>>712520342
Alright, and let's now reverse your question
>Does Nioh borrow as much from Diablo in terms of combat mechanics as it borrows from Dark Souls in terms of gameplay structure? Is the overall "influence" of one franchise greater than the other?
Short Answer: Nioh borrows far more heavily from Dark Souls in terms of overall influence—especially structure, level design, pacing, and combat tension—than it does from Diablo, which influences it more in terms of loot systems and RPG elements rather than core combat mechanics.
Detailed Comparison:
Dark Souls Influence (very strong):
Gameplay Structure:
Level-based exploration with shortcuts, checkpoints (shrines), and challenging enemy placement mirrors Soulsborne design.
Stamina-based combat, slow and deliberate, with significant weight behind each attack/block/dodge.
Death mechanics: You drop your experience ("Amrita" in Nioh), similar to Souls’ souls mechanic, and must retrieve it or lose it.
Enemy and boss design: Emphasis on pattern recognition, punishing mistakes, and tactical patience.
Atmosphere and difficulty: High-stakes encounters, oppressive tone, methodical pacing—all very Souls-like.
Diablo Influence (moderate):
Loot System:
Nioh adopts a very Diablo-like randomized loot system: color-coded gear rarity, affix rolls, item farming, and deep build customization.
Massive gear variety and grind-heavy endgame are Diablo-style staples.
Combat Pacing:
Unlike Diablo’s click-spam real-time action or screen-clearing AoEs, Nioh’s combat is precise and timing-focused like Souls, not like Diablo.
Skill Trees and Builds:
Nioh does share some DNA with action-RPGs like Diablo here—offering diverse skill trees, stat builds, and the option to respec and optimize character builds for efficiency.
