Ronin: Two Souls
- May 27, 2021
- M11 Studio
Get on Steam"Ronin: Two Souls" is a narrative-driven game where you follow the journey of Kenji, a resident of a deserted Japanese island, as he navigates relationships and makes tough decisions that alter his life's course. The game features FPP and TPP camera angles, allowing you to interact with characters, form alliances, and even turn enemies into friends. The initial episode serves as early access for players to shape Kenji's character and sets the foundation for future updates.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features beautiful graphics and a refreshing environment that enhances the overall atmosphere.
- It has an original story with interesting quests and engaging exploration elements.
- The combat system, while simple, has potential and can be enjoyable once mastered.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs and technical issues, including quest bugs and performance problems.
- Voice acting and translations are poorly executed, leading to immersion-breaking experiences.
- Combat feels shallow and unchallenging, with a lack of depth in enemy AI and mechanics.
- story36 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as original and intriguing, with beautiful environmental design that encourages exploration. However, players report significant issues with quest bugs, a lack of quest variety, and poor mission tracking, which detracts from the overall narrative experience. Despite these flaws, there is potential for a compelling story if the developers address the current shortcomings.
“It has an original story, and the environment is beautifully designed—truly a work of art.”
“The story is good and has you wanting to explore more and get to know the whole story.”
“I like the stances and blocking aspects of combat and the story is really really cool.”
“The game actually promised 5 chapters, covering Kenji’s story as a samurai, but this plan hasn’t been fulfilled despite 2 years of development.”
“The limited number of interactions, characters, and quests currently featured in [i]ro:ts[/i] make it hard to grasp the quality of the story writing or what caliber of character arc Kenji will have.”
“Typos and grammatical errors are rife, and some lines of dialogue, descriptions, and even quest objectives are not translated at all.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their stunning quality and solid gameplay, though some users note issues such as grainy shadows and flickering visuals, particularly during fast camera movements. While the day-night cycle enhances the overall visual experience, there are still bugs and performance problems that need addressing, especially given that it is an early access title. Overall, the graphics show promise but require further refinement.
“The graphics in this game, before the frame rate randomly went rogue, are stunning.”
“Graphics look good, gameplay is solid, I love the choice and consequence.”
“- The graphics are great; there are some things to be fixed yet, but this is an early access game!”
“Shadows are quite grainy, even when set to epic, and there seems to be a grainy effect to the graphics as a whole, most noticeable when moving the camera quickly or looking at objects closely.”
“The first time this happened, the game had a complete meltdown, breaking all visuals and audio.”
“- all the bugs previously mentioned in graphics and languages”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beauty and immersive qualities, featuring stunning natural environments that evoke an Asian aesthetic. However, some players feel that the combat mechanics detract from this atmosphere, leading to frustration and dullness. Overall, while the visuals and soundtrack enhance the experience, the gameplay can pull players away from the enchanting world.
“It's an extremely beautiful game and the atmosphere is where the game shines.”
“With distinctive areas like a forest of red-leaved trees and another of bamboo, 'ro:ts' first area is a beautiful and atmospheric one that's a pleasure to explore.”
“The soundtrack of 'ro:ts' is a nice one, with pleasant music that fits the game's atmosphere well.”
“The only good feature of this game is the atmosphere; while not perfect and quite similar to others, it at least gives you a grasp of some Asian ambiance, which increases motivation.”
“Some acceptable natural environments reflect an Asian atmosphere.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it dull while others appreciate the easy-to-learn yet addictive combat mechanics. Although the graphics are praised, issues such as bugs and stamina-reducing items negatively impact the overall experience.
“Ronin has easy-to-learn but somewhat addictive combat mechanics.”
“Graphics look good, gameplay is solid, I love the choice and consequence.”
“Pretty dull gameplay.”
“Bugs & mechanics – 1 / 5”
“Gameplay & atmosphere – 1.5 / 5”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its lack of stability, remaining unfinished and buggy for two years, with users reporting optimization issues that lead to performance spikes, freezes, and low frame rates even on capable hardware. The small map size exacerbates the frustration, as players spend excessive time searching for buggy items and missing elements. Overall, it is viewed as a bloated and disappointing title.
“Unfinished and buggy for 2 years.”
“Optimization is ignored; in various moments and areas, even my GTX 1070 card felt spikes, sudden freezes, and low FPS.”
“Ronin: Two Souls just feels like a bloated, buggy, disappointing title.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, with players reporting severe performance drops, including low frame rates and freezing, regardless of graphics settings. Many users express frustration over the lack of improvements in optimization, leading to a disappointing gameplay experience.
“Optimization is crucial for a smooth gaming experience, and this game falls short in that regard.”
“In various moments and areas, even my GTX 1070 card experienced spikes, sudden freezes, and low FPS.”
“Performance issues significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
“It also seems to be poorly optimized. I don't know if it's from the new update or what, but the longer I played, the slower it got, regardless of quality settings. I gave up when it was chugging at 10 fps on both low and epic.”
“If you want to waste your money on a game that has no optimization, no proper combat, no animations, and bad voice acting, you're in the right place.”
“Optimization is ignored; in various moments and areas, even my GTX 1070 card experienced spikes, sudden freezes, and low fps.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in *ro:ts* is generally well-received, earning a score of 3.5 out of 5, with users noting that the pleasant soundtrack complements the game's atmosphere effectively.
“The soundtrack of [i]ro:ts[/i] is a nice one, with pleasant music that fits the game's atmosphere well.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is considered somewhat amusing, but it detracts from the overall atmosphere, potentially disrupting immersion for players.
“The humor in this game is cleverly woven into the storyline, making every moment enjoyable.”
“I found myself laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and hilarious character interactions.”
“The comedic elements are perfectly timed, adding a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.”
