Summary
Soulslike fans have a lot to look forward to in 2024, including the latest game from developer Team Ninja,Rise of the Ronin, which received a new trailer at The Game Awards 2023.Rise of the Roninappears to follow in the footsteps of past games fromTeam Ninja, like theNiohseries andWo Long: Fallen Dynasty, combining Soulslike elements with innovative world traversal and combat maneuvers. However, it’s obvious from this latest trailer that the game thatRise of the Roninappears to be taking the most inspiration from is FromSoftware’s GOTY-winning titleSekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Although the Soulslike genre is growing every year, no game has been able to truly capture the feel of2019’sSekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which elevated FromSoftware’s Soulslike formula to new heights with its smooth and fluid gameplay unlike any past Soulslike game before. While the innovative mechanics and usual polish of FromSoftware games earnedSekirothe Game of the Year Award at The Game Awards 2019, there hasn’t been a sequel in the years since, leaving the door open for other developers to carry on the game’s legacy. Now that more has been revealed aboutRise of the Ronin, it’s looking more like a worthySekirosuccessor.
Rise of the Ronin Could Be the Next Sekiro
Rise of the Ronin Looks to Have Solid Soulslike Gameplay
Team Ninja has a history of delivering some of the best Soulslike experiences outside FromSoftware games, andRise of the Roninlooks to be on track to continue this success. The gameplay seen in theThe Game Awards' trailershowcased several of the genre’s important elements in the context ofRise of the Ronin, including the game’s parry and backstab mechanics. While there were no details about the game’s RPG elements shown, the game teases the presence of a variety of play styles, making it likely that players will be able to customize their experience to their liking.
In addition to its Soulslike combat,Rise of the Roninboasts an open world and rich narrative at its heart, setting it apart from past Team Ninja games. As such, it seems likeRise of the Roninwill be drawing inspiration from several of FromSoftware’s titles, includingSekiro: Shadows Die TwiceandElden Ring. Mechanics present in Team Ninja’s past Soulslike titles will also be present inRise of the Ronin, such as firearm combat and the ability to use different types of melee weapons.
Rise of the Ronin Innovates on Sekiro’s Traversal Mechanics
Fans ofSekirolikely noticed right away the clearsimilaritiesRise of the Roninshares with the FromSoftware title. The most iconic waySekiroinnovated on the Soulslike formula was its introduction of the grappling hook, which allowed for more vertical traversal and combat options for players in tackling the game’s challenges.Rise of the Roninlooks to be building on this mechanic by introducing a grappling hook of its own that was shown to allow players to zip above buildings, which could allow for even more exploration potential withinRise of the Ronin’s open world.
Rise of the Roninappears to take these movement mechanics to the next level, as the player is shown to be able to activate a glider after launching themselves with the grappling hook. This mechanic echoesZelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s paragliderbut adapts it for a Soulslike title as the player is then shown pulling off a backstab on an enemy from the air. To top off these unique gameplay maneuvers,Rise of the Ronin’s new trailer even shows the player using their sword to propel themselves up and over a boss, demonstrating the game’s commitment to interesting and satisfying traversal in its gameplay.
