Rise of the Ronin

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 208 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Rise of the Ronin Game Cover
Rise of the Ronin was the near-perfect samurai/ronin open-world RPG that I have been starving for, and offers players a lot of choice in their playstyle.
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"Rise of the Ronin" is an action-packed game set in 1863 Japan, where a lone warrior must navigate through turmoil and make critical decisions that will shape the country's fate. With deep and accessible combat, players can engage in close-quarters combat or fight from a distance using authentic period weaponry. The story is dynamic, offering multiple choices and alliances that lead to different outcomes.

  • Play​station 5
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 208 reviews
story28 positive mentions
grinding6 negative mentions
  • The combat system is fast, fluid, and satisfying, offering a variety of styles and techniques that keep encounters engaging.
  • The character customization is extensive, allowing players to create unique warriors and develop relationships with NPCs that enhance the gameplay experience.
  • The game features a rich historical setting with a compelling narrative that encourages exploration and offers numerous side quests and activities.
  • The graphics are dated and do not meet the standards expected from a current-gen title, leading to a less immersive visual experience.
  • Many side quests and missions feel repetitive and lack meaningful content, contributing to a sense of open-world fatigue.
  • The narrative can be convoluted and lacks impact, with choices that often feel superficial and do not significantly alter the game's progression.
  • story111 mentions

    The story in "Rise of the Ronin" is characterized by its engaging narrative and character-driven elements, allowing players to form bonds with NPCs and make impactful choices that can alter outcomes. While the main storyline is intriguing and set in a unique historical context, some players find it convoluted and repetitive, with side quests lacking depth. Overall, the game offers a rich tapestry of lore and character interactions, though it struggles with pacing and occasional narrative inconsistencies.

    • “The story is very well told.”
    • “The story is super engaging, the choices you make actually matter, the lore is deep and the combat is a lot of fun.”
    • “Rise of the Ronin tells an interesting story in a realistic historical setting with some outstanding combat mechanics but lets its dated open-world design and poor performance drag it down.”
    • “The story gets way too complicated, loses itself, and seems to forget or contradict previous plot points.”
    • “Characters you ally with aren’t really that interesting, with generic NPC dialogue, and the overall plot is just gathering people to your side for an end battle.”
    • “Missions and side quests are repetitive, and lack memorable content outside of the historical characters.”
  • graphics72 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising them as beautiful and well-executed, while others criticize them as outdated and reminiscent of previous console generations. Minor graphical glitches are noted but generally do not detract significantly from the overall experience. While some players feel the visuals fall short compared to other recent titles, many agree that the engaging gameplay and immersive world compensate for any graphical shortcomings.

    • “The graphics are top notch on this game!”
    • “Incredible graphics, stunning gameplay, 100+ hours of fun activities to do, gorgeous male and female characters you can create in this masterpiece samurai world, interesting story and lovable characters you can build relationships with, world class music and so on… Rise of the Ronin is the love letter from Sony and Team Ninja to all gaming fans worldwide.”
    • “Beautiful graphics.”
    • “Despite the graphics being more in line with PS3/PS4 generation games, there are some fun & cool mechanics, but ultimately the game is rather boring & repetitive, making it difficult to forgive the horribly dated graphics.”
    • “Last, the graphics... way to go, you guys literally had 8 years to move this onto another engine, but no, you chose to produce it knowing that the engine in your prior games has a lot of issues with LOD and asset issues.”
    • “The graphics are so bad it's not playable; I thought I turned my PS2 on with this game.”
  • gameplay46 mentions

    Gameplay in both "Ghost of Tsushima" and "Rise of the Ronin" is characterized by engaging combat mechanics and immersive worlds, with players enjoying the blend of stealth and action. However, some reviews highlight that the gameplay can become repetitive over time, particularly in "Rise of the Ronin," where dated graphics and a lack of polish detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, many players appreciate the depth of combat systems and the variety of activities available, making for a compelling, if sometimes flawed, gameplay experience.

    • “Stealth mechanics: players can embrace the way of the ninja, utilizing stealth and deception to overcome challenges and foes.”
    • “Gameplay is phenomenal, everything I wanted in a samurai open world game.”
    • “It's got varied and challenging combat, a wealth of content, and a wide variety of mechanics in a story that spans over a decade.”
    • “Also, because it goes on for so long, the gameplay which started fun is beyond repetitive and becomes boring.”
    • “Gameplay loop gets repetitive as all main story missions play out the same with only motivation to get higher stat gear as the story is very generic and uninteresting for the most part.”
    • “Rise of the Ronin dilutes the gameplay of Nioh and Wo Long to accommodate for an open world that offers little of worth.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is often viewed as tedious and repetitive, detracting from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the engaging combat and rich world, many feel that the grind diminishes the sense of anticipation and enjoyment, making progress feel like a slog rather than a rewarding journey.

    • “Constantly sorting through it all is tedious.”
    • “Nice scenes and stories, but the gameplay is just too tedious.”
    • “Rather than getting a sense of growing anticipation as I approached the (apparent) conclusion, it sometimes felt a bit like a tedious slog.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players praise the combat and storytelling, others report significant bugs and performance issues that hinder the experience. The dated open-world design and lack of variety further contribute to the game's optimization challenges.

    • “The combat is great, the missions are fun, the main story is told very well, and the performance did great.”
    • “Technical issues: some players have reported bugs and performance issues that detract from the overall experience.”
    • “Rise of the Ronin tells an interesting story in a realistic historical setting with some outstanding combat mechanics, but its dated open-world design and poor performance drag it down.”
    • “The combat will carry it for many, but the lack of variety in the open world, messy story, and performance issues will take away from others.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, stability in the game has received mixed feedback; while some players report minimal glitches, others have encountered technical issues such as frame drops and mild graphical glitches that detract from the experience. Additionally, concerns about repetitive environments suggest that the game may not fully utilize the graphical capabilities of the PS5.

    • “Combat is limited by a simplistic control scheme, and technical issues like frame drops and glitches detract from the experience.”
    • “Mild graphical glitches in graphical mode, empty/repetitive villages, not showcasing the graphical power of the PS5.”
  • music4 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while some praise the original soundtrack as world-class and fitting for battle moments, others find it lacks memorable tracks. Overall, the music contributes positively to the immersive experience, complementing the game's stunning graphics and engaging gameplay.

    • “The OST is a pleasure to listen to.”
    • “World-class music enhances the experience.”
    • “Inon Zur's soundtrack fits the moment of battle.”
    • “Inon Zur's soundtrack fits the moment of battle but few memorable tracks.”
    • “The music lacks variety and fails to leave a lasting impression.”
    • “While the game has many strengths, the music feels repetitive and uninspired.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its attention to detail and depth, appealing strongly to samurai enthusiasts. However, some users feel that the narrative lacks the emotional resonance and depth found in titles like Ghost of Tsushima, resulting in a somewhat shallow story.

    • “Its attention to detail and emotional depth make it a must-play for any samurai enthusiast.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The game effectively balances its darker themes with moments of humor, providing uplifting and comedic relief that prevents the tone from becoming overly grim. This clever integration of humor enhances the overall experience, keeping players engaged and entertained.

    • “Just when you think the game is getting too gritty or serious, they manage to throw in something suitably humorous or uplifting.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by an engaging historical setting, complemented by a diverse range of combat mechanics and immersive sound design that collectively draw players into the experience.

    • “The engaging historical setting immerses you in a world that feels alive and rich with detail.”
    • “The combat variety keeps the gameplay fresh, but it's the atmospheric sound design that truly pulls you into the experience.”
    • “Every corner of the game is filled with an atmosphere that captivates and enhances the storytelling.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

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