Nioh 3 adds another historical period for players to venture to
Koei Tecmo have announced that in Nioh 3, in addition to visiting the Edo, Sengoku, and Heian periods, players will also get to visit the Bakumatsu period, the final era of the Samurai.
This period is set around the 1800s in Kyoto and will feature iconic landmarks to the region like the Kiyomizu and Honnoji Temples, though they have been taken over by the Crucible’s influence. In addition to encountering new and fearsome yokai, players will also face the Shinsengumi, a military squad that serves the shogunate. Shinsengumi troops are challenging foes equipped with modern weaponry such as firearms and gatling guns, delivering a combination of ranged and multi-directional attacks - a first in the history of the Nioh series.
During their journey, players will encounter a new cast of distinctive characters unique to each time period. For the Bakumatsu-era Kyoto, protagonist Takechiyo Tokugawa will meet Takasugi Shinsaku, Okita Soji, and Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the 15th shogun of the Edo shogunate.
Takasugi Shinsaku
A loyalist hailing from Choshu (modern-day Yamaguchi prefecture).
He was an exceedingly dynamic man, being said to "move like lightning and appear like a sudden storm," and he led a group of loyalist shock troopers known as the Kiheitai. Very talented in combat, he used the latest handguns and Yagyu Shinkage school sword techniques.
Tokugawa Yoshinobu
Tokugawa Yoshinobu was born into the Mito Tokugawa clan, which was one of the three main branches of the Tokugawa, before later being adopted by the Hitotsubashi. He went on to become the 15th shogun of the Edo shogunate.
It is said that Yoshinobu excelled in both academics and martial arts, including shuriken-throwing, and even fought on the frontlines during the Kinmon Incident.
He carried a pocket watch and had a fondness for Western culture, even studying photography and Western painting techniques. He was very open to the innovative policies he learned of from foreigners, and this quality of his was embraced even by those who sought to overthrow the shogunate.
Okita Soji
Okita Soji was the captain of the Shinsengumi's First Squad.
He was also old friends with the Shinsengumi's commander, Kondo Isami, and vice commander, Hijikata Toshizo. His sword skills were unparalleled among the Shinsengumi, and loyalists feared him for his incredible swordsmanship. After becoming head of the Shinsengumi, he fought against the loyalists with a coldness brought about by his heavy burden of responsibility and restlessness that comes with leading troops.
Nioh 3 will release on February 6 for PC and PlayStation 5. For those who will be playing on PC, the specs have been listed for the game on Steam.
