Summary
Rise of the Roninwas recently released by developer Team Ninja, previously known for working on theDead or Aliveand modernNinja Gaidenfranchises before producing a number of titles residing firmly in the Soulslike camp, like 2023’sWo Long: Fallen Dynasty.Rise of the Ronin, though, is a more narrative-driven open-world action RPG, with a largely grounded realistic historical setting and story, sans the supernatural elements also seen in its previous games, likeNioh.
One ofRise of the Ronin’s prominent features is the collection of companions players can meet and recruit to help alongside their journey.Games featuring well-rounded companionshave become quite prevalent over the years, with more complex characters and relationship mechanics seen throughout. With its Blade Twins and bonding systems,Rise of the Roninseeks to rise above in this area, and while it accomplishes this to some degree, it also feels a bit lacking in other ways.
Rise of the Roninalso includes a co-op option for certain missions.
Rise of the Ronin’s Companion Bonding Could Have Used Some Sharpening
Rise of Ronin’s Companion Bonding System Largely Plays it Safe
Similar torecent genre titles likeGreedFall,Rise of the Roninstarts early on to place particular emphasis on forming strong bonds with a variety of NPCs. These usually start off as awkward acquaintances, driven together with the protagonist by circumstance, with the possibility to blossom into deeper connections via dialogue choices and gift-giving later on. Some ofRise of the Ronin’s companions are even missable if fans make certain choices that preclude them from allying after the initial meeting. The main story still provides a range of potential ones though, and there are some that cannot be missed, so that every player gets to experience the system.
However, as players run into more and more companions, there are a handful that come off as cliched, like the geisha Usugumo being obsessed with cats, or the alcohol-soaked samurai, Shinsaku. These traits attempt to round out their personalities to a degree but in a mostly generic one-note fashion. Even figures with more intriguing backstories, such asRise of the Ronin’s bandit king, Gonzo, eventually start to fall flat and feel stale. The gift-giving system is also fairly standard, as fans need to procure certain kinds that each companion approves of most. All of this is perfectly serviceable and never deters from the general experience. Still, it can simply feel a little dated and basic in the overall scheme.
How Rise of the Ronin’s Companion Bonding Could Be Improved
The quantity of possible companions is impressive, but sheer numbers alone don’t always equate to better or more interesting design. With so many to eventually track too, it can become a time-consuming task to ensure maximum benefits or preferred relationship status with them all. Perhaps focusing on including less of a broad range, and instead honing on a few specific allies with more dynamic characteristics, would have helped streamline and elevate them in ways that can be more readily seen inRise of the Ronin’s other inspirations.
As a recent high-profile example,Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s synergy systemfor increasing party member affinity worked well and felt more organic in the process. While it may not be entirely fair to compare these two titles directly, elements of the system can be seen in both that mirror each other in some ways. Since players can also haveRise of Ronin’s companions accompany them on certain missions, and even take direct control during battles, something along the lines ofRebirth’s active affinity building would have been a good fit for its structure, gameplay, and narrative. Even so, there is a lot to like about whatRotRhas to offer in terms of its suite of companions and bonding mechanics that are in place, and Team Ninja (and other developers) could take note of how to further improve and refine companion/bonding design going forward.
