We tell you what it looks like, what it feels like and what Rise of the Ronin is like in action. Exclusive Preview

Team Ninja is synonymous with best-in-class action gameplay. From Ninja Gaiden to Nioh 2, the fundamental act of swiping a sword or spear (or any number of deadly weapons) is complex and satisfying, often with a challenging but rewarding learning curve.
That The Rise of the Ronin continues this tradition is no surprise – but, its latest work for PlayStation 5 provides much more than satisfying combat. Team Ninja jumped katana first into the crowded open-world space and delivers something exceptionally compelling.
I had the opportunity to play the first few hours of the game, and I’m excited to share with you details about the eclectic sights, sounds, combat, and journey through Yokohama in the Bakumatsu era.
After finishing the linear prologue, the events of which I won’t reveal here, I found myself immersed in the game’s gigantic open world – the first for Team Ninja. Armed with a katana, a Western-style saber, a musket, and a trusty steed, I took the long route to Yokohama, scouring the countryside for materials, climbing to rooftops to pet cats (one of the game’s hidden collectibles), and freeing to the villages from the clutches of bloodthirsty bandits. Ascension of the Ronin does a fabulous job of always keeping something curious in view – finish a side activity, and there’s usually another one just out of reach to grab your attention.
Of course, the bustling port city of Yokohama is the center of this open-world environment (and, later, Edo and Kyoto), and this is where the game comes into its own. Yokohama, at the end of the 19th century, is caught between worlds, having recently been the subject of American “gunboat diplomacy.” This is evident in the city’s eclectic mix of influences: guns and swords, top hats and kimonos; and a fascinating tapestry of traditional Japanese homes and imposing brick structures.
The result is that this place is full of opportunities to explore, and Team Ninja gives the player several tools to take advantage of the city’s verticality. Climbing (or using a grappling hook) to scale buildings, and then using the prototype glider to travel across rooftops, is a breeze. The Rise of the Ronin appealed to me both for its uniquely textured world and the game’s crisp combat.
I also got accommodation in the city, where I could not only hang out, chat, and give gifts to my fellow visitors, but also rearrange furniture, customize the appearance of my ronin, and freely reset skill points.
For those familiar with Team Ninja’s recent series of modern action classics, The Rise of the Ronin places a much greater emphasis on the duel itself. The game achieves this by prioritizing blocks, called Countersparks, which drain your enemy’s Ki (stamina), which in turn makes them vulnerable to horrible critical hits. Optimal gameplay seems to emphasize staying within striking distance and timing your opponents’ attacks to counterattack, rather than the typical attack-and-dodge routine in games of this type. The combination of clanking noises and bright flying sparks give these duels a very cinematic feel – as does the speed with which they can kill their enemies after a Counterspark. Critical hits are varied and brutal, full of detached limbs and huge splashes of blood, making Countersparks worth the significant risk when executing them.
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Some additional gameplay details that caught my attention:
Stealth kills and critical hits will terrify your opponents’ companions, lowering their Ki and making them easier to dispatch. Likewise, killing the toughest enemy leaders first will reduce the Ki of their weaker minions.
The grappling hook can be used to launch explosive barrels towards your opponents, as well as to knock down archers (among other uses).
Blocking incoming bullets ignites his sword, temporarily giving his attacks a temporary damage boost.
The Rise of the Ronin offers the player a lot of flexibility in approaching combat encounters, whether they want to thin out the horde with headshots from afar or hunt down vulnerable sentinels first with stealth attacks. They can even perform surprise attacks while sliding over it.
On certain missions, they may bring companions with whom they have bonded. While they will attack alone, they can also take control of it.