Awesome / Nioh

Base Game

• William's potential and what's possible with it. Think about it:
  • If he wants to be a skilled and badass Samurai? He's got it!
  • He wants to wield Japanese magic and master their style of Arcane arts? He's got it!
  • He wants to be a Ninja?! He's. Got. It.
• The "Greater Demon Hunting" Sub Mission sends you to the edge of the Sanzu River to pit you against an Onryoki, which was the first demon you'll actually faced. However, this time it's much stronger and faster than ever, likely taking you out in just two hits. However, should you persevere to lower its health down enough, you'll suddenly hear the boisterous laughter of none other than Sakata Kintoki, as he comes back from the freaking dead to fight alongside you, and potentially carrying your ass for the remainder of the fight!
• Finally meeting Ieyasu in person, the game makes the effort to show why Tokugawa Ieyasu is the most respected and praised of the three unifiers of Japan: alongside his Guardian Spirit, William can see a smothering cloud of miasma clinging to Ieyasu, the embodiment of all the ruthless decisions Ieyasu's had to make to get to this point.
  William: There's no way a normal man could take this. It seems he's the real thing.
  • Ieyasu follows this up by being the first person to actually shake William; who's been largely apathetic of Japan's affairs, slaying demons like it's normal, and only interested in rescuing Saoirse; with a simple question.
    Tokugawa Ieyasu: "I suspect villains will keep coming for Amrita, and your Guardian Spirit, so long as there is war. [William]... Do you think a world without war is possible? [...] I am building one. It will not be easy, but I am dedicate body and soul to the task. Why do you slay the fiends? What drives you?"
• The climax of The Defiled Castle - Okatsu has been taken hostage by Kelley, demanding that Ieyasu turn himself over in exchange for her, taunting his initial refusal by saying "So you don't care what happens to her?" Ieyasu replies "No." Knowing her father's telling the truth, Okatsu frees herself by kicking over her own head to launch a kunai point-blank at Kelley, which he barely avoids.
• Torii Mototada's Heroic Sacrifice, accompanied by The Reveal of his Guardian Spirit's true form, Suzaku. After being built up as just a Grumpy Old Man with a big ego, he forces William to leave him to his fate, hellbent on taking as much of Ishida's army with him before he dies.
  Torii Mototada: You aren't coming with me to hell this day, Anjin! They are!
• The Gasha-Dokuro may be a horrifying monstrosity, but the buildup and the process of turning the tables are nothing less than epic. By purifying the giant corrupted Amrita crystals, you start to take back the advantage as the patches of corruption become purity, dispelling any Yokai Realms and draining the demon's Ki try to create should you fight near these!
  • The fight with the monster itself fulfills the power fantasy to a T. With a larger number of patches of purity now surrounding the boss arena, you now have a new unexpected advantage: permanently staying in Living Weapon mode! By staying in the purity, your Living Weapon Gauge instead slowly fills back up while active, allowing you to punish the Gasha-Dokuro with impunity! And for icing on the victory cake, anyone savvy in matters Yokai will know that according to the legends, Gasha-Dokuro are completely invincible. He's battled mighty Yokai before, all laudable feats, but in killing the Gasha-Dokuro, William has done the impossible.
• Completing "The Two Kings: Nioh". William faces off against both Muneshige and Tadakatsu and after a grueling fight emerges victorious proving he may well be the greatest warrior in all of Japan. Even Hanzo can scarcely believe it.
• Nobunaga telling Kelley to go screw himself, sending the sorcerer into a Villainous Breakdown.
• In the final boss battle in the main story mission, William has to follow in Susano-o's footsteps and cut down the legendary Yamata-No-Orochi.
• The Coup de Grâce Cutscene against Kelley: as he lies defeated, Uroburos tries one final lunge at William...who impales them both with a single thrust.

Downloadable Content

• The opening moments of the Defiant Honor expansion:
  • Picking up where Dragon of the North left off with Maria trying to tempt Sanada Yukimura with Amrita, Yukimura defies expectations and straight up refuses, even as she tries to appeal to his kindness for his men.
    Sanada Yukimura: "There is no honor in war fought with the spirit stones."
  • After Sanada's refusal, Maria then immediately turns her attention to Sarutobi Sasuke. Like his master, Sasuke refuses. Unlike Yukimura, he does so by silently giving her a chilling Death Glare.
• The finale of Bloodshed's End. William and Yukimura fighting against the Nine-Tailed Fox, together, on top of a demonic hellscape at the peak of Osaka Castle whilst the Theme of Nioh plays in the background.
• After the events of Bloodshed's End, you unlock a new mission: "The Master Ninja", in which you fight none other than Jin Hayabusa, complete with an entirely unique moveset where he uses attacks and ninpo from Ninja Gaiden. Holy shit, he does not go easy on you!