Summary
Team Ninja’s latest release,Rise of the Ronin, is a noticeable change from the studio’s previous works in a number of ways. Having produced a number of well-received Soulslikes that often contained supernatural elements and flavor to their worlds,Rise of the Roninveers from these aspects and instead plants itself more firmly in historical realism territory, while also leaning towards the Soulslite end of the genre spectrum, involving less steep difficulty and learning curves than seen in the developer’s other games.
Another major departure is inRise of the Ronin’s setting and tone. Rather than the often romanticized medieval/feudal era of Japanese history seen in many other games,Rise of the Roninis set in an open-world version of Japan’s Yokohama and surrounding areas, during the mid-19th century. This was a period when sweeping changes were taking place across the world, and due to them and other circumstances, Japan found itself the focus of various foreign interests, and at a crucial decision on how it would move forward in its placement on the global stage, whichRotRcaptures in its world and characters.
How Rise of the Ronin’s Rapidly Changing Historical Japan is Reflected in Its Characters
Rise of the Ronin’s Historical Setting, Explained
Though the two are readily compared at a glance due to their look and style,Ghost of Tsushimawas set in the 1200s during a Mongol invasion, centuries prior toRise of the Ronin’s 1863, the burgeoning Industrial Age and specifically the Bakumatsu—the close of Japan’s Edo period (c. 1853–1867). This marked a massive turning point for the country and its cultures, as it found itself at a crossroads during several other important economic and societal shifts that were occurring around the world.
Japan had enacted strict isolationist/nonintervention policies under the Tokugawa Shogunate in the years leading up to this time. AsRotRopens, though, various pro and anti-Shogunate factions have emerged and splintered from each other, all making their impassioned cases for the benefits and risks of bringing Japan into the wider global network, and coming into physical conflict at times.
Western and European interests like Britain, America, and others turned their gaze toward the East and the possibilities of trade and partnerships that might be found by establishing working relations with Japan’s ruling shogunate of the time.
Rise of the Ronin’s protagonist is caught directly in the middle of this political/armed struggle and meets many characters and companions with their own nuanced takes on the situation. This idea is even reflected inRise of the Ronin’s difficulty settings, with Dawn, Dusk, and Twilight representing the theme of the sun metaphorically setting on the period, bringing with it both prospects of prosperity and uncertainty for Japan’s place in a rapidly evolving world.
Rise of the Ronin’s Characters Offer a Diverse Range of Opinions About its Setting’s Period of Upheaval
The mingling of cultures and ideologies also sometimes resulted in intense clashes, as both attempted to influence the other to their advantage. One of these consequences can be seen inRise of the Ronin’s inclusion of firearms and similar gear, with players being able to utilize both traditional samurai armaments in addition to more modern ones like pistols and rifles. Inventions like horseless carriages, pocket watches, and cameras being important components of its narrative and gameplay are apparent as well.
Throughout the story, the player is presented with a variety of viewpoints via a host of NPCs, with every character having their own opinions and reactions to the ongoing and often tense situation. One of the first companions, fellow ronin Ryoma Sakamoto, comments extensively on the political balancing act as well as on the adaptation, or rejection, of previously unseen technologies that are being introduced to Japan, and their ramifications.
Players can then choose to work with the Shogunate and its representative figures, likeCommodore Matthew Perry inRise of the Ronin. Conversely, players can decide to assist the anti-Shogunate “expulsionist rebels,” who tout the dangers of acquiescing to foreign powers and wish to remain independent of foreign influence. Through these inclusions,Rise of the Ronindepicts one of the most fascinating and under-utilized settings/time periods incredibly well, offering a wealth of historical interest on top of its heart-pounding combat and free-form exploration.
