Thanks to their similar approaches to open-world samurai action and historically-rooted narratives, it’s nearly impossible forRise of the Roninto escape comparisons to fellow PlayStation exclusiveGhost of Tsushima. Even thoughRise of the Ronin’s story takes place during a historical period centuries after the events ofGhost of Tsushima, both titles offer players the chance to control samurai protagonists that indefinitely shape the future of Japan through their actions. They also both feature satisfying combat interspersed with exploring a captivating open-world sandbox.Rise of the Roninwalks a similar path to that ofGhost of Tsushimabefore it, setting the stage for the eventualGhost of Tsushimasequel to follow suit.
Ghost of Tsushima’s arrival after the Game of the Year winnerSekiro: Shadows Die Twiceoffered a much more approachable take to the finely-tuned sword-fighting action of FromSoftware’s groundbreaking title, andRise of the Ronincan be seen as refining the template even further. With combat that blends some of the best parts of Team Ninja’s unique spin on the Soulslike genre and a familiar approach to open-world game design,Rise of the Roninis an interesting mix of both innovation and familiarity. If andwhenGhost of Tsushima 2arrives, it would do well to learn from the parts ofRise of the Roninthat succeed while avoiding the missteps it makes.
What Rise of the Ronin Mechanics Should Appear in a Ghost of Tsushima Sequel
Combat inRise of the Roninis arguably the game’s defining feature. Team Ninja has long been known as one of the more unique studios in terms of its combat systems and approach to punishing yet satisfying encounters, andRise of the Ronin’sopen-world approach to a Soulslikeonly serves to reinforce that reputation. There are a myriad of systems at play inRise of the Ronin, from its multiple distinct weapon types and combat styles to the complex and multi-faceted Ally and Bond systems. Even though Team Ninja’s newest game takes a similar leaning toward accessibility asGhost of Tsushima, there are several innovations it brings to the table that aGhost of Tsushimasequel would do well to learn from.
Primary among these is the game’s Bond system, which blends the AI Reinforcement companions fromTeam Ninja’sWo Long: Fallen Dynastywith the Confidants fromPersona 5.Ghost of Tsushimasaw Jin Sakai ally with a small handful of individuals as part of his mission to repel the Mongol invasion of Japan. A sequel should advance this idea to include multiple different companions that accompany the player on missions and receive bonuses for the player’s effort in strengthening relationships with those characters.
A Ghost of Tsushima 2 Could Learn From Rise of the Ronin’s Criticisms
DespiteRise of the Ronin’s similarities toGhost of Tsushima, there are several areas of the game that are a noticeable downgrade from Sucker Punch and Sony’s samurai epic. Perhaps the most obvious of these isRise of the Ronin’s somewhat muted color palette and comparatively drab open-world depiction of Japan when stacked up against the breathtaking vistas on display inGhost of Tsushima. AGhost of Tsushimasequelneeds to continue its signature painterly depiction of historical Japan, regardless of the time period it takes place in or whether it comes at the cost of historical accuracy.
Another lesson that theGhost of Tsushimasequel can learn fromRise of the Roninis with regard to its open-world design and flow of combat.Rise of the Ronin’s open-world gameplayends up landing as being more formulaic, which can be seen as both a positive and a negative attribute. Not only doesGhost of Tsushimaneed to take inspiration from more recent open world games and incorporate more freeform exploration and a sense of meaningful discovery, it needs to maintain the “less is more” approach of the first game’s combat and encounter design in contrast toRise of the Ronin’s more complex, but sometimes overwhelming, combat model.
Rise of the Ronin
WHERE TO PLAY
FORGE YOUR FATE IN THIS EPIC NEW SAMURAI ACTION ADVENTURE Embark on an epic journey across war-torn 19th-century Japan in this combat-focused open-world action RPG from Team NINJA, the veteran studio behind Nioh and NINJA GAIDEN.Japan, 1863. After three centuries of the Tokugawa Shogunate’s reign, the Black Ships of the West descend upon the nation’s borders and the country falls into a state of turmoil. Amidst the chaos of war, disease, and political unrest, a nameless warrior forges their own path, holding the very fate of Japan in their hands
