Nioh
PS4, Sony, cert: 18
★★★★
Japan’s war-torn Sengoku period is brought to life in this lighting-fast action RPG. A British sailor, William Adams, washes up on the shores of Japan after chasing an enemy halfway around the world. All that stands between him and his target is a horde of Yokai – demons summoned by the war’s bloodshed.
Nioh plays like a dream, with swift and challenging combat, while William has a diverse range of skills, gear and combat styles, and the environment can be changed during play by the Yokai. In areas they infest, for example, William’s stamina does not replenish.
Nioh is clearly aiming for the same market as Dark Souls or Bloodborne, with very similar core design and difficulty, but the twist on that formula is a greater emphasis on RPG elements such as random gear drops and character perks. The overall experience is satisfying for the most part, marred somewhat by a generic storyline and the bloated gear system that drags the action away from swordplay too often. PH
Sniper Elite 4
PC/PS4/Xbox One, Rebellion Developments, cert: 16
★★★★
Over the years, the Sniper Elite series has achieved cult fame thanks to solid stealth combat in a gleefully, pulpy reimagining of the second world war. Questionable enemy AI and underwhelming level design have haunted previous titles, but the challenge of playing as a scout-sniper has generally been so entertaining as to render such gripes mostly trivial.
Sniper Elite 4 aims to raise the bar. Set during the 1943-45 Italian campaign, players sneak through an impressive collection of huge maps populated with significantly smarter enemies. Hanging around in any spot for too long will almost always invite hails of angry gunfire. The infamous x-ray kill-cam also makes a welcome return, once again showing all the gruesome damage caused to bad guys’ insides by well-placed shots.
Fans of stealth action will find plenty to love here, regardless of a few rougher graphical edges that are now part of the franchise identity. SR
Siegecraft Commander
PS4, Xbox One, PC, Blowfish Studios, cert: 16
★★★
Across the gamut of real-time strategy games, which see players meticulously expanding settlements and commanding units on a battlefield, there’s a tendency toward immense complexity. The best in the genre sing when they are most intricate, but often put off players keen on the concept but not the dedication required.
Siegecraft Commander comes as something of an answer to the problem. It offers a streamlined RTS game that remains faithful to the genre. Borrowing mechanics from action strategy games such as Worms, and seasoned with the design theory behind the best mobile tower defence titles, it’s captivating and accessible. Presented in a cartoonish homage to fantasy fiction, Siegecraft Commander certainly feels like an RTS, and its snappy gameplay offers a distinctive task for budding armchair generals.
The console controls are a little cumbersome, and the strategising soon feels repetitive. A solid online mode keeps things fresh, however, and while it lasts, Siegecraft Commander should satisfy the whims of any RTS player seeking a less convoluted experience. WF
