Right so Feedback for the Nioh Beta I'm thinking of something like this but let me know if there's any small issue I might over looked, particularly the general issues:
Range Weapon Control
1) Problem: The new controls is unintuitive and very hard to use while aiming at a moving target
Possible Solution: Make R2 the Item Quick Select change, Make L2 the aim button. R2 would then be the firing button only in Aim mode. Switch ammo, or possibly even include range abilities (like a charged shot), with the face buttons (Square/Triangle/Circle/X)
Ninjutsu, Onmyou and Guardian Spirits
1) Problem: Jutsu capacity too restricting in early game, Hard to experiment
Possible solutions: [1] Remove Jutsu Capacity as abilities are already restricted by item slots. [2] Decrease Capacity requirements or Increase Capacity points gain per level. [3] Allow more options to gain Ninjutsu/Onmyou skill points.
2) Problem: Buffs and De-buffs are too short to make use of their abilities.
Possible Solutions: [1] Increase buff times to 60 seconds. [2] Increase debuff effects on enemies to 45seconds, DoT and paralysis remain the same. If there is PvP, keep debuffs at 25 seconds.
3) Problem: Guardian Spirits rarely utilized in normal encounters, and therefore questionable if it's a viable character build
Possible Solutions: [1] Allow more abilities to involve Spirit Guardians, the Tailsman to summon them is a good start, maybe have different summoning tailsman do different things? Or expand on the movesets of each Guardians?
Stances
Focus the three stances into three playstyles
Low Stance -> Fast paced player, weak but fast with good dodges (Recovers Ki from dodging)
Mid Stance -> Cautious player, All rounder with strong blocks (Recovers Ki while blocking)
High Stance -> Aggressive player, Slow but Big damage and staggers (Recovers Ki after a kill or a 'execution' attack)
Weapons
1) Suggestion: Add a few more Fighting Styles- [1] Flesh out the Bare hand style by giving it more moveset, perhaps specialize it in getting rid of the enemy's Ki? [2] Add a Kusarigama fighting style... I know you still have them from Ninja Gaiden!
2) Suggestion: Within existing Weapon Types have different variations- [1] Example for in addition to normal Katana, have a Nodaichi as well. They would share most of the same moveset as a regular Katana, but slower with more reach and damage. Or a Naginata could have a similiar moveset as the spear but a shorter reach and faster speeds. These variations could also scale towards different stats, which would expand build variety.
General Issues
- Increase base Elixir number back to 4
- Place NPC vendors in the zones that sell rarer consumables, or just allow the sale of these items with another vendor at the hub world
Multiplayer
Main issue: Allow character creation for multiplayer purposes. It's very jarring is everyone is just Willaim. Also include a female gender option.
Small Suggestions:
- Allow Voice Chat in Co-Op
- Increase Co-op to 3 Players
- Add a PvP dueling arena zone
- No Dark Souls invasions, but add an item to allow players to be summoned as Revenants. Mark their graves as a different colour.