB when you finished a combo or a move. If you did it at the right time, you got a lot of ki back. Alternatively, if you leveled like two times, you could auto-ki pulse by just tapping dodge.