Rise of the Ronin preview: a challenging lesson in the ways of the blade
Rise of the Ronin has well and truly succeeded in piquing my interest, even if I do have a few concerns whilst I’m enraptured in its clutches. Already, I’m being teased by the vast openness of the open world that Team NINJA has crafted - a playground packed with friends and foes alike but it’s those foes that, thus far, keep me to the main path. While Rise of the Ronin claims to boast an ‘accessible’ combat system with a number of difficulty tiers, it most certainly still packs a challenge with the game’s opening chapters acting as a brutal lesson in preparing you for what’s to come.
Our story is set in the year 1863. After three centuries of rule by the oppressive Tokugawa Shogunate, the so-called Black Ships of the West descend upon Japan’s shores, sending the country into a period of juxtaposition, change, and turmoil. The player assumes the role of lone Ronin, a nameless warrior seeking to reunite with their Blade Twin all whilst becoming embroiled in the future fate of Japan.
Take a look at Rise of the Ronin in action below.
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I have to say, Rise of the Ronin is holding its narrative cards close to its chest. Even after several hours with the game, I’m very much unaware of how my actions fit into the larger picture. As I said, the player will find themselves hunting down their ‘Blade Twin’ - a companion Ronin - after one of the opening missions separates the pair. This mission sees the duo seek to obtain a ‘secret’ from American commodore Matthew Perry before all goes awry.
Beyond seeking out your twin, I truly have no idea what this story holds. That being said, I have begun to familiarise myself with this world’s various social and political factions and it’s clear that before long, a brewing sense of conflict will send the narrative barrelling along at a dramatic pace. You’ll stumble across those who support the Shogunate, known as Sabaku, those who oppose it, referred to as Tobaku, and the new western forces, known as Obei.
Rise of the Ronin boasts an entertaining cast of characters, with the slightly zany Ryoma Sakamoto - an early ally - breathing some much needed life into the game’s conversations and cutscenes. I mentioned that our protagonist, which you can select to be male or female, is nameless. Well, they also happen to be largely unvoiced. It’s not an earth-shattering decision, but I can’t help but feel that a speaking protagonist would’ve propelled things a tad more on the emotional front. Instead, it’s a case of predominantly selecting text with just the occasional line voiced. It’s a weirdly inconsistent choice on behalf of Team NINJA.
On the topic of the protagonist, Rise of the Ronin does feature a rather comprehensive character creator which is always a nice bonus. Aesthetics aside though, it’s the combat that I want to dive into because it very much dominates the opening of the game. While you’ll be encouraged to pick a particular ‘path’ early on, with certain weapons proving to be slightly more effective because of this, you’re never forced into a particular playstyle with all weapons remaining available throughout the game. Rise of the Ronin boasts a wide array of weapons from era-accurate firearms to katanas, spears, bows, and dual-swords. The player will eventually come to wield two primary weapons, namely bladed ones, and two sub-primary weapons (distance and/or throwables).
If you’re struggling to master Rise of the Ronin’s combat within that opening hour, stick with it. You’ll begin with just two basic blades and facing off against a sudden onslaught of assassins and bosses can feel like an impossible task but as Rise of the Ronin opens up, introducing you to its various healing items, combat stances, and weapon types, the game feels far more accessible than those opening few encounters lead you to believe - but fights still certainly pack a punch. Be warned.
Dying will take you back to the nearest Veil Banner, with these campfire-esque checkpoints working as stations where you can restock your health and supplies but unfortunately, they also cause enemies to respawn. That’s never particularly been a favourite mechanic of mine but I soon slotted into the punishing flow of Rise of the Ronin.
I should add that I played the opening on the regular difficulty, named Dusk. It left me tackling the game’s tougher encounters roughly around three or so times before I achieved success, but you can knock it down to the easier setting of Dawn if you’re struggling. It’s certainly true that there’s a variety of settings to suit those who favour the narrative journey as well as those who prefer a combat challenge. I daren’t try out the most difficult mode, but you may prove to be far more of a deadly Ronin than I.
The one thing I’m yet to gel with with regards to the combat is Rise of the Ronin’s parry mechanic, called Counterspark. Several hours in and I could probably count the times I’ve actually succeeded in using it successfully, the window of opportunity feeling inconsistent and fleeting. It could be that I soon master the mechanic and I’m here opening myself up to an onslaught of ‘skill issue’ accusations but it would be remiss not to mention it given that its trickiness to master has been the standout gripe throughout my time with the game so far.
In those opening hours, not mastering Counterspark can be deadly. It’s one of the main ways you can lessen your foe’s Ki, essentially their defence, before you deal some real damage but if you're resourceful, you should live to fight another day. As you acquire more weapons, particularly those you can use at a distance, and learn various combat stances, those and a good dodge-and-roll should stand you in good stead if Counterspark continues to prove to be a point of contention.
As you start to acquire allies, you can bring them along on missions which also massively helps during combat. If you find yourself in a pickle, you can instantaneously switch to playing as your ally, providing a fresh sense of vigour and hope when it feels as if a combat encounter isn’t exactly going your way. During the preview portion of the game, I only encountered one ally but I’m certainly looking forward to acquiring more and seeing how their unique fighting styles constantly refresh the feel of the combat.
As for what the game has in store outside of these brawls, well those aspects are just now beginning to be teased to me as the preview portion draws to a close. I’ve encountered and petted several cats, acquired a very nice camera, and swooped across the map’s stunning landscape after recently acquiring the glider. This is what I’m most thrilled to get more of, to truly immerse myself in this world - and it’s looking as if Team NINJA has made that possible by crafting a thorough and varied society.
Already, I have citizens, allies, and vendors calling for both my help and attention. With my combat prowess improving, I can now also tackle disputes and public order clashes, opening up the map further and increasing my skills in the process. It’s the creeping sense of rising modernity in Rise of the Ronin that I really think is going to set this game apart from similar titles. This isn’t the well-trodden tale of ‘two worlds colliding’. This is a Japan featuring three very different political beliefs and while I’ve just had my first walk through the very cheery metropolis of Yokohama, I have a feeling discontent will soon plague the entirety of these lands.
While a few of Rise of the Ronin’s combat mechanics have left me feeling a tad dubious leading to the occasional session of button mashing, it most certainly hasn’t dulled my excitement to really now truly open up the door to this world, witnessing the development of the central narrative which continues to hold its cards mysteriously close to its chest. Rise of the Ronin’s opening few hours tease a game that looks to have it all - an intriguing narrative, interesting cast of characters, fun traversal, and a vast open-world - but it’s clear that combat is what lies at the core of the game’s identity.
Whilst I do wish our nameless protagonist was a little more fleshed out, and that could come with time, I fully accept the challenge that Rise of the Ronin has tasked me with: becoming a master of the blade. Japan’s fate lies in my hands. I merely hope I’m worthy of the responsibility.
Rise of the Ronin launches on PlayStation 5 on 22 March.
Topics: PlayStation, PlayStation 5, Sony, Preview