Nioh: Defiant Honour DLC

How pleasing that developer Team Ninja’s samurai action game is able to continue its brutal challenge with this latest expansion, Defiant Honour, focusing on the winter siege of Osaka Castle. The original was a majestic title, and while some DLC is of little value, this is a more than welcome addition. The mission to take the castle makes liberal use of ranged hazards such as cannon fire and a storm of arrows, which will likely be divisive among players, but the task never feels unfair. The boss fights, in turn, mostly consist of one-on-one duels with various historical figures, and these encounters offer tense battles of attrition, but sadly the more elaborate “Yokai” demon boss designs are absent.

There are some new enemies to keep things fresh – ninja dogs being the highlight – with the new “tonfa” weapons rounding out the package and extending the longevity of an already impressive game. The most remarkable thing about Nioh’s add-on content, however, is that despite countless deaths it still compels players to carry on. As such, be wary of the high-level requirement before taking the plunge. As excellent as Defiant Honour is, it will reward diehards the most.

Nioh: Defiant Honour DLC

How pleasing that developer Team Ninjas samurai action game is able to continue its brutal challenge with this latest expansion, Defiant Honour, focusing on the winter siege of Osaka Castle. The original was a majestic title, and while some DLC is of little value, this is a more than welcome addition. The mission to take the castle makes liberal use of ranged hazards such as cannon fire and a storm of arrows, which will likely be divisive among players, but the task never feels unfair. The boss fights, in turn, mostly consist of one-on-one duels with various historical figures, and these encounters offer tense battles of attrition, but sadly the more elaborate Yokai demon boss designs are absent. There are some new enemies to keep things fresh ninja dogs being the highlight with the new tonfa weapons rounding out the package and extending the longevity of an already impressive game. The most remarkable thing about Niohs add-on content, however, is that despite countless deaths it still compels players to carry on. As such, be wary of the high-level requirement before taking the plunge. As excellent as Defiant Honour is, it will reward diehards the most.