Blood spray and buff effects (burning weapons) are improved, and there are lots of new armour types in addition to those carried in from original. * Overall general appearance is very familiar. hub-map seems prettier though, 3d not 2d. * General structure of game seems the same. * Item sorting seems to have more options, general usability tweaks in evidence all over. * Actual abilities seem to have been carried exactly in from original, skill customization screen is identical. Presumably Kusarigami and Tonfa will be added later. Initial skill categories are: Samurai, Ninjutsu, Onmyo, Sword, Spear, Hatchet and Odachi. only major change is that axes are now hatchets, not great-axe type and dual-wielded. * Base weapons/skill groups are as before. hatchet man's locks gives points just for hatchets. * Skill growth uses a 'sphere grid' menu, with abilities points coming from their own unique growth items.Į.g. * Menus largely unchanged in layout, but a bit more colorful than before. In the stream a great club was used regardless of regular armament. * The weaponry used in this mode is not the same as that equipped normally. * Main difference is it causes full-body transform into yokai for duration, appearance during transform can be preset in char creator, and I assume GS in use will change it also. * Living weapon system works similarly to before (fill amrita gauge), but lasts much less time, and has some sort of absorb amrita gimmick which I think is how you extend its duration. Bias in demo levels is now heavily towards yokai enemies over humans * New option on shrine menu: kodama bazaar (locked in demo) One of the kodama favor names has changed. * There are new special yokai-type weapons as loot, seem to need purification similar to abyss drops but have unique properties.

* Core abilities need to be purified by visiting a shrine, or entering the hub menu at the end of a mission before they can be used/ * 2 Soul core abilities can be set per GS and they appear to have levels/buffs based on the mob that drops them. Yokai force is shown as an red bar beneath the ususal HP/KI displays, and seems seprate to the old living weapon function. These are abilities can be attached to a guardian spirit and used provided sufficient yokai force available. * Killing large yokai now drops Soul Cores in addition to normal loot. Areas within which chests are locked until area boss defeated and mist dsissipated. * Benevolent graves, these give the ability to use/create npc sidekicks. * Multiple kodama type friendlies, kitty-type, greeter type, originals. My (shamelessly reposted*) notes after watching a stream:

Nioh 2 closed alpha