Team Ninja has announced the beta for Nioh will be available to download and play on the PlayStation 4 from August 23. The demo will be available until September 6.
An alpha demo was previously available for a short period. For the beta, Team Ninja has added a new dojo stage that features “an intense training session which teaches the basics of Nioh’s samurai combat.”
Additionally, players will also be able to explore another stage that has not yet been revealed.
“A selection of new katana, spears, axes, and hammers will be available to collect to uniquely suit a player’s gameplay style. Players will also be able to add a few new weapons to their arsenal as well,” publisher Koei Tecmo added in a post on the PlayStation Blog.
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The post also features some story details for Nioh. The game’s main character is William Adams, and he travels to Japan to become a samurai.
“Players will discover a deep and enticing world that blends history and Japanese folklore. The tough gameplay pits players against daunting and overpowering creatures, and encourages them to learn their enemies’ tactics to gain the advantage in battle.
“The protagonist, William, is not alone against the perilous Yokai, as he will be accompanied by a diverse cast of characters who will aid him on his travels across Japan. Hanzo Hattori, the head of a famous ninja clan, is William’s guide through the country. Ginchiyo Tachibana (wife of Muneshige, the head of the Tachibana clan) will also help William on his quest with her skilled fighting abilities.”
Nioh releases exclusively for the PS4 later this year. GameSpot put together a video where we compared the Nioh alpha demo to this year’s Dark Souls III. You can find out if Nioh is more hardcore than Dark Souls here.