Can't decide whether to commit

[Edgewalker]

I've got the game, and I'm under the 2 hour mark. I am evaluating the game before I buy (or not) three copies to play with friends.

So far, I feel like it's just not as interesting, fun, or well-crafted as our last favorite (Nioh 2), particularly in the combat. There are three active defensive moves, dodge, block, and... another block - but different. And the different block is what all combat seems to revolve around, making most evading and regular-blocking a waste of time.

The characters are kind of ... well, the writing isn't going to be the game's strong suit. So far what I've got is a stern king and three bro dudes going off to rescue a porcelain doll girl in a sort of stereotype cringefest.

So does it get better? Does the combat really amount mostly to staggering everything? And very specifically, is the co-op worth putting up with the weak points?

[Midas]

The classes are a big part of what make the game fun, so if you're not into the whole final fantasy class system, you probably will just see it as a bland Nioh. I find the character building to be better than Nioh (better set system, more variety), and you're encouraged to master all the classes because they unlock command abilities and combo skills that can be used with other classes. Overall, I have a lot of fun with it, I have more hours in it than either Nioh, but I also like final fantasy, so it scratches that itch too.

I will say the group play is better than Nioh, though. Being able to have actual healers, characters with provoke, actual party dynamics, makes the game really interesting in coop. I would say its multiplayer experience is vastly superior to Nioh's, since the game really feels designed for it.

[Katitoff]

Well, campaign isn't all that challenging.
Good stuff is at the end game in rift labirynth.

Jobs, builds, weapons, weapon skills start to be rather important.

I personally have a blast, played it mostly in coop with a single friend and it was great(we've played on highest campaign difficulty so there was some challenge, especially since we didn't understood how to build characters at first).

No idea about Nioh 2 end game, but I've heard its similar gear grind and build optimization as in Stranger.

[Chan]

I played through it solo for the most part and with randoms/a friend and it's honestly a lot of fun. I'd say it's more interesting than Nioh 2 as you get to customize your build more and the job variety is great. I love Nioh 2 to death, but it doesn't quite allow you to play a pure mage whereas here, you can 100% be a caster. I played through as a black mage/white mage and by the end I could chain cast spells infinitely and would literally destroy bosses in seconds.

People can also have designated roles in group play and there are a variety of buffs, so it gives everyone a purpose/everyone can find a role they're likely to enjoy filling. Multiplayer in this game is a genuine blast even with randoms, so I imagine with three friends it's a colossal parade.

I was entirely in the same shoes you're in currently when I bought it. I thought/still think the beginning is hands down the worst part of the game as you have no means of knowing whether it's going to pan out into something fun or interesting. You aren't wrong with your current worries, but I will guarantee you once you get through the initial couple difficulties and you reach mid/end game the amount of customization and choices in your build will make Nioh 2 seem lame.

[⭕TheSodaman]

Originally posted by Edgewalker:

I've got the game, and I'm under the 2 hour mark. I am evaluating the game before I buy (or not) three copies to play with friends.

So far, I feel like it's just not as interesting, fun, or well-crafted as our last favorite (Nioh 2), particularly in the combat. There are three active defensive moves, dodge, block, and... another block - but different. And the different block is what all combat seems to revolve around, making most evading and regular-blocking a waste of time.

The characters are kind of ... well, the writing isn't going to be the game's strong suit. So far what I've got is a stern king and three bro dudes going off to rescue a porcelain doll girl in a sort of stereotype cringefest.

So does it get better? Does the combat really amount mostly to staggering everything? And very specifically, is the co-op worth putting up with the weak points?

Initial thought for you specifically, refund.

It sounds like your gaming partners haven't showed initiative in trying this game themselves.

And if you're looking for writing or story, Team Ninja co-op games are not where to look. Refund until the rest of the group shows initiative toward/in SoP. And if that's never - then it's never.

If build crafting and exploring the combat were higher on your list and their list, I would have said an easy yes with the DLCs.

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Regarding the other parts of the post:

There are different play styles. Some players love to dodge. Others taking lower risk with guarding. And others more aggressive with some more risk with soul shielding. The first playthrough waters down the need to be proficient in the mechanics and you can clear it on Hard taking advantage of only 25% of the mechanics available to a player at that time.

Should you progress into the optional post-credit content for base game or onto DLC story, you'll reach a point where if you aren't built around the soul shielding, it won't be as effective as it was during the first playthrough or early DLCs. Where a number of Nioh regulars gravitate toward parrying instead due to the benefits they can yield later on and how they're built (often not intentionally) supporting that defensive style.

But also another thing is comparing endgame Nioh 2 combat to beginning game combat. Where if I compared endgame SoP combat to early Nioh 1 or 2 combat, it would feel pretty limited. Then if you have three experienced endgame Nioh 2 players, you're going to clobber everything in co-op, even on Hard difficulty. And it's not until the DLCs that you would be remotely tested - and that's only if you ignored the half or more of the RPG mechanics (which about half of the players do and may think the DLCs were meant to be brutal, unfair, 1-2 shots, or spongey boss battles).

But just for reference - as a rough example of early game combat in SoP:
https://youtu.be/j8dAEY-WxeI

Or an example of endgame content if not using a build that spawn kills a boss:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMp6il-tfWw