Rise of the Ronin is an action RPG set in mid-19th century Japan around the time of the Boshin War.
The game follows a fictional tale of two children who survived a massacre by Shogunate forces and were raised as assassins, known as Blade Twins. Players control this customizable pair with a robust character creator.
Rise of the Ronin, a new PS5 exclusive action RPG developed by Team Ninja, offers an immersive open-world historical epic set in mid-19th century Japan around the time of the Boshin War. The game follows a fictional tale of two children who survived a massacre by Shogunate forces and were raised as assassins, known as Blade Twins. Players control this customizable pair with a robust character creator.
The game is primarily focused on parry-heavy core mechanics to an impressive degree, offering multi-layered combat that provides loads of variety. The open world is rich and diverse, filled with activities and polished sandbox mechanics that keep players engaged.
Rise of the Ronin offers a unique blend of historical detail set in the Bakumatsu era while incorporating Western thought and culture into the nation as the samurai sun fully sets on the horizon. The game tells a story of political upheaval and revolution, allowing players to explore 19th century Japan with an impressive level of immersion.
Despite its strengths, Rise of the Ronin is not without flaws. Critics have noted that collecting items for various quest-givers can feel shallow and become busywork over time. Additionally, some reviewers found the combat system clumsy and highly repetitive, requiring players to use counterspark to repel enemy attacks and deplete their Ki meter.
Overall, Rise of the Ronin is a solid action RPG experience that could have been stronger. While it offers an engaging open world with diverse activities and captivating storytelling, its combat system may feel repetitive for some players. Nonetheless, Team Ninja has delivered another impressive title in their growing catalog of games.
The game is set in mid-19th century Japan around the time of the Boshin War that resulted in the end of Tokugawa Shogunate following forced reopening of Japan.
Follows fictional tale of two children who survived massacre by Shogunate forces and raised as assassins, known as Blade Twins. Customizable pair with robust character creator.
The game is primarily focused on parry-heavy core mechanics to an impressive degree.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author states that Rise of the Ronin confounds them but then proceeds to list multiple positive aspects of the game such as its combat and historical fiction world. This contradicts their initial statement and creates a false impression that they are not enjoying or appreciating certain aspects of the game.
The article mentions bloat, stereotypical Ubisoft Map With Tons of Icons to Clear, an outrageous amount of loot loaded with meaningless incremental stat upgrades. These statements suggest negative aspects but then proceeds to list positive aspects such as historical fiction world and characters.
The author states 'Rise of the Ronin confounds me.' but then proceeds to list multiple positive aspects of the game such as its combat and historical fiction world. This contradicts their initial statement and creates a false impression that they are not enjoying or appreciating certain aspects of the game.
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that Rise of the Ronin is heavily weighed down by the forces of the All Game: bloat and stereotypical Ubisoft Map With Tons of Icons to Clear. This statement implies that these are inherently negative qualities, which may not be true for all games or maps. Additionally, the author uses a dichotomy fallacy when stating that Rise of the Ronin is an action game with combat that's a cut above most of its peers and heavily weighed down by bloat and stereotypical Ubisoft Map With Tons of Icons to Clear. This creates an either/or situation, implying that these two qualities are mutually exclusive when they may not be. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when stating that Rise of the Ronin would have been a lot more fondly remembered if there was a lot less of it, which is subjective and could vary from person to person.
The article states that Rise of the Ronin is heavily weighed down by bloat and stereotypical Ubisoft Map With Tons of Icons to Clear. This implies these are inherently negative qualities, which may not be true for all games or maps.
Bias
(75%)
The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses language that depicts one side as extreme or unreasonable by referring to the Shogunate forces as 'massacre' and using phrases like 'forced reopening'. Additionally, the author mentions an outrageous amount of loot loaded with meaningless incremental stat upgrades which suggests a monetary bias. The article also contains examples of religious bias by mentioning historical figures such as Commodore Matthew Perry.
An outrageous amount of loot loaded with meaningless incremental stat upgrades
Commodore Matthew Perry is mentioned
The Shogunate forces are referred to as 'massacre'
Rise of the Ronin is Team Ninja's first open-world game.
The game is set in 19th century Japan and tells a historical story of political upheaval and revolution.
Collecting cats for one quest-giver, foreign books for another, photographs for a third, and so on starts out feeling shallow but ends up becoming busywork that grates over time.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in its portrayal of Rise of the Ronin as a game that offers variety and excitement. The author repeatedly praises the parry mechanic while criticizing other aspects of the game such as quests and enemy variety. This creates an impression that Rise of the Ronin is more exciting than it actually is, when in reality it lacks diversity in its mechanics.
The article repeatedly praises the parry mechanic while criticizing other aspects of the game such as quests and enemy variety.
Fallacies
(70%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that Team Ninja is a developer that primarily focuses on tightly designed levels and then criticizes the open-world execution of Rise of the Ronin as being standard and lacking in variety. This statement implies that because Team Ninja has a reputation for creating well-designed games, their decision to create an open world game must be flawed. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that seeing the wisdom in many of the decisions made in Rise of the Ronin is difficult and comparing it to a mad world where strange or unconventional ideas may actually be wise. This statement implies that because Rise of the Ronin does not fit into a conventional mold, it must be flawed. The author also uses dichotomous depiction by stating that while collecting cats for one quest-giver and foreign books for another is shallow and ends up crumbling into busywork over time, but then later states that these activities are meant to freshen up the standard gameplay loop with distractions. This statement implies that because Rise of the Ronin has both good and bad aspects, it must be flawed.
The author uses an appeal to authority by stating 'Team Ninja is a developer that primarily focuses on tightly designed levels' and then criticizes the open-world execution of Rise of the Ronin as being standard and lacking in variety. This statement implies that because Team Ninja has a reputation for creating well-designed games, their decision to create an open world game must be flawed.
The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating 'seeing the wisdom in many of the decisions made in Rise of the Ronin is difficult' and comparing it to a mad world where strange or unconventional ideas may actually be wise. This statement implies that because Rise of the Ronin does not fit into a conventional mold, it must be flawed.
The author uses dichotomous depiction by stating 'collecting cats for one quest-giver and foreign books for another is shallow and ends up crumbling into busywork over time' but then later states that these activities are meant to freshen up the standard gameplay loop with distractions. This statement implies that because Rise of the Ronin has both good and bad aspects, it must be flawed.
Bias
(75%)
The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses the phrase 'mad world' to imply that those who are not part of their own group or ideology are mad, which is a form of religious bias. Additionally, the use of phrases such as 'open-world execution', 'distractions', and 'combat diversity' suggest that there is an expectation for certain types of gameplay and mechanics to be present in open world games, implying monetary bias.
Rise of the Ronin is a solid action RPG experience that could, and probably should, have been stronger.
Multi-layered combat offers loads of variety
Plenty to explore in every corner of the map
Just about everything can feel repetitive after time - Visuals a little rough around the edges
Rise of the Ronin is deceptively deep. You can absolutely play and enjoy this multi-systemed, open-world action-RPG without having sampled any of Team Ninja's back catalog beforehand.
If you have taken the likes of Nioh, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty or, going back a little further, Ninja Gaiden for a spin in the past, there’s a good chance you’ll settle into the structured rhythm the developer has delivered so well in previous outings.
Rise of the Ronin does eventually let you stray from the beaten path to tackle its checkpoints and sandbox side-missions as you please, but there's a precise cadence to its questing and conquering that often feels formulaic.
Accuracy
The game is called Rise of the Ronin Review
Players assume control of two characters: fated Blade Twins, a dual warrior unit for the Veiled Edge, specially trained by the Kurosu clan to oppose their shogunate overlords. They were brought together when their native village was destroyed by spies and torn apart again in the tutorial level during an assassination mission gone awry.
The combat system is clumsy and highly repetitive. Players must use counterspark to repel an enemy's attack and deplete their Ki meter, which allows players to deploy critical hits once their Ki is depleted.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in its use of language to make the game sound more impressive than it actually is. The author uses phrases such as 'solid action RPG experience' and 'deceivingly deep', but these are misleading because while the game may have some good aspects, it also has many flaws that detract from those positive elements.
The article describes the game as a solid action RPG experience. However, this is not entirely accurate as there are several issues with the game's mechanics and overall quality.
Fallacies
(75%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(75%)
The article is biased towards the idea that Rise of the Ronin could have been stronger. The author uses phrases like 'deceptively deep' and 'it should be stronger'. They also use language to suggest that there are flaws in the game such as repetition and rough visuals, but do not provide any evidence for these claims.
Just about everything can feel repetitive after time - Visuals a little rough around the edges
Rise of the Ronin is a solid action RPG experience that could, and probably should, have been stronger. It's fun but too familiar in the grand pantheon of similar offerings
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses the game Rise of the Ronin and its developer Team Ninja. The author mentions that they have played Nioh and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, which are also developed by Team Ninja. Additionally, the author notes that Sony Interactive Entertainment owns both PlayStation 5 and Team Ninja.
The article discusses Rise of the Ronin's developer, stating 'Team Ninja is a studio with a rich history in action games', which could be seen as an example of financial ties.
The article notes that Sony Interactive Entertainment owns PlayStation 5, the console on which Rise of the Ronin is exclusive.
The author mentions that they have played Nioh and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, both developed by Team Ninja.
It was developed by Team Ninja, a subsidiary of Koei Tecmo Games
Players assume control of two characters: fated Blade Twins, a dual warrior unit for the Veiled Edge, specially trained by the Kurosu clan to oppose their shogunate overlords. They were brought together when their native village was destroyed by spies and torn apart again in the tutorial level during an assassination mission gone awry.
The combat system is clumsy and highly repetitive. Players must use counterspark to repel an enemy's attack and deplete their Ki meter, which allows players to deploy critical hits once their Ki is depleted.
Accuracy
Enemy variety is severely lacking with most missions consisting of a horde of two to three sword-bearing fighters attacking at once. Other games have used brutes as extra challenges but the Ronin equivalents are 10 feet tall and wide as five men, which left players wondering where these superhuman beings came from.
The game is out now on PlayStation 5 and has a score of 5/10.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that “Rise of the Ronin” never rises to the same level of excellence as Sucker Punch's critically-acclaimed 2020 release “Ghost of Tsushima.” However, this is not true. While both games take place in Japan and feature samurai warriors swinging their swords in an action-adventure open world, they are vastly different. For example, while “Ronin” takes place about 600 years after “Ghost,” both games have unique storylines and gameplay mechanics that set them apart. Additionally, the author claims that the bond between the two twins in “Ronin” is not fleshed out enough to make players really care. However, this is also false. The article mentions several times how much time and effort was put into creating detailed characters for each twin, which suggests that they were meant to be more than just a plot device. Finally, the author claims that choices in “Ronin” have no impact on the game's story or outcome. However, this is also false. The article mentions several times how players must make decisions that affect their journey and ultimately determine which faction they align with.
The author claims that the bond between the two twins in “Ronin” is not fleshed out enough to make players really care. However, this is also false. The article mentions several times how much time and effort was put into creating detailed characters for each twin, which suggests that they were meant to be more than just a plot device.
The author claims that “Rise of the Ronin” never rises to the same level of excellence as Sucker Punch's critically-acclaimed 2020 release “Ghost of Tsushima.” However, this is not true. While both games take place in Japan and feature samurai warriors swinging their swords in an action-adventure open world, they are vastly different.
The author claims that choices in “Ronin” have no impact on the game's story or outcome. However, this is also false. The article mentions several times how players must make decisions that affect their journey and ultimately determine which faction they align with.
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses a false dilemma when she presents the player with only two choices: Pro-Shogunate or Anti-Shogunate (False Dilemma). She also makes an appeal to authority by stating that 'most battles felt exactly the same as the previous one' without providing any evidence for this claim (Appeal to Authority). The author engages in inflammatory rhetoric when she describes the brute enemies as 'super-human beings' and wonders where they came from, implying that their presence is unrealistic or absurd (Inflammatory Rhetoric). Lastly, the author uses a dichotomous depiction of the game by presenting it as either excellent or plagued by clunky combat and an uninspired story (Dichotomous Depiction).
The key to staying alive in battle is the “counterspark,” a parry that allows you to repel an enemy’s attack and deplete their Ki meter. Once their Ki is depleted, they can no longer perform actions, giving you the opportunity to deploy a devastating critical hit.
Bias
(75%)
The author has a clear bias towards the game's story and characters. They frequently use language that demeans or belittles certain aspects of the game, such as calling it 'uninspired' and criticizing its lack of depth in character development. The author also uses comparisons to other games, which may be seen as a form of bias towards those games.
a silent protagonist can certainly work, but when the lead of Ronin is surrounded by equally forgettable allies and making nonsensical decisions that will affect the future of Japan, it seems fitting that she only speaks once in a blue moon.
the bond between the twins isn't fleshed out enough
The game had other ideas. While you make hundreds of choices that seemingly affect your journey, you're also forced into dozens of missions that completely contradict your decisions.
Rise of the Ronin offers a busy and beautiful open-world samurai sandbox to explore while adding a few smart new ideas to the genre.
Follows fictional tale of two children who survived massacre by Shogunate forces and raised as assassins, known as Blade Twins. Customizable pair with robust character creator.
Accuracy
The game is set in mid-19th century Japan around the time of the Boshin War that resulted in the end of Tokugawa Shogunate following forced reopening of Japan.
Players assume control of two characters: fated Blade Twins, a dual warrior unit for the Veiled Edge, specially trained by the Kurosu clan to oppose their shogunate overlords. They were brought together when their native village was destroyed by spies and torn apart again in the tutorial level during an assassination mission gone awry.
The combat system is clumsy and highly repetitive. Players must use counterspark to repel an enemy's attack and deplete their Ki meter, which allows players to deploy critical hits once their Ki is depleted.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(75%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(75%)
The article is biased towards the game Rise of the Ronin. The author uses language that praises and compliments the game throughout their review. They also make comparisons to other games such as Ghost of Tsushima which puts Rise of the Ronin in a positive light.
Rise of the Ronin offers a unique samurai sandbox set in the Bakumatsu era with impressive historical detail.
Team Ninja excels in creating a rich open world with diverse activities, polished sandbox mechanics, and captivating storytelling.
The game features intricate character creation, impactful decisions, and engaging combat mechanics.
