Nioh Collection review – rediscovering Nioh and Nioh 2 in 4K HD

As the next-gen upgrade to the Nioh games, we decided to review the Nioh Collection and how it stacks up against the originals.

The Nioh Collection is a bundle of Nioh Remastered – The Complete Edition and Nioh 2 Remastered – The Complete Edition. As these are two separate games, this review will not focus on the story of the Nioh Collection. We will cover the differences and changes between the original PS4 games and the PS5 versions from the Nioh Collection. If you are interested in the story or gameplay mechanics, check out our review of Nioh 2 instead.

This is our review of the Nioh Collection on the PS5.

Graphics

The original Nioh and Nioh 2 on the PS4 support two different graphic modes, action mode and movie mode. The former focuses more on better frame rates while the latter supports higher-quality graphics.

However, the Nioh Collection allows players to choose from three different modes. There is the 4K mode, 120 FPS mode and PS5 Console Standard Mode. Obviously, the 4K mode and 120 FPS mode require monitors which support 4K HD and the necessary frame rate.

Note that the 120 FPS mode captures quality in 1080p resolution. The PS5 Console Standard mode is somewhat of a middle option between the other two modes, offering a balance between graphics and performance. Also, when taking in-game screenshots, the game will switch to 4K mode.

When comparing the graphics between the original Nioh and its equivalent in the collection, it is crystal clear that the PS5 version is vastly superior. When playing in both 4K and Console Standard Modes, your character model and environments have much greater detail. Shadows also appear a lot more life-like and realistic. However, do note that the 120 FPS mode is about the same graphics-wise as the original on the PS4.

For Nioh 2, the difference is not as obvious. Considering that the original Nioh 2 released just last year, the improvement in graphics is somewhat minimal.

Load times

By far, this is the greatest improvement in the Nioh Collection. The PS5’s high-speed SSD was definitely put to good use.

When we timed how long loading would take in the original, it takes about 15 seconds for a level to completely load. Note that this is just an average as different levels also have different load times. Also, this was tested on a PS4, not a PS4 Pro, so hardware is also another factor that affects load times.

In comparison to 15 seconds, the PS5 version will not take more than 3 seconds to load any level. The difference is like night and day. Upon pressing a button, the screen turns black. One would expect that a loading screen will pop up, but instead, the level already loaded. As a result, some of the loading screens with level descriptions disappear entirely and is replaced by a quick black screen.

Furthermore, the load times when respawning after death has drastically reduced. The PS5 version only takes 1 second to load each time we die which is perfect for players who tend to die a lot. Great news for speedrunners looking to perfect their craft!

Controllers

Another cool feature is how the PS5 DualSense controllers feel when playing the game. The adaptive trigger capabilities of the controller are clearly felt when using the R2 and L2 buttons.

Thus, archery feels a lot better with the PS5 version. The weight of pulling a bow feels apparent. Even the weight of the trigger of a gun feels realistic. For those who prefer feeling the sensation of a blade slicing through soft flesh, there is also stronger feedback from the controller while doing just that. As a result, overall immersion is greatly enhanced.

While this feature is very neat, some players may not prefer to feel the adaptive triggers at work every time. Playing the game for extended hours can cause finger fatigue after all. Thankfully, players can turn off this feature or adjust the degree of feedback in the options settings.

Closing

Overall, playing the Nioh Collection on the PS5 is a more enjoyable experience than playing the original two games on the PS4. New and returning players should definitely consider the Nioh Collection.

Furthermore, the Nioh Collection allows players to transfer their data from the PS4 to PS5. As such, even if you do not own the PS5, you can purchase the collection and upgrade to the PS5 version for free should you ever decide to buy the console.

You can get the Nioh Collection on the PlayStation Store.