Rise of the Ronin review: Team Ninja goes mainstream with a brilliant action-adventure title

After seven years in development, Team Ninja’s Rise of the Ronin is finally set to launch. The game is set in the Bakumatsu era and depicts various historical figures in a dramatized representation of feudal Japan. Team Ninja has managed to deliver an amazing game that draws parallels from the likes of Ghost of Tsushima, among others.

Despite superficial similarities, make no mistake — Rise of the Ronin is very much a Team Ninja game, possessing the same adrenaline-fuelled combat and challenging difficulty the developer has grown a reputation for. Unfortunately, this also extends into its weaknesses, and Ronin exhibits eerily similar problems — which can be rather disappointing for what is an overall solid package.

The game does feel like a natural evolution for Team Ninja. It aims to be a title that is more accessible and far less niche — something that I appreciate. Despite its technical faults, Ronin is an amazing game for the PlayStation 5 and probably the best game by the developer yet.

Rise of the Ronin has a heavy emphasis on its story, offering distinct, impactful choices

In sharp contrast to other Team Ninja titles, Rise of the Ronin places greater emphasis on its story and game world. This works out largely in its favor, and there was never a dull moment in my 22-hour-long, admittedly rushed playthrough of the game.

Certain parts of the game do feel rushed though - especially with regards to the introductory section and the parts revolving around the antagonist’s motivations. A slightly longer campaign would have been appreciated, especially when it comes to tying up certain quests and loose ends with a satisfactory conclusion.

One thing that surprised me was the depth of choices on offer. These choices do affect