PS5 Exclusive Samurai Game Rise Of The Ronin Shows Open World Gameplay

Highlights

• Rise of the Ronin is an upcoming PS5-exclusive samurai game set in Japan’s feudal Edo period, allowing players to explore real-life locations.
• The gameplay trailer showcases impressive visuals, immersive combat, and open-world traversal, with similarities to popular titles like Ghost of Tsushima and Sekiro.
• Players can shape the narrative through choices, build bonds with other characters, and even use firearms in combat, making Rise of the Ronin stand out from previous samurai games.

The upcoming PlayStation 5-exclusive samurai game Rise of the Ronin recently showed off some of its open world traversal and combat gameplay in a new trailer. Team Ninja announced Rise of the Ronin during a State of Play in September 2022, with its March 22, 2024 release date being revealed at The Game Awards 2023 nearly a year later. Rise of the Ronin is set in the sunset years of Japan’s feudal Edo period, where players can create their own custom samurai warrior and explore real-life locations like Yokohama, Kyoto, and Edo.

Many Team Ninja fans have compared Rise of the Ronin to the studio’s Nioh series, and its Japanese setting and samurai sword combat have brought to mind other hit titles like Ghost of Tsushima and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Previous trailers have highlighted Rise of the Ronin’s impressive PS5 visuals and history-inspired plot, which the player can shape through narrative choices that will see them build bonds with other characters and define who they are as a lone samurai warrior. Rise of the Ronin’s later setting also allows the use of firearms in combat, something that many believe could help the game stand out from past samurai titles.

More of Rise of the Ronin’s gameplay was revealed during this week’s PlayStation State of Play livestream, giving eager gamers a look at how they will be able to explore Rise of the Ronin’s 19th-century Japanese setting. As shown at the start of this trailer, the custom player character can climb rooftops using a grappling hook-like rope, as well as glide through the air using a retractable device called the “Avicula.”

Rise of the Ronin Gameplay Trailer

The Rise of the Ronin trailer then shifts its focus toward the game’s combat, which utilizes attacks and guards during duels with sword-wielding opponents. Players can use parries to break an enemy’s stance, and switch between different combat styles like in Ghost of Tsushima to better adapt to a given situation. Stealth also plays a role in Rise of the Ronin, as the player can sneak past unsuspecting foes and use their grappling rope to drag an enemy in for a quick kill. Players can also switch between different weapons of the Edo era, such as long spears and firearms.

During Rise of the Ronin’s story, players will join forces with an inventor named Igashichi, who will supply them with new gadgets and weapons to help on their journey. This includes the Fire Pipe, a flamethrower-like weapon that can be used to ignite explosive barrels and set enemies ablaze. Some weapons combine traditional Japanese combat with Western-developed technology to help the player get an edge on tougher opponents and deliver special finishing attacks.

So far, Rise of the Ronin’s gameplay looks quite promising, with sword combat that seemingly channels Ghost of Tsushima and open-world traversal that brings to mind the Batman: Arkham series with its use of grappling hooks and gliders to navigate narrow rooftops. Samurai fans will get to dive into this gameplay for themselves when Rise of the Ronin launches on the PlayStation 5 on March 22.