Rise of the Ronin, Team Ninja’s open-world samurai game, draws heavily from titles like Ghost of Tsushima, Assassin’s Creed, and Dark Souls. While borrowing from successful franchises, it struggles to forge its own unique identity, ultimately feeling like a budget imitation.
Set in mid-19th century Japan, players create a custom ronin embarking on a revenge quest amidst a period of war. The premise is simple and doesn’t immediately grab your attention.
The narrative, unfortunately, never truly engages. The player-created character serves as a blank slate, lacking personality or distinguishing traits. This disconnect makes it difficult to invest in their journey over several decades.
rise-of-the-ronin.jpgThe voice acting is a significant flaw. Some of the worst performances in recent AAA memory actively detract from the story’s twists and turns. The quality is jarringly reminiscent of early 2000s games.
Combat, however, is a redeeming quality. The system encourages experimentation with diverse weapon types, each offering unique combat styles. Katanas offer balanced damage, while greatswords deliver slower but powerful blows. The Oxtail Blade stands out with its emphasis on air combos.
A weapon mastery system further enhances combat. Continued use unlocks new abilities and stances, adding depth and rewarding dedicated playstyles. Whether focusing on a single weapon or cycling through several, your mastery grows.
rise-of-ronin.jpgBeyond swords, the game offers unique combat options. Guns allow for sniping or combo integration, while a flamethrower provides chaotic fun. A grappling hook pulls enemies or hurls environmental objects, like explosive barrels, for creative combat approaches.
Despite these strengths, combat has shortcomings. The parry mechanic feels inconsistent, and limited animation variety makes encounters repetitive. The frequently seen decapitation animation quickly becomes tiresome.
Team Ninja introduces some novel systems. The Bond system, focusing on relationships with characters and regions, unlocks combat styles and skill points. While not groundbreaking, it encourages non-combat interactions for character progression.
rise-of-the-ronin-castle.pngAs an open-world game, Rise of the Ronin feels underwhelming. The world, while visually appealing, lacks meaningful content outside key points of interest. Exploration primarily serves to complete tasks for rewards, offering little organic discovery.
Traversal, however, excels. Horse riding, grappling hooks, and a Breath of the Wild-inspired glider offer varied movement options. The glider, in particular, enables creative combat approaches, like aerial assassinations.
rise-of-the-ronin-ryoma.jpgA constant influx of loot, including weapons, gear, and crafting materials, creates inventory management tedium. Even after selling unwanted items, your inventory quickly fills with more clutter. Distinguishing between items with minor stat differences further complicates matters.
Rise of the Ronin isn’t a terrible game, just unremarkable. It fails to distinguish itself in the crowded open-world genre. With so many compelling alternatives, other titles deserve your time and attention.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Rise of the Ronin launches on March 22, 2024, exclusively for PlayStation 5. This review was conducted using a review copy provided by PlayStation.
