Team Ninja, a studio renowned for delivering high-quality titles consistently over the years, is poised to release Rise of the Ronin for the PlayStation 5 on March 22. This new venture takes a stab at the open-world RPG genre, promising a blend of traditional Team Ninja gameplay elements with innovative open-world mechanics. Drawing on its rich history of game development and inspiration from industry titans like FromSoftware, Team Ninja aims to carve out a unique space for Rise of the Ronin in the open-world RPG landscape.
An Evocative Start to a Samurai Saga
The game kicks off with an intriguing narrative of two siblings, survivors of a village ravaged by samurais, who are taken under the wing of a seasoned warrior. This foundation lays the groundwork for a dual-character gameplay mechanic, allowing players to switch between the siblings, dubbed the Twin Blades. This feature is not just a novelty; it adds depth to combat and strategy, especially evident in the showdown against the tutorial boss, showcasing the game’s refined parrying system and the satisfyingly gruesome combat that Team Ninja is known for.
Exploring Rise of the Ronin with Depth
After the tutorial, players are unleashed into an expansive world that, while drawing inevitable comparisons to Ghost of Tsushima, carves its own identity by leaning closer to the structure and mechanics seen in Assassin’s Creed titles. The game introduces bandit camps as challenges and incorporates a valor system that deepens the gameplay, especially with its unique approach to skill progression and the consequences of defeat. This open-world approach promises a level of engagement and exploration that fans of the genre will find both familiar and refreshing.
A Mosaic of Inspirations
Rise of the Ronin unabashedly borrows elements from a variety of successful titles, integrating different stances from Nioh, grappling hook mechanics reminiscent of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and exploration aids like a glider and horse, echoing The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. This amalgamation of influences could be seen as Team Ninja’s tribute to the genre’s evolution, offering players a rich tapestry of gameplay experiences.
