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Ryse: Son of Rome

Beautiful graphics and scenery, but Ryse's combat fails to reach the level expected of modern brawlers. Worth a playthrough for action fans, but little lasting appeal outside showing off your rig's technical chops.
Ryse: Son of Rome Game Cover
75%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
optimization, replayability
85% User Score Based on 11,671 reviews
Critic Score 63%Based on 9 reviews

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Ryse: Son of Rome Game Cover

About

Ryse: Son of Rome is a single player and multiplayer hack and slash game with a historical theme. It was developed by Crytek and was released on October 10, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Ryse: Son of Rome" is an action-adventure game set in ancient Rome, following the story of Marius Titus, a Roman soldier seeking revenge for his family's murder. As he rises through the ranks, Marius must become a leader and defender of the Empire, with his destiny leading him back home. The game features brutal combat and 4K resolution support for a detailed and immersive experience.

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Ryse: Son of Rome screenshot
Ryse: Son of Rome screenshot
Ryse: Son of Rome screenshot
Ryse: Son of Rome screenshot
Ryse: Son of Rome screenshot
Ryse: Son of Rome screenshot
Ryse: Son of Rome screenshot
Ryse: Son of Rome screenshot
Ryse: Son of Rome screenshot
Ryse: Son of Rome screenshot
Ryse: Son of Rome screenshot
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85%
Audience ScoreBased on 11,671 reviews
story3.3k positive mentions
optimization230 negative mentions
  • story
    6,482 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Ryse: Son of Rome" is a linear revenge narrative centered around the protagonist, Marius Titus, who seeks vengeance for his family's murder amidst the backdrop of ancient Rome. While the plot is often described as predictable and clichéd, it is delivered through stunning visuals and cinematic cutscenes that enhance the overall experience, making it feel more like an interactive movie. Despite its brevity—typically around 5 to 7 hours—the story captivates players with its emotional moments and engaging character arcs, though many reviewers express a desire for a longer and more developed narrative.

    • “This game is honestly one of my favorites; I may not have sunk months of my life into it, but every time I boot it up, I'm enthralled in the story and the frankly quite good combat system!”
    • “The story is compelling, albeit a classic tale of revenge, and is an excellent roughly 6-hour experience.”
    • “The story is engaging but far from historical accuracy and entirely set in a comic-book-esque fantasy with Roman elements to provide flavor.”
    • “The plot is just dumb; it starts grounded but by the end it felt like they just gave up. It seems to want to be taken seriously but comes off a little try-hard, and it ends super abruptly, much like this review.”
    • “The story is a typical fight for the glory of Rome. I mean, using the gods of the original pantheon could make the story more cohesive and natural.”
    • “The story is incredibly generic, predictable, and lacks depth. It feels like a cookie-cutter revenge tale with one-dimensional characters.”
  • graphics
    4,107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Ryse: Son of Rome" have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers noting that they still hold up impressively well even years after its release in 2013. The game showcases stunning visuals, detailed environments, and realistic character models, often described as "eye candy" and a benchmark for graphical fidelity in gaming. However, some players have pointed out performance issues and repetitive gameplay, suggesting that while the graphics are exceptional, they may overshadow the game's other shortcomings.

    • “Ryse: Son of Rome is a total eye candy game, like, graphics on fleek!”
    • “The graphics look pretty good even after the game has been out for a decade.”
    • “The game is a visual masterpiece, with amazing graphics that still hold up today.”
    • “I have a Ryzen 7 5700G and a 6600XT with 64GB of RAM, well above the recommended specs, yet even on minimum graphics and many configuration 'solutions' from the internet, I can't get past 17 FPS.”
    • “The game is Xbox's equivalent of The Order: 1886: a mind-numbingly unrelenting spectacle of flashy graphics and set-pieces, but utterly mediocre in every other respect.”
    • “It is clear that this game was supposed to be carried by its visuals, but 10 years later that isn't enough.”
  • gameplay
    2,988 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Ryse: Son of Rome" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitive nature and simplistic mechanics. While the combat is visually impressive and features satisfying execution animations, it often devolves into a cycle of button-mashing and quick-time events, leading to a lack of depth and variety. Despite its engaging story and stunning graphics, the linear gameplay and limited enemy types contribute to a feeling of monotony, making it more of a cinematic experience than a robust gaming adventure.

    • “The gameplay is fun and has its fair share of merits and demerits.”
    • “The game's ability to immerse players in a vividly realized ancient Rome, combined with its emotional storytelling and robust gameplay mechanics, makes it a must-play for fans of the action-adventure genre.”
    • “The gameplay is visually spectacular, yet quite repetitive.”
    • “The gameplay is so repetitive and monotonous...”
    • “The actual campaign gameplay was rather short and most of it was just fighting the same 5 enemy types in different environments.”
    • “The gameplay is nothing special, and is really just a simplified version of Batman: Arkham mechanics.”
  • optimization
    566 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering and fluctuating frame rates, even on high-end hardware. While some users have found workarounds and fixes through community guides, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, requiring manual adjustments to achieve smoother gameplay. Despite its visual appeal, the optimization problems detract from the experience, making it a frustrating play for many.

    • “I played this game on my Steam Deck on medium-high settings at 60fps and I just couldn't believe that playing a game that looks like this in the comfort of my bed without any compromise in performance was possible, but here I was.”
    • “The developers also took care of optimization - thanks to which you will find smooth gameplay without freezes.”
    • “If you fix all the upcoming performance issues like 'low-cpu usage', 'low-gpu usage', stutters, frame-skips etc (which are very easy to fix if you have a somewhat decent PC) then this game will give you flagship level graphics, stunning environment, mind-blowing soundtracks & not to forget the short-n-lovely story.”
    • “Terrible performance on high-end hardware, seems like a very bad port, given the numerous complaints on the internet from the time it released up until now.”
    • “The game is unoptimized; I could barely get 60fps during the first hour of playthrough, moving around with the character feels clunky and janky, combat is basically mash one button till the enemy is weak and then execute him by means of a QTE.”
    • “The stuttering still persists from time to time, along with some frame drops; safe to say the game's optimization isn't great. Many other people have the same issue, while some have better hardware specifications than I do.”
  • music
    431 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Ryse: Son of Rome" is widely praised for its epic orchestral soundtrack that enhances the game's dramatic and immersive atmosphere, fitting well with the ancient Roman theme. Many reviewers noted that the soundtrack effectively complements the gameplay and cutscenes, creating a cinematic experience, although some found it forgettable or not particularly memorable. Overall, the music is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing significantly to its emotional impact and overall enjoyment.

    • “The soundtrack is epic and immersive, with orchestral and choir music that matches the mood of each scene.”
    • “With its epic soundtrack and cinematic presentation, Ryse: Son of Rome delivers an immersive journey that will leave players captivated from start to finish.”
    • “The music is beautiful and the graphics are stunning, but it's the story I think that stands out the most.”
    • “The music is pretty much nonexistent; I can't recall a single song I heard now that I finished the game, where with other games, some at least stick with me (in some cases I even add them to my playlist).”
    • “Boring characters, boring combat, boring music.”
    • “The soundtrack is completely forgettable; at no point did the OST shine through with any good music.”
  • replayability
    198 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with many players noting its short campaign length of around 6-10 hours and a lack of meaningful content to encourage multiple playthroughs. While some aspects, such as multiplayer modes and collectibles, offer limited replay value, the repetitive gameplay and linear design detract from the overall experience, leading to a consensus that it may not hold players' interest for long after the initial playthrough.

    • “The cooperative multiplayer mode adds replayability and teamwork to the mix.”
    • “The colosseum mode provides a replayable experience, testing players' combat skills and offering rewards for their performance.”
    • “It's short, but has great replayability.”
    • “The issue is this game is short, and lacks replay value.”
    • “Once the main campaign is completed, the game offers limited replay value.”
    • “The campaign will roll credits after about 6 hours of gameplay, with very little replay value, and unskippable cutscenes.”
  • atmosphere
    171 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in "Ryse: Son of Rome" is widely praised for its immersive and visually stunning representation of ancient Rome, enhanced by high-quality graphics, a compelling soundtrack, and excellent voice acting. Players feel a strong connection to the setting, with many noting the game's ability to evoke the grandeur and brutality of the Roman era, making it a standout feature despite its relatively short gameplay. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as captivating, transporting players into a richly detailed world that feels both epic and authentic.

    • “The atmosphere is beautiful in this game and it gives a feeling of the gladiator.”
    • “The soundtrack creates a sense of epic grandeur, enhancing the Roman atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics of the game are top notch; attention to detail makes the player immerse himself in the atmosphere of that time.”
    • “The atmosphere is what carries this experience to a passable state.”
    • “Sometimes boring and linear gameplay, but the atmosphere saves it!”
    • “Rather than decent graphics and atmosphere, it feels shallow and empty.”
  • stability
    145 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly during cutscenes and critical moments. While some users experienced smooth performance and minimal issues, others faced significant freezing and crashing, especially on certain hardware configurations. Overall, the game is described as "buggy" but still enjoyable for some, though many recommend caution due to its technical shortcomings.

    • “Runs great on Steam Deck, and looks great for its age.”
    • “I get good frame rates at over 110fps and it's smooth and runs very well with no glitches or noticeable bugs.”
    • “I experienced no glitches or technical problems.”
    • “I really liked this game when I played it on the Xbox, but now I can't finish the game because it freezes in a cutscene and I can't even skip it. This happens in the second final chapter, and the game also runs poorly, even with a 6950 XT and a 7 7700X.”
    • “The game freezes even though I have adequate hardware to run it.”
    • “This game is riddled with bugs and glitches and some of the most ridiculous fight mechanics I've ever seen.”
  • grinding
    137 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players feeling that it requires an excessive amount of time and effort to progress, particularly in multiplayer modes. Combat mechanics quickly become stale, leading to a frustrating experience as players often find themselves engaged in monotonous tasks to level up or unlock achievements. Overall, while some players appreciate the game's visuals and story, the grinding elements detract significantly from the enjoyment.

    • “Definitely better than the current button mashing stuff we have in recent AC games, recommended for those who seek a relatively short and linear game, with no tedious grind that takes the players out of the game.”
    • “If you have the XP buff on when you kill the enemies, then there is no grinding necessary.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The boss battles, on the other hand, are tedious, annoying, and downright unfun to play.”
    • “The combat system was easy to master, and then it just got easy and tedious.”
  • emotional
    76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Ryse: Son of Rome" is a mixed bag, with many players praising its cinematic storytelling and character development that evoke strong feelings, particularly during key moments in the narrative. However, some reviewers criticize the story for being predictable and lacking depth, which diminishes its emotional impact. Overall, while the game offers visually stunning and emotionally charged experiences, its narrative execution leaves some players feeling disconnected.

    • “The game's ability to immerse players in a vividly realized ancient Rome, combined with its emotional storytelling and robust gameplay mechanics, makes it a must-play for fans of the action-adventure genre.”
    • “The story of Marius Titus is emotionally engaging, as players witness his transformation from a loyal soldier to a vengeful warrior.”
    • “Ryse: Son of Rome is a visually stunning and emotionally gripping adventure that transports players to the heart of ancient Rome.”
    • “Boring story and plot.”
    • “If you think this has a story, it has a very boring story.”
    • “I wanted interesting story and immersive combat, and I get a boring storyline and boring combat.”
  • humor
    67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is often described as unintentional and absurd, with players finding amusement in its over-the-top executions, buggy mechanics, and ridiculous plot points. Many reviews highlight the comedic value of the voice acting, particularly the British accents, and the game's numerous visual glitches, which contribute to a lighthearted experience despite its serious themes. Overall, while the game may not take itself seriously, it provides plenty of laughs through its quirky design and execution.

    • “Those over-the-top executions had me giggling like a gladiator on laughing gas.”
    • “The combat system is brilliant although can be pretty funny whilst executions: every enemy just looks at you doing nothing while you brutally murder their friend right in front of them.”
    • “The plot and historic accuracy is hilariously bad (the latter especially; boudicca riding an elephant in rome).”
    • “You spend more time laughing and crying than playing.”
    • “The jokes fall flat and feel forced, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
    • “The humor is so over-the-top that it becomes cringeworthy rather than funny.”
  • character development
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the strong personal journey of the protagonist, while others criticize the overall lack of depth and emotional engagement in the narrative. Many reviews highlight that character progression feels superficial, often limited to statistical boosts rather than meaningful growth, leading to a generic and rushed storyline. Despite some commendable character designs and moments of development, the consensus suggests that the game falls short in delivering a compelling and immersive character-driven experience.

    • “Character development: the game features strong character development, particularly the protagonist, whose journey is both heroic and personal.”
    • “The character development between the player and Marius increases exponentially with every chapter with brutal combat and conflict with the barbarians.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, the character development is phenomenal, and the story is interesting enough for how short it is.”
    • “The lack of depth in terms of story and character development was also a letdown, as I was hoping for a more complex narrative to match the game's impressive visuals.”
    • “The story is lack in emotion and character development.”
    • “I didn’t expect much, but the character development and motivations just make no sense and left me uninterested and unimmersed.”
  • monetization
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of "Ryse" has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its lack of microtransactions in the Steam release, while others criticize the presence of predatory microtransactions in multiplayer modes. Overall, many users express a preference for the game's focus on pure gameplay without the interference of additional costs, highlighting a nostalgic return to simpler gaming experiences.

    • “In an era free from microtransactions and padded gameplay, 'Ryse' stands as a testament to the essence of what video games used to be - pure fun and challenge without any fluff.”
    • “But in a world of overly complex systems, microtransactions, DLCs, and so on, I must say that 'Ryse' is one of the games I've been most impressed by recently.”
    • “While a subject of controversy for being a flagship of Xbox One with microtransactions, all of this has been removed from the Steam release and now, it's glorious.”
    • “Microtransactions - pointless and predatory.”
    • “I think the devs want you to play multiplayer and spend more money on microtransactions.”
    • “There is a multiplayer element which may interest some; a sort of two-player co-op mode in that you are pitted against waves of enemies in a challenge mode. Sadly, you can also find some annoying microtransactions in this mode too, allowing you to use your real-life money for items in-game.”
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63%Critics’ scoreBased on 9 critic reviews
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7h Median play time
16h Average play time
6h Main story
20h Completionist
6-10h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 128 analyzed playthroughs
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Ryse: Son of Rome is a hack and slash game with historical theme.

Ryse: Son of Rome is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox One, Windows and others.

The main story can be completed in around 6 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 20 hours to finish. On average players spend around 16 hours playing Ryse: Son of Rome.

Ryse: Son of Rome was released on October 10, 2014.

Ryse: Son of Rome was developed by Crytek.

Ryse: Son of Rome has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Ryse: Son of Rome is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, Tomb Raider, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow and others.