Perhaps the earlier-released Nioh has been overshadowed in recent months by much of the buzz Sekiro has been consolidating, especially after winning the award as Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2019. But history enthusiasts of Japanese mythology and fans of Souls-type games should still give Nioh a whirl, especially given that its sequel, Nioh 2, is due for release shortly. Others may just need a little refresher.
Background Setting
Nioh is set in a fictional dark-fantasy version of Japan in the Sengoku Period of the year 1600, and Nioh's protagonist is William, an Irish sailor turned Samurai. When William was contracted by Spain's Queen Elizabeth I to obtain golden Amrita stones to import from Japan, he was caught by England and imprisoned in order to keep these ambitions a secret, as they turned out to be closely related to the war efforts between England and Spain, without his knowledge.
After breaking out of his London jail cell, with the help of Saoirse, a water spirit that has accompanied him since childhood, he runs into Edward Kelley, another individual also after Japan's Amrita stones. Kelley uses a special dragon spirit, known as Ouroboros, to take Saoirse, and use her powers in Japan. Saoirse has her uses, in her ability to track down the much sought after Amrita.
Of course, as it turns out, Amrita stones have special powers and both England and Spain are trying to obtain mass amounts of it to defeat each other in war. These stones has the power to bring the dead back to life and give humans super-powers by turning them into demons.
Onward to Japan
William sets off on a journey to Japan to save his dear Saoirse from Edward Kelley, but ends up finding himself amid an internal conflict that is also transpiring within Japan. For centuries, there has been a war between family dynasties attempting to consolidate supreme power.
But the English and Spanish missionaries in Japan also had their role in the conflict, using the Amrita's powers to cause civil unrest in the region, while the two countries could exploit the situation and export Amrita to Europe to bankroll their own war efforts against each other there, bringing the dead back to life to fight on their behalf.
Meanwhile, Edward Kelley turns out to be a sorcerer, and attempts to use Amrita to bring back an infamous warlord named Oda, in order to cripple Japan to a standstill, and easily obtain large quantities of Amrita for Spain. It would be enough that it would give England a disproportionately powerful advantage in comparison to the Amrita supplies that Spain currently had.
William Decides to Help Japan
However, his plans are foiled as William comes looking to reclaim his water spirit, Saoirse, from him and seek revenge. During this time, William sympathizes with the local victims of the conflict and decides that his responsibility must be expanded beyond the personal matters, and he sets out to help end this conflict, as well as the foreign interference between Spain and England which is fueling it.
Along the way, William meets Nekomata, who helps him and explains the backstory of the war to him. William's efforts in fighting evil spirits and saving important individuals gives him favor among Tokugawa leyasu, the founder of the first shogun. Given Tokugawa's rise in power as a result, another warlord, Mitsunari sides with Kelley to try and offset his power gains. But William learns that Tokugawa himself is not very innocent, having killed off much of his family to consolidate his own role as leader.
Meanwhile, Mitsunari and Kelley revive plenty of evil dead family members of Oda to try and stop William, and other historical figures of an aggressive nature, with the help of two people he befriends, Hattori and Tenkai. And at the same time, William breaks with his own fragile alliances, saving one of Tokugawa's daughters his wrath, as she herself is on the run from him, and is no fan of how her father consolidated power among the family dynasty.
The Final Showdown and Nioh's Ending
Eventually, William corners Kelley in his hideout, and after failed attempts at stopping William, he is killed. But not before revealing to William that he was really sending Amrita stones to his master in England, John Dee.
Finally reunited with Saoirse, William decides he is done risking his life with these death defying adventures, and fakes his own death so that Tokugawa will not try to assassinate him.
Meanwhile, Tokugawa establishes total control of Japan, as Mitsunari and Kelley are defeated and no longer pose a threat to his rule. This sets the Edo period in Japan. A few years later, back in England, William confronts Kelley's master, Dee. Dee offers William the opportunity to join him in an alliance to help England seek out a total conquest after Queen Elizabeth I's death, but refuses. Inside Dee's secret tower, he reveals large quantities of Amrita stored there, and Dee absorbs their powers, turning into a monstrosity called Hundred Eyes.
After William defeats Dee, he chose not to kill him, but instead blinded him and severed his magical abilities. But before his departure, he obtains a vision from one of Dee's magical orbs,visualizing the death of his old friend Hattori back in Japan. This gives William reason to return to Japan, and this is where the game ends.
Summary in a Nutshell
To summarize it all in a nutshell, Kelley wanted to resurrect the warlord Oda to create great conflict in Japan, so that its Amrita stones could be taken from under their noses to defeat Spain. But Kelley picked the wrong man, William, to steal a spirit from to help him track down Amrita in Japan's state of chaos and lawlessness. In a story of revenge, William follows Kelley to Japan, kills him and his evil master, Dee, reclaims his spirit, and all while choosing the lesser of evils and most viable warlord to partner himself with in order to end Japan's bloody war.
In digesting the events of Japan's fictional dark-fantasy take on history and the civil strife of the year 1600, fans should be ready for Nioh 2, set for release this March. The sequel will actually be a prequel, set in the 1500s, and its protagonist will be a character which fans can create. Its story will focus on a historical warlord known as Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and will focus on initiatives to unify a divided Japan amidst ongoing factional war.
Nioh 2 is in development and is set for release on March 13, 2020 on PS4.