Rise of the Ronin – Review
Rise of the Ronin is a sprawling adventure from Team Ninja, their first foray into a fully open world. Set in a pivotal moment of Japanese history, the years leading up to the Meiji Restoration, the game presents a fascinating “what if” scenario. As a masterless samurai, a Ronin, you’ll navigate a complex web of political upheaval, choosing to side with the Shogunate or the Anti-Shogunate faction. This is no clear-cut good versus evil battle; both sides have their motivations, making for a truly immersive and thought-provoking experience.
Crafting Your Own Legend
The journey begins with a robust character creation system. You have incredible freedom to sculpt every detail of your Ronin, from facial features to battle scars. Prefer a brutal, broadsword-wielding warrior? Or perhaps a nimble dual-wielding specialist is more your style? The choice of your combat style not only influences your weapon proficiency but also unlocks unique skills that cater to your chosen path. Don’t worry about being pigeonholed into a single playstyle, though. As you progress, you can acquire additional skills from all branches, allowing you to refine your Ronin into a formidable force.
Combat: A Dance of Steel and Strategy
Combat in Rise of the Ronin transcends mere button mashing. It’s a strategic dance that demands precise timing and mastery of various fighting styles. Each style boasts its own move set, offering advantages and disadvantages against different foes. The more you utilize a style, the more proficient you become, unlocking even more devastating techniques. Ki, your stamina gauge, plays a crucial role. Every attack, block, and dodge depletes your Ki, as does your enemy’s. The key lies in strategically draining your opponent’s Ki, leaving them vulnerable for a decisive blow. Mastering the art of parrying becomes essential in creating openings and turning the tide of battle. Enemies come in all shapes and sizes, from swift assassins to heavily armored brutes. Each encounter requires careful adaptation and a keen eye for exploiting weaknesses. While the katana reigns supreme, the inclusion of revolvers, rifles, and bows adds another layer of tactical depth, encouraging you to seamlessly switch between ranged and melee combat depending on the situation.
A World of Discovery Awaits
The world of Rise of the Ronin is a visual feast for the eyes. While the graphics might not reach the absolute pinnacle, the meticulous environmental design and historical detail create a captivating atmosphere. The game unfolds across three distinct maps, each brimming with life and diverse activities. From restoring order in bandit-infested areas to hunting down notorious fugitives, there’s always something to discover and conquer. Shrines offering valuable skill points, hidden landmarks, and a staggering 100 cats to find pepper the landscape. But these aren’t mere distractions. Completing these tasks strengthens your bond with each region, unlocking merchant discounts and subtly influencing the faction’s influence in that area.
A Tapestry of Relationships
Beyond the thrilling combat and open-world exploration, Rise of the Ronin shines with its intricate character web. You’ll encounter a vast cast of individuals, each with their own stories, agendas, and personalities. Building relationships with these characters unlocks unique missions and allows you to forge deeper connections through the gift-giving system. The narrative takes a fascinating turn as some allies may become adversaries later on, forcing you to confront the complexity of the situation. Characters will question your allegiances and challenge your decisions, adding weight to your choices. Team Ninja deserves praise for crafting such a rich cast and weaving their stories into the overall narrative. However, with so many characters to interact with, some may feel less fleshed out than others. The developers cleverly address this by allowing you to refresh your memory on past encounters through in-game dialogue options. The voice acting adds another layer of depth, bringing these characters to life with nuanced performances that showcase their motivations and inner struggles.
Beyond the Horizon
Your journey doesn’t end with the credits rolling. Rise of the Ronin throws open the gates to a challenging “Midnight” difficulty, perfect for testing your honed skills against even more formidable opponents. This endgame mode also unlocks a new tier of equipment, giving you even more tools to conquer the battlefield. Even before reaching the finale, you have the option to revisit missions and make different choices, leading to alternate storylines and shaping the fates of various characters. The mission select screen tantalizes you with glimpses of unseen scenes, fueling your desire to explore every narrative branch.
Rise of the Ronin is an ambitious title that delivers an expansive and engrossing experience. From the strategic combat to the rich world brimming with secrets and the interwoven stories of its characters, this game has something to offer every fan of historical adventures. So, draw your katana, forge your path, and carve your legend in the tumultuous world of Rise of the Ronin.
