Prosthetics(review / analysis)

[Gorwe]

To counter the comment at the very beginning, yes, most of them have a niche where they are OP etc. What I will try is to formulate my opinions on Prosthetic Tools in as much chronological order as possible.

SHURIKEN: It's a nice, cheap and fast activating Tool. Though, I feel like only the Gouging Top is worth using from the main line. Kunai is nice, but it costs more, casts slower and has an RNG element attached and Coin Toss is just lol. Very effective, though...idk about it. Tbh, wouldn't bother outside charged version of GT.

FIRECRACKERS: Yes, that one, which is very very useful. Which is basically an anti Bell if you would. Still, the only one I feel is worth using is the Long Fuse. Everything else is meh ; especially the spin throw thingy(too slow). Purple Fuse is interesting in concept(trading arming time for increased damage taken debuff), but I'm not certain whether debuff itself is worth it. The LF version is just too reliable, borderline OP.

FLAMER: Has a nice cone of damage, nice damage(both vitality and posture), isn't that slow to activate etc. I don't think the charged attack is worth it, but the continuous burning could be actually quite OP versus Ape and the like. The Living Force attack / buff is also very, very nice. Kinda pricy though.

AXE: So, let's review what it does. Huge damage, grants you hyperarmor, breaks shields etc. Now, let's analyze those points. Damage is huge, sure, but the activation speed is HORRIBLE and the range is equally horrible. The Hyperarmor helps, but you'll still have your HP cut in twain. And about Shield thingy? It works only vs those bandits in Hirata, who you can circle strafe anyhow. The Flame Axe explosion is nice, but outside of that? Pricy, slow, dangerous to use. What would I do to make it more useful? Make it cost 1 Talisman to use and give you 50% Damage Reduction while using it. It could also give you Grab Immunity, but that'd be a bit too much imo.

RAVEN: This is a nice tool that gives you a choice of which "bar" you want to get damaged. Posture vs Vit vs Talisman. It's always very useful, even if I feel like the last Upgrade outshines the others by quite far.

SPEAR: It comes in two variations: standard spear and a...glaive(?) - more leaf shaped. You can use the first version to poke enemies, to break their formations etc ; very useful, especially the Corkscrew variant. Concerning the glaives, they're even better. You don't sacrifice anything of note(for most of time) while gaining a HUGE and kinda fast cleave. This is even more noticable on Fire Leap, its final upgrade. Sure, it doesn't have numbers of Axe, but it's just so much more usable than Axe, it's sad really. The FL makes the Ape kinda sad.

SABIMARU: Nice in concept, but too ineffective in reality. Besides the Piercing variant(and most likely the Lazulite one too), it's just not worth using. Even with the Piercing variant, it builds up Poison too slow and costs a ♥♥♥♥♥ON of Talismans just to poison someone(and do mediocre damage). Up to SIX(lol). I'm not even certain how to make it more viable, more PSN buildup is a nice idea and maybe triggering a Toxic Shock of sorts when striking an already poisoned enemy with it? /shrug

UMBRELLA: Very useful, three variants that are equally useful in different circumstances. I'm just not entirely certain what the difference is between the standard one and the Magnetic variant. Makes deflecting trivial, allows you to build enemy's posture sky high at a cost of ONE talisman(lol) and has an awesome follow-up attack to boot. Derp. It's probably on anyone's prosthetic bar. For a bloody good reason. It's basically a better, more versatile version of Raven.

FAN: aka Divine Abduction. It activates too slowly, is too pricy, but at least it's worth it unlike the Axe. It also has a very nice Living Force attack that will almost always allow you free hits on the enemy and the Golden variant allows you to mercilessly farm everything - that in itself makes it worth it. It's nice for what it does(counter trash / farming uses), but also too risky and too...niche(imo).

WHISTLE: Just meh. A definition of niche, should've probably been a basic ability(you even whistle to Kuro in tutorial), perhaps with an upgrade of sorts from Malcontent. Not a fan at all.

[mark1971]

Thank you!

[Gorwe]

Publicado originalmente por Neo_Intended:

Thank you!

Hey, no problem! An awesome game deserves this. And Sekiro is an awesome game, no doubt. (I still like Nioh better overall, but I've completely switched opinions on Sekiro)

I'd like a nice discussion though.

[SMJSMOK]

The prosthetics are cool but I very rarely actually use them (on NG+ and I have 999 emblems lol). I use the axe for shield wielders and the firecrackers on the bull. I actually use the whistle the most because I love turning animals against the other enemies...it's fun :-D (The same as I like to puppet wolves and pretend to have a killer pet - a Wolf with his wolf...it's the Starbound part of me I guess).

[PlutonArioch]

I disagree with your assessment of the Shuriken. While the Gouging Top (and the Lazulite one) is surely the most useful as a weapon, even the basic Shuriken is very good. It is not a big damage dealer, but does still deal decent posture damage against enemies in the air, and can stun them for a short time. It can also interrupt many attacks, and in combination with chasing slice allows you to take the initiative in a fight.

The purple fuse firecrackers can be worth it, but you need to get used to the timing.

The Axe does not only work against the bandits, but also against the Senpou assassins, and you cant circle strafe those. The "risky to use" part is only true if you use it mindlessly instead of at the right time. And I don't see how swinging an Axe should prevent half of the damage you take. Yes, its a situational tool, as are all the other prosthetics. Very good in some situations, not great in all

The Raven is not just about preventing damage, but also repositioning. It can give you some easy hits in some fights. Also, it makes evading the Snake much easier, and allowed me to enter the shrine in the snakes cave before getting the puppeteer ninjutsu. I would immagine it helps with the great carp as well, although I have not tried that.

Not much to add about the spear, other than its grappling potential. "Get over here Genichiro!"

I do agree on the Sabimaru... I often forget it even exists. I did not even find the Lazulite upgrade worthwhile. Maybe if the whole combo was 2-3 emblems, but even then I would only use it against enemies that are specifically weak to it.

I think the magnetic umbrella allows you to do a deflect while hold it opened. Not sure though. I never used the umbrella to deflect, only to protect from AoE attacks like the Headless Apes scream, or the demons firestorms, and against the bullet hail at the gun fort.

I am fine with the activation time of the fan, but I wish the window to use it after activation was a bit longer.

I agree that the whistle should be a basic ability. The other tools at least have some reason to be part of the prosthetic, and use resources, but a whistle?

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Off topic: Whats better about Nioh? I was sort of thinking about buying it, but I am a bit afraid that it will just gather virtual dust in my library like some other souls-likes.

[Gorwe]

Publicado originalmente por Arioch:

I disagree with your assessment of the Shuriken. While the Gouging Top (and the Lazulite one) is surely the most useful as a weapon, even the basic Shuriken is very good. It is not a big damage dealer, but does still deal decent posture damage against enemies in the air, and can stun them for a short time. It can also interrupt many attacks, and in combination with chasing slice allows you to take the initiative in a fight.

The purple fuse firecrackers can be worth it, but you need to get used to the timing.

The Axe does not only work against the bandits, but also against the Senpou assassins, and you cant circle strafe those. The "risky to use" part is only true if you use it mindlessly instead of at the right time. And I don't see how swinging an Axe should prevent half of the damage you take. Yes, its a situational tool, as are all the other prosthetics. Very good in some situations, not great in all

The Raven is not just about preventing damage, but also repositioning. It can give you some easy hits in some fights. Also, it makes evading the Snake much easier, and allowed me to enter the shrine in the snakes cave before getting the puppeteer ninjutsu. I would immagine it helps with the great carp as well, although I have not tried that.

Not much to add about the spear, other than its grappling potential. "Get over here Genichiro!"

I do agree on the Sabimaru... I often forget it even exists. I did not even find the Lazulite upgrade worthwhile. Maybe if the whole combo was 2-3 emblems, but even then I would only use it against enemies that are specifically weak to it.

I think the magnetic umbrella allows you to do a deflect while hold it opened. Not sure though. I never used the umbrella to deflect, only to protect from AoE attacks like the Headless Apes scream, or the demons firestorms, and against the bullet hail at the gun fort.

I am fine with the activation time of the fan, but I wish the window to use it after activation was a bit longer.

I agree that the whistle should be a basic ability. The other tools at least have some reason to be part of the prosthetic, and use resources, but a whistle?

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Off topic: Whats better about Nioh? I was sort of thinking about buying it, but I am a bit afraid that it will just gather virtual dust in my library like some other souls-likes.

Don't get me wrong, Shuriken is useful, I just find other, more useful tools for the job. And it's kinda meh before Gouging, you have to admit.

Purple Fuse is...what is exactly the debuff on it? 10%? More, less? How useful it is depends wholly on the debuff numbers(duration, power etc).

Could be that I don't "get" the Axe. Not only is the Spear a better choice most of the time(or crackers), but there could be Nioh spillover too. You go from the literal Rock to...mr flail lol.

You can rotate every Umbrella, though the Magnetic one mentions how it is "almost unbreakable"...maybe you take less posture damage with it? /shrug

About the Fan, you're right, just give it a longer activation grace period. I'd even go further and make using it refresh that period's timer, could be OP, idk.

Sabimaru is almost useless AND overpriced. It should just get reworked imo. Maybe if it acted like that three step poison attack the Interior Ministry Ninja use? Idk.

///

Concerning Nioh, that's a larger subject, but rest assured, it has its good sides and its bad sides. I could go more into it if you'd like.

[PlutonArioch]

Publicado originalmente por Gorwe:

Don't get me wrong, Shuriken is useful, I just find other, more useful tools for the job. And it's kinda meh before Gouging, you have to admit.

Well, as damage dealer its meh even then. As tool for interrupts and knocking enemies out of the air, it does not need the gouging top. It also makes the timing a lot more difficult if you want to knock someone out of a jump while also making use of the charged gouging top, so in those situations I usually end up just using the quickshot anyways.

Publicado originalmente por Gorwe:

Purple Fuse is...what is exactly the debuff on it? 10%? More, less? How useful it is depends wholly on the debuff numbers(duration, power etc).

To be honest I dont know :D I have not used any kind of firecracker upgrade for a long time now. I remember it was a noticeable difference, especially in the final boss fight. but I could not say how much it was.

Publicado originalmente por Gorwe:

Could be that I don't "get" the Axe. Not only is the Spear a better choice most of the time(or crackers), but there could be Nioh spillover too. You go from the literal Rock to...mr flail lol.

Yeah, its a bit strange having an axe not as a main weapon but rather as a weak side weapon or tool. On the other hand, if it would do more damage, or was faster it could replace the katana as main weapon for some people. I think the devs wanted to avoid this. So its not a strong weapon, but occasionally useful.

Publicado originalmente por Gorwe:

You can rotate every Umbrella, though the Magnetic one mentions how it is "almost unbreakable"...maybe you take less posture damage with it? /shrug

No you cant. Not the basic one. Every other upgrade needs the magnetic upgrade first, and inherits this ability as well. I just looked at them in game. https://imgur.com/a/5t7Gpkm

Publicado originalmente por Gorwe:

About the Fan, you're right, just give it a longer activation grace period. I'd even go further and make using it refresh that period's timer, could be OP, idk.

Yes, that would be useful too, at least for the double use variants.

Publicado originalmente por Gorwe:

Sabimaru is almost useless AND overpriced. It should just get reworked imo. Maybe if it acted like that three step poison attack the Interior Ministry Ninja use? Idk.

That could be cool, yes. That attack at least has some punch to it, and builds up poison pretty well. Using the Sabimaru I just feel like I am flailing with paper swords, and to get the poison to take effect I have to use up most of my spirit emblems.

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Publicado originalmente por Gorwe:

Concerning Nioh, that's a larger subject, but rest assured, it has its good sides and its bad sides. I could go more into it if you'd like.

Well, that's almost every game basically. From what I have seen it seems a bit overladen with flashy effects, and the combat seems more spammy than skill based.

[Gorwe]

Publicado originalmente por Gorwe:

Concerning Nioh, that's a larger subject, but rest assured, it has its good sides and its bad sides. I could go more into it if you'd like.

Publicado originalmente por Arioch:

Well, that's almost every game basically. From what I have seen it seems a bit overladen with flashy effects, and the combat seems more spammy than skill based.

Well, I like it better. These are some differences:

Nioh is faster, but somewhat less technical than Sekiro(don't dismiss it though)

Nioh has a LOT of RPG elements ; you can simply outlevel challenges to a point

Nioh has almost linear levels, mostly due to a lack of a real jump function(let alone grappling hook) ; while at it , it has LEVELS, NOT a WORLD like Sekiro

Nioh allows you to get ridiculously powerful, you can almost one shot bosses

Nioh has much more build flexibility, on par with the best of Souls, if not more

Nioh also has RNG loot like Diablo, should that concern you

Nioh is like a mix of Fantasy and Real History(think Warhammer) while Sekiro is more like a fairytale of sorts - a lot can be said about this point:

( Nioh mentions REAL PEOPLE over and over, you fight alongside them, versus them in REAL PLACES as a modified REAL PERSON while Sekiro...doesn't even mention words "Sengoku" or "Japan" more than once - might as well be a fantasy place inspired by Japan / Ashina Clan ; with that said, who are the red people attacking Ashina at the end? Is it...Date perhaps? ; Ashina Clan in Sekiro doesn't even use the real Ashina Crest / Badge, while EVERYONE in Nioh uses their respective Crests)

Nioh is longer and larger

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Overall, it's well worth the sale price if only to try it. I wouldn't play it without Fling trainer though, the grind elements get ridiculous without it.

[Blazing]

If you needed to grind to beat the base game in Nioh, then you were doing something wrong tbh.

[Gorwe]

Publicado originalmente por Blazing:

If you needed to grind to beat the base game in Nioh, then you were doing something wrong tbh.

First, you even suggest it should be done by saying "base game". Second, I hate feeling inefficient and like I'm jumping through motions. Things can still flatten you, it's just that you get a leg up and it actually becomes quite fair.

Though one needs to be aware that Nioh DOES have that side, unlike traditional Souls games. Or, heaven forbid, Sekiro which don't have that side at all lol.

[PlutonArioch]

Publicado originalmente por Gorwe:

Nioh is faster, but somewhat less technical than Sekiro(don't dismiss it though)

Fast is not bad, less technical though... means button mashing is viable? That would be bad. I mean I have seen people mash buttons in Souls and Sekiro, but usually that gets you killed. I like it when games discourage mashing.

Publicado originalmente por Gorwe:

Nioh has a LOT of RPG elements ; you can simply outlevel challenges to a point

Which I probably wont do. Not intentionally anyways. But does that also mean that challenges can outlevel you? To the point that you can run into something that you can not kill at low level, but which will be easy once you leveled up? I always liked how in Souls games your own skill is more important than the level of your character.

Publicado originalmente por Gorwe:

Nioh has almost linear levels, mostly due to a lack of a real jump function(let alone grappling hook) ; while at it , it has LEVELS, NOT a WORLD like Sekiro

I do prefer a connected world, but seperated levels are not a deal breaker.

Publicado originalmente por Gorwe:

Nioh allows you to get ridiculously powerful, you can almost one shot bosses

All of them? Only with lots of grind though right?

Publicado originalmente por Gorwe:

Nioh has much more build flexibility, on par with the best of Souls, if not more

Ok, flexibility is good, but... Can I choose a weapon at the start(or early in the game at least), and finish the game with the same weapon, or do I need to switch to "better" gear to keep up?

Publicado originalmente por Gorwe:

Nioh also has RNG loot like Diablo, should that concern you

That only concerns me in so far as most loot focused games (like diablo and borderlands etc) require constant equipment switching so you keep doing the same ammount of damage (percentage wise) to your opponents. I hate being forced to switch my gear.

Publicado originalmente por Gorwe:

Nioh is like a mix of Fantasy and Real History(think Warhammer) while Sekiro is more like a fairytale of sorts - a lot can be said about this point:

To be honest I don't care much about how much history and how much fantasy is involved. As long as the in game world building is good, I will take a full on historic setting just as well as a full on fantasy setting, or any mix between. I do like Warhammer though...
And regardless of the fantasy/history mix, story and lore are important to me, so is it any good? Or full of plot holes, inconsistencies, or nonsense, because who cares... besides me? And is it in my face, with constant cutscenes and exposition dialogue, or are there things I can discover and figure out on my own?

Publicado originalmente por Gorwe:

Nioh is longer and larger

Its not the size that matters....
Ah well, for some people it is I guess ^^

Publicado originalmente por Gorwe:

Overall, it's well worth the sale price if only to try it. I wouldn't play it without Fling trainer though, the grind elements get ridiculous without it.

Well, I might give it a try on a deep sale. Not interested in the trainer though. Is the grind necessary? Or just for convenience? Necessary grind could be a big dealbreaker, because I will stop playing a game the instant I have to grind.

Then again some people say you need to grind in dark souls, and I never had to grind there. I thought for a bit I might have to when I first started, but I soon realised I had just misunderstood it. Half the Elite Dangerous forum is full of people saying "this game is just grind and nothing else", and I had two evenings of grind by my own choice, out of years and many hundreds of hours of playtime... So maybe its not very reliable what certain people say about grind...

[Blazing]

Publicado originalmente por Gorwe:

Publicado originalmente por Blazing:

If you needed to grind to beat the base game in Nioh, then you were doing something wrong tbh.

First, you even suggest it should be done by saying "base game". Second, I hate feeling inefficient and like I'm jumping through motions. Things can still flatten you, it's just that you get a leg up and it actually becomes quite fair.

Though one needs to be aware that Nioh DOES have that side, unlike traditional Souls games. Or, heaven forbid, Sekiro which don't have that side at all lol.

I mentioned base game, as the DLC is much more difficult and is likely intended to be done in NG+. Therefore, if you were to start it straight away after beating the final boss, you would probably feel that way.

I do not mean disrespect, you may play the game as you like - but to say one needs to grind, or even use cheats, is false. Especially in your first run, the game is quite fair. The later ones, though... probably not - but that is exactly what makes the game interesting for players that beat the game already, as it's not that interesting to play a game that gets easier instead of harder - as this is my experience with subsequent runs (NG+,NG+,...) in DS and Sekiro.

I would like to provide a real example of a person who thought Dark Souls 1 was unfair too, because he/she didn't hit hard enough - and this person ended up giving themselves max level, simply for NG. The experience was completely lost on this person, as he didn't even like the game, and I feel like you're, to a lesser extent, suggesting someone else to do this.

TL;DR: Play however you want, but don't tell people to cheat.

[Gorwe]

Any more comments?