History VideoGame / Nioh

Notably, ''Nioh'' has an unquestionably long development cycle, having been announced since '''2004''', making this one of the longest Japanese-developed games.[[note]]In fact its only beaten by the infamous VideoGame/DukeNukemForever for having the longest development cycle of all time. Though unlike that game it was never actually cancelled at any point.[[/note]] ''Nioh'' was released worldwide on Feburary 7, 2017 for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation4. A PC version was later announced in October of that same year for release on November 7.

At [[UsefulNotes/ElectronicEntertainmentExpo E3 2018]], a new game entitled ''VideoGame/Nioh2'' was announced. [[https://www.polygon.com/2019/5/22/18636322/nioh-2-alpha-test-ps4-dates New gameplay]] [[https://gematsu.com/2019/05/nioh-2-closed-alpha-test-set-for-may-24-to-june-2-gameplay-trailer trailers]] were released in May 2019 ahead of a closed alpha test. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiOEeq1LkrU The TGS 2019 trailer]] also revealed that the game is a {{Prequel}}, featuring UsefulNotes/ToyotomiHideyoshi in his youth (including his time when he was known as Kinoshita Tokichiro) during his service under the younger UsefulNotes/OdaNobunaga. It was released world wide on March 13th, 2020. A UsefulNotes/Playstation5 version, as part of a collection with ''Nioh 2'', was released on February 5th, 2021, with 120 FPS support. Received a SpiritualSuccessor in 2023 called ''VideoGame/WoLongFallenDynasty''.

''Nioh'' (from 仁王 - "two Deva kings", a pair of divine protectors of Buddhist temples), formerly known as ''Ni-Oh'', is a 2017 HackAndSlash ActionRPG for the Sony UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 and PC developed by Team Ninja (makers of ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive'' and ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden'') and published by Creator/SonyInteractiveEntertainment worldwide for the [=PlayStation=] 4 and Creator/KoeiTecmo in Japan for the [=PS4=] and worldwide on PC. Loosely based on an unfinished Creator/AkiraKurosawa screenplay and set in the [[JidaiGeki Sengoku period of 16th century Japan]], players take on the role of an Irish-born English samurai named William Adams as he combats against human and supernatural foes from Japanese folklore, such as {{Oni}}.

** The real-life William Adams was a regular sailor in the Royal Navy, not a pirate; though granted, he served chiefly under [[{{UsefulNotes/SirFrancisDrake}} Sir Francis Drake]], so the distinction might be pretty blurry.

* BonusBoss: [[spoiler: An ancestor of the [[VideoGame/NinjaGaiden Hayabusa]] ninja clan. Notably he completely plays straight the otherwise-heavily averted MyRulesAreNotYourRules by having access to attacks and ninjutsu straight from that game, meaning he can pull off feats of agility, magic, and swordsmanship that are completely impossible for a player to ever match.]]

Notably, ''Nioh'' has an unquestionably long development cycle, having been announced since '''2004''', making this one of the longest Japanese-developed games. ''Nioh'' was released worldwide on Feburary 7, 2017 for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation4. A PC version was later announced in October of that same year for release on November 7.

* MoneyIsExperiencePoints: Amrita is used for both leveling up and buying items.

** This isn't the first time Creator/ToshiyukiMorikawa [[Franchise/{{Naruto}} has voiced a]] {{Ninja}} [[LightNovel/NinjaSlayer before]].

* AluminumChristmasTrees: There actually was a white samurai named William Adams, who was in fact the first European to ever be made a samurai by the Shogun. In fact, he was a pure blooded Englishman, and [[RaceLift him being made Irish for the game is the fictional part]]. The same happens with Yasuke -- who was in fact a real person, the first recorded non-Japanese samurai, [[BlackVikings from Africa]].
** During the first time meeting Hattori Hanzo, Hanzo pulls out a cat to check its eyes, remarking on the time. And yes, [[https://www.nwf.org/en/Magazines/National-Wildlife/1991/How-to-Tell-Time-by-a-Cat-s-Eye this is actually a thing]], though it relates more to how much light is available than the actual time.

At [[UsefulNotes/ElectronicEntertainmentExpo E3 2018]], a new game entitled ''VideoGame/Nioh2'' was announced. [[https://www.polygon.com/2019/5/22/18636322/nioh-2-alpha-test-ps4-dates New gameplay]] [[https://gematsu.com/2019/05/nioh-2-closed-alpha-test-set-for-may-24-to-june-2-gameplay-trailer trailers]] were released in May 2019 ahead of a closed alpha test. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiOEeq1LkrU The TGS 2019 trailer]] also revealed that the game is a {{Prequel}}, featuring UsefulNotes/ToyotomiHideyoshi in his youth (including his time when he was known as Kinoshita Tokichiro) during his service under the younger UsefulNotes/OdaNobunaga. It was released world wide on March 13th, 2020. A UsefulNotes/Playstation5 version, as part of a collection with ''Nioh 2'', was released on February 5th, 2021, with 120 FPS support.

* {{Fanservice}}: While nowhere near the levels found in [[VideoGame/DeadOrAlive other]] Team Ninja developed games, their signature fanservice touch can still be found here, some women and female demons wear some exotic spins of clothing found in the Sengoku period, showing more skin than any women from those times would be allowed to flaunt. Being mutated hellspawn and all, the overall degree of {{Fanservice}} regarding them tends to be at the [[UncannyValley low]] [[BodyHorror end]] [[NightmareFuel of the]] [[FanDisservice scale]].

* StarCrossedLovers: Okatsu and William fall in love over the course of the story, but with [[spoiler: William's FakingTheDead, and Okatsu choosing to stay loyal to Ieyasu (who is now implicitly an enemy of William due to the reason for aforementioned FakingTheDead), rather than follow William, any possible relationship they might have had ended before it ever began.]]

** Kobayakawa Hideaki is a petty schemer whose Kingo's set and Guardian Spirit all focus on backstabbing and killing strike damage.

** {{InvertedTrope Inverted}} with [[spoiler: Ieyasu's double]]. The lack of a Guardian Spirit tip William off that the man before him is just a "pretentious little prick" and not the real deal.

At [[UsefulNotes/ElectronicEntertainmentExpo E3 2018]], a new game entitled ''VideoGame/Nioh2'' was announced. [[https://www.polygon.com/2019/5/22/18636322/nioh-2-alpha-test-ps4-dates New gameplay]] [[https://gematsu.com/2019/05/nioh-2-closed-alpha-test-set-for-may-24-to-june-2-gameplay-trailer trailers]] were released in May 2019 ahead of a closed alpha test. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiOEeq1LkrU The TGS 2019 trailer]] also revealed that the game is a {{Prequel}}, featuring UsefulNotes/ToyotomiHideyoshi in his youth (including his time when he was known as Kinoshita Tokichiro) during his service under the younger UsefulNotes/OdaNobunaga. It was released world wide on March 13th, 2020. A UsefulNotes/Playstation5 version, as part of a collection with Nioh 2, is slated to be released on February 5th, 2021, with 120 FPS support.

* StandardStatusEffects: Ehhh, kind of. A few status effects are quite obvious, but others aren't, especially as the names given may not explain their respective element.

* StarCrossedLovers: Okatsu and William fall in love over the course of the story, but with [[spoiler: William's FakingTheDead, and Okatsu choosing to stay loyal to Ieyasu (who is now implicitly an enemy of William due to the reason for aforementioned FakingTheDead), rather than follow William, any possible relationship they might have had ended before it ever began.]]

** During the first time meeting Hattori Hanzo, Hanzo pulls out a cat to check it's eyes, remarking on the time. And yes, [[https://www.nwf.org/en/Magazines/National-Wildlife/1991/How-to-Tell-Time-by-a-Cat-s-Eye this is actually a thing]], though it relates more to how much light is available than the actual time.

** There is a small explanation of the Shinto belief that all things in the world, living and non, possess their own spirits. It is implied in this explanation that the familiarity gauge is not a measure of William becoming more used to that weapon, but of the weapon's spirit becoming more fond of William and sharing it's power with him.

* FinishingMove: If an enemy in on low health and it's Ki is depleted and they're on low health you normally have the option to preform one of these; it varies on the weapon you have equiped.

* ResetButton: Visiting a shrine regenerates lost {{Hit Point}}s, and certain consumables but also [[RespawningEnemies respawns almost all non-boss enemies]]. [[note]][[BeefGate Fog Gates]], [[BossInMooksClothing Revenants]], [[MookMaker Biwa-Boku-Boku]], [[LivingStatue Sentries]], and [[MetalSlime Kappa]]) stay dead)[[/note]]

''Nioh'' (from 仁王 - "two Deva kings", a pair of divine protectors of Buddhist temples), formerly known as ''Ni-Oh'', is a 2017 HackAndSlash ActionRPG for the Sony UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 and PC developed by Team Ninja (makers of ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive'' and ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden'') and published by Creator/SonyInteractiveEntertainment worldwide for the [=PlayStation=] 4 and Creator/KoeiTecmo in Japan for the [=PS4=] and worldwide on PC. Set in the [[JidaiGeki Sengoku period of 16th century Japan]], players take on the role of an Irish-born English samurai named William Adams as he combats against human and supernatural foes from Japanese folklore, such as {{Oni}}.