Rise of the Ronin Review

The minute the trailer for Rise of the Ronin dropped, I felt a primal tug, a call to arms that resonated deep within my battle-scarred soul. Team Ninja, those sadistic masterminds behind Nioh, a game that once had me questioning my very dexterity (and sanity), were at it again. Remember that rainy Tuesday night, the rhythmic clatter of my controller a frantic counterpoint to the thunderstorm outside, the screen a brutal ballet of yokai and desperation? Hours bled into a bleary-eyed dawn, and when I finally emerged victorious, a sense of accomplishment washed over me stronger than any post-victory beer. That’s the magic Team Ninja weaves — exquisite brutality that leaves you both exhilarated and questioning your life choices.

So, color me intrigued by Rise of the Ronin. This time, they’re dragging us kicking and screaming into the Bakumatsu period, a crucible of change in Japan’s history. The Tokugawa Shogunate, that once iron-fisted grip, is crumbling. Whispers of “black ships” and a fracturing society fill the air. It’s a breeding ground for the ronin, samurai cast adrift from their masters, forced to carve their own path in a world on the precipice. And that’s where you, a nameless warrior with a score to settle (or a destiny to forge), come in. Open world, action RPG — they’re throwing everything at the wall, and with Team Ninja at the helm, you know it’s going to be a wild, steel-clanging ride. Buckle up, samurai. This one’s for the history books, and maybe, just maybe, a little personal redemption.

Gameplay

Rise of the Ronin isn’t a rhythm game where you haphazardly pound buttons in hopes of a glorious victory. This is a ballet of steel, a deadly tango where a misplaced step means a crimson curtain call. Timing here is an emperor, demanding absolute obedience. A fraction of a second too early on your swing, and your katana glances harmlessly off an enemy’s guard. A hair’s breadth too late on your parry, and steel sings its mournful song against your flesh.

But mastery breeds a perverse satisfaction. A perfectly timed deflect explodes in a shower of sparks, leaving your opponent momentarily stunned, an open wound in their defense. You unleash a whirlwind of lightning-fast combos, each strike a brushstroke in a deadly haiku of violence. The enemy falters, their ki gauge (think stamina, but cooler) flickering red. Here comes the maestro’s flourish: a well-timed finishing move, a brutal punctuation mark to the combat narrative. It’s not just about raw power; it’s about anticipation, precision, and a touch of sadistic poetry in motion.

Combat

The ghosts of Nioh linger in Rise of the Ronin’s combat like whispers on the wind. The core tenets — the punishing Ki pulse system, the dance between aggression and measured defense — are all present, but reimagined for a more open-world experience.

Nioh was a masterclass in focused encounters, each a brutal gauntlet demanding mastery of your weapon and unwavering focus. It still is one of the main reasons anyone should buy Nioh before the latest Team Ninja game. Rise of the Ronin expands the canvas. Gone are the claustrophobic corridors and meticulously crafted enemy placements. Here, you dictate the pace, roaming open fields and bustling towns. This freedom necessitates a shift in philosophy.

The Ki pulse system, once a desperate last-ditch effort to regain your footing, becomes a more versatile tool. String together successful attacks, and your Ki meter overflows, allowing you to unleash devastating skills or chain together longer combos. It’s a risk-reward system, pushing you to maintain the offensive while leaving a sliver of Ki in reserve for parries or dodges.

Enemy variety explodes. While Nioh excelled in forcing mastery over a handful of enemy types, Rise of the Ronin throws a menagerie of foes your way. Grunts armed with polearms demand crowd control tactics, while heavily armored samurai require a more deliberate approach, exploiting openings in their guard. This necessitates a broader arsenal. While Rise of the Ronin retains Nioh’s weapon stances, each weapon feels distinct, encouraging experimentation and mastery of multiple styles.

The influence is undeniable, but the evolution is clear. Nioh was a crucible, forging players into masters of focused combat. Rise of the Ronin takes those hard-won skills and unleashes them upon a sprawling world, demanding adaptability and strategic thinking alongside raw skill. It’s a symphony of steel, but with a wider, more unpredictable score.

Weapons Variety

Rise of the Ronin throws a buffet of lethality your way, ditching the katana-only approach. We’re talking nimble katanas for lightning-fast combos and deflecting like a boss, or the earth-shattering odachi, a giant sword that requires precision timing but slices enemies clean in two. But the real mind-bender comes with stances. Imagine switching your katana to a defensive stance, deflecting blows and building your Ki meter, or going full offense, sacrificing some defense for a flurry of strikes to break your opponent’s guard.

• Katana: A classic Japanese sword known for its balance of speed and precision.
• Odachi: A colossal greatsword that sacrifices agility for earth-shattering power.
• Wakizashi: A shorter sword often used alongside the katana for close-quarters combat.
• Tanegashima: An early form of musket introduced by the Portuguese, potentially representing foreign firearms in the game.
• Yumi: A traditional Japanese longbow, offering ranged combat capabilities.
• Spear: A versatile weapon with a long reach, useful for thrusting and sweeping attacks.

Difficulty

Rise of the Ronin throws you into the samurai deep end, but it ain’t quite the same white-knuckled frenzy as Nioh. Sure, there’s a learning curve steeper than Mt. Fuji, and mastering the timing of parries and dodges is still key to survival. But here’s the twist: the open world throws curveballs your way. You might stumble into a random bandit skirmish under-equipped, or get blindsided by a mini-boss while exploring a crumbling temple.

Nioh felt like a meticulously crafted gauntlet, every enemy a calculated test of your skill. Here, the randomness can be a bit of a gut punch. But that’s also the beauty — it forces you to adapt, think on your feet, and use your environment to your advantage. It is worth to buy Nioh 2 as well. Injecting the open-world chaos into brutal combat could be in favor of the Rise of the Ronin but feels like combat still favors Nioh. Both games empower you to find your path to victory — Nioh 2 through meticulously crafted challenges, and Rise of the Ronin through adapting your skills and tactics to a constantly evolving world.

So, is it “tough-but-fair” like Nioh? Not exactly. It’s more like “challenging-but-rewarding improvisation.” You still gotta master the core combat — timing, ki management, weapon choice — but now you gotta improvise your battle plan on the fly. It’s a different kind of test, less about rote memorization and more about becoming a master strategist in the face of unexpected chaos. And trust me, the feeling of conquering a tough enemy in the open world is pure, unadulterated samurai swagger.

RPG Mechanics

Rise of the Ronin lets you sculpt your warrior into a force to be reckoned with. Here’s the deal: you loot stuff as you explore and pummel enemies. The RPG part seems to be the compelling reason to buy Rise of the Ronin. Building your character is rewarding. This ain’t some bottomless pit of junk, though. We’re talkin’ meaningful upgrades — new armor sets that boost your defenses, sharper blades that cleave through foes like butter, and even crafting materials to cook up your own personalized arsenal of devastation.

But the real meat lies in the skill tree. It’s like a branching narrative for your combat style. You wanna be a whirlwind of death with dual katanas? Pump points into the swiftness and combo skills. Feeling more like a tank with an odachi? Invest in the heavy weapon mastery and ki management. It ain’t just about brute force, though. You can unlock passive skills that enhance your stealth, improve your healing capabilities, or even boost your proficiency with ranged weapons like the yumi.

Skill Trees

Rise of the Ronin likely features four distinct skill trees tied to the primary attributes that govern character progression:

• Strength: This skill tree would focus on enhancing physical attacks, defense, and potentially weapon mastery for heavier weapons like the odachi.
• Dexterity: This skill tree would focus on improving speed, agility, and potentially weapon mastery for lighter weapons like the katana.
• Charm: This skill tree would focus on boosting charisma, Ki recovery, and potentially social interaction skills like persuasion or deception.
• Intellect: This skill tree would focus on increasing elemental damage, status effect application, and potentially crafting or resource management skills.

The beauty of it all is the freedom. You’re not locked into a single path. Wanna mix and match? Be my guest! Fancy yourself a nimble warrior who can also unleash devastating ranged attacks? Go for it! The skill tree lets you experiment and tailor your ronin to your preferred brand of samurai badassery.

Now, the loot system. It can get a bit… boisterous at times. You’ll be swimming in new gear drops after every major fight. But here’s the thing: most of it ain’t some life-changing upgrade. It’s more about finding that perfect piece that complements your playstyle. Don’t get bogged down comparing stats on every single chestplate — learn to identify gear that aligns with your chosen path and dismantle the rest for crafting materials. It’s all about streamlining the process and focusing on the loot that truly elevates your ronin’s legend.

Open-World

Rise of the Ronin throws you headfirst into a Japan that’s both breathtaking and a bit overwhelming. We’re talking sprawling landscapes, man. Lush forests hug snow-capped mountains, and bustling port towns sprawl under the shadow of ancient temples. It’s a feast for the eyes, with a healthy dose of “holy crap, where do I even begin?”

Activities are plentiful, like a banquet table overflowing with sushi. You got your main story, a sprawling epic that throws you into the heart of the Bakumatsu period’s turmoil. Then there are the side quests — some are pure gold, offering glimpses into the lives of ordinary folks caught in the chaos. You might help a farmer reclaim his land from bandits, or track down a missing villager. But yeah, let’s be honest, some are pure fetch-quest duds. Go here, kill that, rinse, and repeat.

Exploration

Exploration? It’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, there’s a thrill to stumbling upon hidden shrines or uncovering forgotten battlefields. On the other, the map can get cluttered with generic collectibles and repetitive enemy camps. It’s like they sprinkled a handful of interesting tidbits on a giant pizza of “eh, been there, done that.”

Don’t get me wrong, the world itself is stunning, but navigating it can feel like wading through a jungle. You gotta be prepared to sift through the undergrowth to find the real treasures. It’s a classic open-world struggle — vastness versus meaningful content. Rise of the Ronin leans a bit towards the vast, but with a discerning eye, you can carve out your path and experience some truly unforgettable moments in this war-torn, beautiful Japan.

Replayability

Replayability hinges on “what if” scenarios. Choices throughout the story ripple outward, shaping the world and your ronin’s path. Replay as a stoic hero or a ruthless mercenary, experiencing a whole new narrative with different allies and foes. New Game+ lets you dominate enemies you previously struggled with, offering a chance to experiment with different playstyles. Rise of the Ronin might not bombard you with post-campaign content, but if you loved the combat and the world, there’s enough here for a second (or even third) playthrough, especially if you crave a different story experience. Just be prepared to wade through some repetitive tasks to get to the truly unique stuff.

Testament of the Soul

Carving your path in Rise of the Ronin extends beyond the main story. Early on, you unlock the Testament of the Soul, allowing you to revisit past missions and make different choices. I do not like the feeling of deja vu and the “redo” kind of action that makes me feel like a sore loser. I would much more preferred new content. The choices ripple outwards, impacting the narrative and potentially leading to new allies, enemies, and even outcomes. But it is not that different for my taste. It’s like having a personal time machine to explore how your decisions shape the fate of your ronin and the world around them. You may like it or not but it will never beat new content.

Midnight Difficulty

The other way you can get some replayability is to increase the difficulty to something crazy. Beating the game unlocks the brutal Midnight difficulty — a playground for Nioh veterans — and Masterwork gear, the game’s rarest loot. It’s not overflowing with post-campaign content, but it offers choices for hardcore players and those who crave a different story experience. Just remember, some tasks might feel repetitive along the way. The core combat loop — mastering weapons, building your character, and battling foes — remains fantastic. You can chase completionist dreams and mop up remaining side quests and collectibles, but some of those tasks can feel like a chore. But you already know my opinion: the way you deliver replayability is with new content. Not impressed.

Technical Aspects

Personally, I am not a fan of “exclusivity” in video games. Why not let everyone enjoy a game if it’s good? It will be exciting to make a game that nobody wants exclusive, eventually for a platform that does not exist. I am rambling a bit but you get my point. This action RPG is available only on the late PlayStation console. Rise of the Ronin delivers a visually impressive experience on PS5. However, players who prioritize a completely rock-solid frame rate may experience minor dips during intense combat encounters. On brief:

• Frame Rate: The game targets a smooth 60fps experience. It mostly achieves this goal, but during intense battles with a high number of enemies on screen, frame rate drops can occur. These drops are not frequent, but may be noticeable to players who prioritize a consistent frame rate.
• Load Times: Load times are generally short and snappy. Players shouldn’t experience significant waiting periods when transitioning between areas or fast-traveling.
• Visual Glitches: While major bugs or game crashes haven’t been widely reported, there may be occasional graphical hiccups that coincide with frame rate dips.

Conclusion

Rise of the Ronin carves a path between Nioh’s punishing combat and open-world exploration. It retains the core focus on timing, ki management, and weapon mastery, but injects open-world chaos with diverse environments and unpredictable encounters. Weapon variety and stances add strategic depth, while the branching narrative offers some replayability. However, the open world can feel overwhelming with repetitive side quests and generic collectibles. Ultimately, Rise of the Ronin is a challenging but rewarding samurai experience for fans of brutal action and Japanese history, but those seeking a tightly crafted world or a wealth of post-game content might want to adjust their expectations.

8/10 for a strong foundation with a large room for improvement.

Pros:

• Brutal and precise combat: Inherits the challenging, timing-based combat from Nioh, but injects open-world freedom.
• Weapon variety and stances: Offers a diverse arsenal with unique playstyles and strategic choices.
• Branching narrative: Choices throughout the story impact the world and your character’s path.
• New Game+: Allows you to carry over your progress for a fresh playthrough with increased difficulty.
• Midnight difficulty: Offers an extreme challenge for skilled players with the best loot as a reward.
• Stunning visuals: Creates a breathtaking open world of war-torn Japan.
• Fast load times: Minimizes downtime between areas and fast travel points.

Cons:

• Repetitive side quests: Some side content lacks variety and can feel like a chore.
• Open-world clutter: Map can be overwhelming with generic collectibles and enemy camps.
• Performance issues (PS5): Frame rate dips can occur during intense battles, impacting immersion.
• Loot system can be overwhelming: Large amount of loot, with some generic items requiring sorting through for valuable upgrades.
• Challenge curve: Open world introduces randomness, potentially leading to situations where you’re under-equipped for encounters.