Highlights
- Rise of the Ronin sets itself apart with a unique Blade Twins mechanic that offers both gameplay advantages and narrative depth.
- Players can increase bond levels with Blade Twin companions to unlock skills and buffs, enhancing combat and creating cinematic moments.
- The game's setting in the closing days of the Edo period provides a backdrop for a story that revolves around tracking down a supposedly deceased partner.
Rise of the Ronin from developer Team Ninja is a third-person action-adventure title putting players in the role of one of the titular rogue samurai during the closing days of the Edo period, circa 1863. This was an era where Japan was on the cusp of great change due to relations and tensions between Western/foreign influences, the Shogunate of the time, and the populace that was divided over the country's future direction and place on the global stage. Though comparisons between Rise of the Ronin and titles like Ghost of Tsushima and others that utilize the samurai framework and setting may be easy to see on the surface, the similarities are really only skin-deep.
Team Ninja is known for a number of Soulslike titles, such as the Nioh series and last year's Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, and the studio has built a reputation for creating punishing but satisfying titles as per the genre's standards, requiring patience, practice, and persistence to overcome their sometimes grueling experiences. However, Rise of the Ronin has a bit of a lower barrier to entry for players who may not be as into the steep difficulties often found in Soulslikes, and does a variety of things to separate itself from more traditional genre entries. Among these, the Blade Twins mechanic is a major highlight, due to its fun, fluid, and narratively substantial design.
Minor Rise of the Ronin spoilers ahead.
Rise of the Ronin: Which Blade Sharpening Origins to Choose?
Prepare yourself for Rise of the Ronin the right way by choosing the Blade Sharpening Origin for you.
Rise of the Ronin's Blade Twins Feature is One of its Standout Elements
Rise of the Ronin's Blade Twins Mechanic Marries Gameplay and Story Seamlessly
Rise of the Ronin's opening exposition and tutorial has players deciding their starting weapon specialties/class, which will influence some of their initial options and abilities. This is fairly standard for the course, but along with that, they are asked to create another unique character, their Blade Twin, and this sets up the feature that will evolve and play a vital part in both the story and combat during its course.
Rise of the Ronin's first mission then lets fans get their first hands-on taste of how the Blade Twin mechanic functions - allowing instant swapping between two characters during combat, and who share resources like healing items, etc. Not only does this add a big gameplay advantage, in fact being necessary in many instances to overcome certain sections, it also builds to the strength of the narrative. The Blade Twins are trained from a young age to maximize their efficiency when fighting together, consequently establishing a near-inseparable bond as a duo.
The quest ends with the other partner ostensibly being killed by Rise of the Ronin's version of Matthew Perry. This kicks off the main story, as the surviving Blade Twin senses their partner is actually still alive, and endeavors to track them down. Rise of the Ronin then provides players opportunities to meet and partner in the same way with various NPC companions they encounter along the journey, and subsequently bring them along on future missions as temporary Blade Twins.
As players progress in Rise of the Ronin, they can increase their bond levels with Blade Twin companions, which in turn unlocks more skills and better buffs whenever that companion is taken along on a mission. Again, not something wholly unique to it, but one that does work extremely well within the overall framework, as more elaborate enemies with complex attack patterns are introduced. It also allows for great unscripted cinematic moments, (though there are plenty of directed ones, too) as swapping between combatants on the fly during intense bouts adds a flair and a feeling of mastery that is viscerally satisfying. Via the Blade Twin mechanic, Rise of the Ronin goes a cut above some of its contemporaries in this area, creating a compelling and enjoyable experience with a well-designed and implemented feature that is equally relevant to its tale and gameplay action.
Rise of the Ronin
- Platform(s)
- PS5
- Released
- March 22, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Team Ninja
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
