The Three Samurai.

Nioh 2, Sekiro, Tsushima. At this year’s E3 press conference, developers showcased their latest games to the world. While Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was featured at the Microsoft conference, Ghost of Tsushima and Nioh 2 were both showcased at the Sony event. All three tell a similar tale – the ancient battles in an eastern land featuring a samurai warrior. However, with the development teams being different for each, all three will offer a much different experience.

Nioh, one of the most successful titles of last year, based its roots heavily on the formula of Dark Souls. You take souls (Amrita), but you also lose them if you die. What separates it from Dark Souls is its streamlined, level select style of play over an overworld. Moreover, the ability to change stance offered a newfound level of depth not seen in games of its kind. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is From Software’s latest title. The developers of Bloodborne and Dark Souls have chosen to take their next game to an eastern land.

Lastly, Ghost of Tsushima is being developed by Sucker Punch Studios. The makers of the Sly Cooper series and Infamous, this tale takes a different take, playing similarly to an Assassin’s Creed game in its footage. Check below to learn more about the three games.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Perhaps the most prolific title in this list is Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Under their belt, From Software has developed multiple games. Several of them won Game of the Year awards. Demon’s Souls, Bloodborne, and the Dark Souls trilogy have all received extremely high reviews and sold millions of copies.

After previously showing a teaser of Sekiro back in December, all eyes are on From Software’s latest title. That being said, Sekiro delivers a completely different experience than anything we’ve played.

While Dark Souls is based in medieval fantasy and Bloodborne has a victorian flair, Sekiro has you fighting in a Japan-themed world. Bloodborne told the stories of Hunters, who dual-wielded blades and fired guns. The combat was more aggressive and you could not block attacks. You had to remain aggressive, dodge the enemy, and keep the pressure on your foes. Sekiro takes that to another level with its fast-paced, visceral gameplay.

Your character is scene barely surviving, his arm sliced clean off by a rival foe. You’ll see him engaging in battle, unleashing strong, yet stylish attacks, and traveling via grappling hook through palaces, fields of wheat, and more. One particular flair is giant enemies using attacks based on professional wrestling, such as a powerbomb. Moreover, given one particular scene in the trailer, spawning after dying may play part in the new game. Check out Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice when it comes out in early 2019.

Nioh 2

The original Nioh was Team Ninja’s latest project. Following Dead or Alive and the Ninja Gaiden trilogy, Team Ninja sought to take their next game into feudal Japan. A fictional storytelling of the life of the western samurai, William Adams, the journey follows him aiding Lord Ieyasu in his crusade to unify Japan. Fighting demons, samurai, ninja, and the like, William allies with famous people of Japanese history, such as Hattori Hanzo, on his quest to save the spirit, Saorise (pronounced Seer-Shuh) from the alchemist Edward Kelley.

What Nioh does well is its fast-paced action. You can get tons of loot, armor, various weapons, magic spells, and Ninjutsu. In the fashion that Ninja Gaiden attempted to evolve on Devil May Cry’s action elements, Nioh does just as well emulating Dark Souls play while delivering its own, equally visceral experience. Known for its fast-paced combat, it ended up being an incredibly polished title. Perhaps part of this was due to Team Ninja’s willingness to listen to fan feedback. After releasing the Alpha, and later the Beta, the developers sent out a survey for players to submit feedback. Many people had a hand in Nioh’s success. And there’s no doubt it’s one of the hottest, best games of the generation.

Nioh 2 was revealed only in the form of a short teaser video. However, there was little to no word of it getting a sequel until its announcement at the PlayStation event at E3. Team Ninja has not revealed more than the teaser. However, the developer did confirm character customization. Keep an eye out for Nioh 2 as we offer more info as it becomes available.

Ghost of Tsushima

Perhaps the biggest surprise here was the unveiling of Ghost of Tsushima. Coming straight out of nowhere, Sony debuted this game at E3 this past week. Developed by Sucker Punch, of Sly and Infamous fame, the game will certainly be fundamentally different than the Souls-esque titles, Nioh and Sekiro. Starting off in a beautifully-animated wheat field, known as the Otsuna Grasslands, the samurai fights off enemies before uniting with a female comrade. They’re seeking a man being held hostage, and need him for information. The two sneak their way into a small fortress. The main character, Jin Sakai, utilizes a grappling hook to enter his way in, assassinate the captors, and save the man in question.

Set in 1274, it tells the story of a samurai fighting in the war against the Mongolians. While Sekiro takes place in a fictional world, Nioh and Ghost of Tsushima seem more based in a timeline of Japanese history.

I’m quite impressed with what I’ve seen so far. You can scale high buildings, assassinate enemies, and also travel on horseback. Riding around the countryside will allow you to take in the game’s beautiful surroundings. Look for Ghost of Tsushima as the game draws closer to release.

Three Samurai Stand Tall.

Sekiro and Nioh 2 both come from prestige. Ghost of Tsushima seemed to be a surprise reveal, but one that completely surprised on every level. All three games feature gorgeous animation and frenetic combat, forcing the player to fight on their toes and adapt to powerful enemies. Fans of action games and Japanese culture will not want to miss these games. Keep checking up on our website as we cover all three of these titles and announce their release dates.

Thanks for reading up on our coverage on the Samurai Trio! Between Sekiro, Nioh 2, and Ghost of Tsushima, do you have a favorite? Let us know in the comments below!