Rise Of Ronin

Team Ninja's Rise of the Ronin finds itself at a crossroads of identity, attempting to marry elements from various gaming genres into a single cohesive experience.

- ZELDA LEE

With inspirations drawn from the Souls series' unforgiving combat to the clandestine manoeuvrings reminiscent of stealth games, this PlayStation 5 exclusive ambitiously blends influences ranging from another of Sony's samurai-inspired title Ghost of Tsushima's historical elements, to Sega's Persona 5's stylistic flair.

Rise of Ronin is set in the tumultuous era of late 19th century Japan, immersing you in the role of a ronin navigating through a country on the brink of transformation. If you know your history, this is a period that marks Japan's hesitant embrace of Western technology and culture, a move that brought with it not only innovation but also the spectres of invasion and disease.

As the nation finds itself torn between the Shogunate's desire to adopt Western advancements while retaining power, and the Expulsionists' push to reject foreign influence and reclaim isolation, you embark on a quest to reunite with your 'blade twin'.

As your journey progresses, you'll find that the game isn't just a personal odyssey for the protagonist, but also a reflection of a nation grappling with change and the cost of progress.

This makes the open world of Rise of the Ronin quite remarkable, with a sprawling canvas of meticulously designed maps that invite exploration each territory brimming with side missions and dynamic world events that beckon at every turn. Visually, the game does not hit the highs of Ghost of Tsushima but it's still a feast for the eyes and I've spent hours just immersed in exploration.