Rise of the Ronin: PS5 Review

Developed by Team Ninja
Published by Koei Tecmo Games
Platform: PS5

Continuing their fascination with all things ninja and samurai, and no doubt fired up by the success of Ghost of Tsushima, Koei Tecmo Games' latest release Rise of the Ronin sees the studio leaving the more linear hack and slash path to pursue a more open world game - but with mixed results.

Set in Japan's "Bakumatsu" period, the final years of the Edo era, during an undercurrent of political discord between east and west, Rise of The Ronin puts you in the shoes of a warrior ronin who has a "blade twin", an opposite who complements their own skills in combat.

As the pair embark upon a quest against a backdrop of Japan being forced to open up in 1863, events conspire to send your player on a journey through various regions and on various missions.

It's difficult to launch into specifics of the game's narrative as much has been laid down by Team Ninja that conspires to pull the rug from under the player - but suffice to say, there's as much betrayal and twists as you'd expect in this kind of open world game.

There is much to enjoy in Rise of the Ronin, but it has to be said graphically, the game feels like it has not grasped on the power of the PlayStation 5 and feels in many ways visually like a game from prior generations. It's disappointing to say the least, especially as the game relies on its different locales, violent cut scenes and general interactions with NPCs throughout - but there's a feeling that by not seizing on the best of the tech, this game will age quickly and cause much consternation with those who buy it on the premise of being a PlayStation exclusive.

Fortunately, the open world gameplay and mechanics bring depth to Rise of the Ronin.

While it does feel like a mix of Far Cry, Assassin's Creed and Ghost of Tsushima throughout and struggles to carve its own identity, the depth of what's on offer is more than enough to satiate those willing to spend hours being poured into the world.

From sprawling districts to pastoral lands, to cats and dogs to be petted among the NPCs that litter the game, there's much to do in terms of side quests. And while many of them feel like familiar territory thanks to prior games, there are gameplay tweaks within that make Rise of the Ronin accede to its promise.

Chiefly, its divergent narrative strands and its ability to incorporate and initiate Bonds with other characters give Rise of the Ronin an emotional depth and heft that is worth sinking time in. Early encounters offer you the choice to kill or save enemies, only to have them appear later on as companions or potential threats; equally some key NPCs companions give you the chance to buddy up in conflict and swap characters during an encounter, something which offers a frisson of thrills, even if it is just sadly simply confined to missions alone.

There's a humanity through this sandbox game and one that sees the world of Japan open up more than a traditional fixed narrative, but it also offers an insight into the Edo period that's compelling and engaging (even if it is a little repetitive in terms of missions). The team has built upon worlds and combat elements from games like Nioh, and each encounter offers a need to build combat skills but it proves rewarding and will satiate the time that's needed to be sunk into every fight and subsequent reply.

There is ambition in Rise of the Ronin, and while not all of it is graphically seized upon by the team,  it's certainly a world that has promise in its premise - and one that will suck up your time without realising. It's just a shame that without the requisite polish, Rise of the Ronin could end up overlooked.

Rise of the Ronin releases exclusively on PlayStation.