Ronin: The Last Samurai
- January 4, 2021
- Dreamotion
- 20h median play time
Get on Play Store
Get on Apple Store"Ronin: The Last Samurai" is a single-player Role Playing Game with an interesting plot, perfect gameplay, compelling graphics, and great music. Combat is simplified to two buttons, allowing for strategic positioning and timing without reducing it to button mashing or grinding. However, the game is plagued with bugs and frequent ads, which can be distracting. Despite these issues, the game's dense atmosphere and intricate control design make it a standout title.
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Reviews
- The game features beautiful graphics and a unique art style that enhances the overall experience.
- The combat mechanics are engaging and require skill, making it satisfying to master timing for parries and counterattacks.
- The game is not pay-to-win; players can progress through skill and grinding without needing to spend money.
- The difficulty spikes significantly after the initial chapters, making it frustrating for players to progress without spending money.
- The item drop rates are low, leading to tedious grinding for better equipment and resources.
- The game requires an internet connection, which limits playability and can lead to issues with connectivity affecting gameplay.
- gameplay1,374 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this game has received a mix of praise and criticism, with many players highlighting its engaging mechanics reminiscent of "Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice." While the combat system, including parrying and countering, is often described as satisfying and skill-based, some users find the progression slow and the reliance on grinding for gear frustrating. Overall, the game is noted for its beautiful graphics and addictive gameplay, though some players express a desire for improvements in controls and the introduction of more diverse content.
“Every time I play this game, I'm instantly hooked for hours of engaging and addictive gameplay.”
“The gameplay is simple yet challenging, there's no ads, you earn enough free points to avoid paying to continue, and the leveling system is brilliant.”
“The gameplay strikes a perfect balance between being challenging with multiple mechanics but not too complicated.”
“The gameplay is very repetitive, not enough enemy types and only one mode, no events.”
“The graphics are amazing and all, but the overall gameplay is subpar.”
“The gameplay was really repetitive and makes the game boring; probably this game could be better if using campaign mode like Shadow Fight where we fight on levels we want to instead of starting again from stage 1 every time we die.”
- graphics1,264 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning art style, often described as reminiscent of traditional Japanese ink paintings and manga. Players appreciate the smooth animations and vibrant visuals, which enhance the overall gameplay experience, making it visually engaging and immersive. However, some users have noted issues with performance, such as frame rate drops and the need for graphic adjustments on lower-end devices.
“The visuals are stylized and a treat to behold.”
“The graphics are amazing.”
“The art style is beautiful and reminiscent of traditional Japanese paintings.”
“The only thing lamer than the plain ugly graphics is the mind numbing gameplay.”
“The fourth stage was totally chaotic; the FPS drops from 60 to 14. I wish there's an option for graphics and FPS booster.”
“I like it but it needs some improvement in graphics when the enemy is killed.”
- monetization459 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 12 % neutral mentions
- 77 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating the absence of intrusive ads and the option to watch ads for rewards, such as power-ups or revives. However, some users express frustration over technical issues with ads not providing rewards, the high cost of in-app purchases, and a perceived push towards spending money to progress. Overall, while the game offers a free-to-play experience with minimal ad interruptions, concerns about the effectiveness and fairness of its monetization methods persist.
“The gameplay is simple but challenging, there's no ads, you earn enough free points to avoid paying to continue, and the leveling system is brilliant.”
“In-app purchases aren't invasive, so playing the game without them is just as fun.”
“The monetization plan is great; for us at least.”
“The game is fun, and pretty challenging, but the ads completely destroy the experience.”
“The game also relies on a lot of ads to earn the items/rewards, and the ads are reasonable, but the audio volume of the ads need to be cranked down a bit.”
“I probably would spend some more money to appreciate the developers but the obtrusive ads turned me off badly and make me unwilling to do so.”
- story312 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is often described as minimal or lacking depth, with many players expressing a desire for a more engaging narrative and additional story content. While some appreciate the samurai theme and the art style, they feel that the repetitive missions and grinding detract from the overall experience, making the gameplay feel monotonous. Overall, players are calling for a more substantial storyline and side missions to enhance the game's appeal and reduce the grind.
“The art style perfectly mimics the time of the samurai and Japanese voiceovers are sure a great thing which adds to the gameplay and story, and I am looking forward to see more of these types of art by Dreamotion.”
“This game is amazing! I love the graphic style and the story. Keep up the good work, devs!”
“The story is beautiful too, plus the upgrades in every level up.”
“There is no story whatsoever, lots of grinding to upgrade gears and the last update shoved ads down your throat.”
“Story is rather bare-bones at the moment.”
“The game would be fun if there is more to do than just play the storyline repeatedly.”
- grinding297 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 99 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and time-consuming, especially in later chapters. While some appreciate the challenge and the need for grinding to progress, others feel that the low drop rates for equipment and the reliance on grinding for upgrades detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game is seen as heavily grind-oriented, which may deter players who prefer a more balanced progression system.
“Combat is great and it's not too grindy.”
“Very entertaining, not too grindy or pay-to-win.”
“The only issue I have with the game is the weapon drop rate is slim to non-existent, and grinding to get better weapons becomes a tedious task which makes the game less interesting.”
“The game forces you to either spend every waking hour grinding to get better or, if you haven't the time, it becomes a pay-to-win situation.”
“Grinding is a real pain.”
- music72 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its exceptional quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its authentic Japanese flair and immersive soundtrack. Players appreciate how the music complements the stunning artwork and gameplay, creating a captivating experience that resonates with the game's samurai theme. Overall, the combination of beautiful graphics and top-notch music contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“The sound and music are wonderfully designed.”
“The music and everything really adds to the aesthetic.”
“Masterpiece, really awesome art style, unique and addictive gameplay and epic samurai music.”
“One request though, I have the game set to mute music and SFX, but when it opens, the launch screen still plays a super loud sound if my volume is up on my phone. Could that be tied to the SFX setting?”
“The music is pretty decent, but the sound effects and the dialogue are really great.”
“The music is standard, but the SFX is so satisfying to hear.”
- stability45 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 82 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with frequent reports of freezing, lag, and control issues, particularly during critical moments like boss fights. While some players appreciate the overall gameplay and graphics, many express frustration over the persistent bugs and glitches that disrupt their experience, leading to lost progress and forced restarts. Despite these issues, a few users note that the game runs well at times, indicating that stability may vary depending on specific conditions or updates.
“Lots of content and constant updates keep it feeling fresh and bug free.”
“Runs great, mechanics are super well done yet simple, and the pacing is almost entirely skill dependent; some perks when you level up might not show up at all, but it's never game breaking if you get a bad hand.”
“One of the best games I've played; no lag, no glitches, and best of all, no ads. I love this!”
“The graphics and the animations are amazing, the gameplay is unique and fun, but the controls are abysmal. The random FPS drops even in the main menu that require a game restart are a big pain, and the game sometimes straight up freezes mid-boss fight.”
“The game freezes on processing every other match.”
“Love the game but the defense button glitches sometimes and doesn't let me move; also, it would be nice to have multiplayer options.”
- optimization30 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization receives mixed feedback from users. While many players report smooth performance and good graphics on higher-end devices, others experience significant lag and stuttering, particularly on lower-end devices or with unstable internet connections. Recent updates have improved performance for some, but issues with hitboxes and excessive damage numbers still affect gameplay for others, leading to a call for further optimization.
“After the last update, the performance of the game improved compared to before.”
“The animation is fluid, the bosses are unique, and optimized.”
“The game is free-to-play optimized and can run on almost every device.”
“Some hitboxes on 1vs2 or 3 fights are not optimized, so you might get hit by the other enemies' attacks after counter flashing, although your hurtbox isn't there.”
“Now the visuals and audio hit that sweet spot that I really can't explain, especially the voice acting, but at times the performance would hit a noticeable low that could affect the gameplay significantly.”
“I just keep installing and uninstalling this game countless times... it's fun but drops are too rare, too many ads, too little optimization.”
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning art style, immersive graphics, and traditional music, which collectively evoke a strong samurai vibe. Players appreciate the blend of simplicity and animation that enhances the overall experience, making it feel more than just a typical smartphone game. While some note the limited weapon variety, the overall aesthetic and atmosphere contribute significantly to the game's appeal.
“The art style is amazing, the combat is tight and has a good feel, and the voiceovers/music make for a great samurai atmosphere.”
“The game's visuals are amazing, it's a perfect blend of simplicity and cool animation as it provides a vibe of Japanese samurai atmosphere.”
“An enjoyable game indeed with the right aesthetics and the overall atmosphere of the samurai era.”
“My first thoughts on this game were that it would be some storybook filled with pictures and we would have to make choices; however, I was greatly proven wrong when I actually played it. The sketch-like atmosphere suits it.”
“The feel and atmosphere of it blows me away.”
“The gameplay is very challenging as you proceed throughout the rounds; the atmosphere and graphics are very well done.”
- replayability15 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is generally praised for its engaging mechanics and the ability to create various builds, which keeps players invested. However, some users feel that the replay value diminishes over time due to weaker enemies and a lack of additional content, such as more playable characters and equipable items. Enhancing the game with more content could significantly boost its replayability and overall enjoyment.
“It has a huge replay value because of different equipment, as we can create various kinds of builds for different fighting strategies.”
“The replayability is good enough to keep you hooked.”
“This is an extremely fun, unique game that has a ton of potential and replayability.”
“Enemies you've beaten once keep getting weaker, leaving very little replay value, except to grind, with diminishing returns.”
“Because of this, replayability might get stale after a while, but it's an interesting and innovative twist on the whole archero type of roguelike game.”
“Bad things for me: I would keep playing if there were more playable content.”
- character development7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and engagement, offering a rewarding experience that enhances the overall gameplay. Players appreciate the stylish character designs and the sense of progression, likening it to the challenging nature of titles like Dark Souls and Bloodborne. While some find the game a bit grindy, the combination of compelling combat mechanics and character growth keeps the experience enjoyable and worthwhile.
“It rewards patience and reflexes, which makes the combat really cool, and has enough going on with character development to make it interesting.”
“Best sword fighting game, no pop-up ads, very funny, hard game, a lot of character development, very fun. I recommend trying it if you like challenging sword games.”
“Amazing gameplay and balanced character development.”
“This game could have more culture and history in it so we have a better idea of the timeline and storyline. However, you do feel like you are progressing, and it is hard enough to give you a sense of success when you are fighting the many enemies you face. It is very similar to Dark Souls and Bloodborne, which is good. It is not so much about difficulty, but more about character development, so to see a game like this succeed in this is breathtaking and mind-blowing.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted to be a mixed bag; while some players find it amusing, especially in the context of its challenging gameplay and character development, others feel that the grind can detract from the fun. The incorporation of history and culture adds a layer of humor, though the necessity to pay for colorful features is seen as ironic. Overall, players appreciate the skill-based nature of the game and its comedic elements.
“Although a little hard to master, you'd be laughing at your enemies if you did.”
“I find it funny to play.”
“When you add history and culture to gameplay and art style, a masterpiece is born, but something funny is that you need to pay for things to be colorful. 🤣 But anyway, great game.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the emotional impact of the game, feeling that their in-app purchases are rendered meaningless due to intrusive animations that prevent interaction, leading to a sense of wasted investment.
