Hello everyone. I’m Fumihiko Yasuda, Producer/Development Director at Team Ninja, creator of Rise of the Ronin, an open-world action RPG set in late 19 Japan century.
We’re thrilled that so many players have enjoyed the game since its release on March 22, 2024. We’ve collected play data from around the world. Here’s a look at the choices players have made while playing Rise of the Ronin.
Choose a story
The event after the battle with Gonzo is the first time the player is faced with a decision. Each choice has its own benefits, why not explore both options?
I thought the choices at Mibu-dera Temple would be dominated by the pro-shogunate faction, due to the Shinsengumi’s activities, but it seems that many players chose the anti-shogunate faction. At the beginning of the story, players meet many characters from the anti-shogunate faction, including Ryoma Sakamoto, so I think many of them progressed to the anti-shogunate faction from there.
If you are curious to explore different outcomes, you can revisit previous quests through the Testament of the Soul available in the Longhouse.
Forge your destiny
One of the key themes in the game is bonding. Strengthening your bond with a character will give you various benefits, such as gaining new fighting styles and opening up new dialogue with characters, allowing you to understand them on a deeper level.
Additionally, Veiled Vow is a special relationship status that can only be built with certain characters. Some players may have created a Veiled Vow with just one character, while others may have created a Veiled Vow with multiple characters.
Fight
While using Countersparks can disrupt your opponent’s game, it can also put you at a disadvantage if the timing is wrong. It works like a double-edged sword, both beneficial and detrimental. I’m sure many of you have used it in battles against strong opponents. I was surprised to learn that there have been over 1.9 billion countersparks made.
We want more players to enjoy Rise of the Ronin, so we’ve included several difficulty settings. We’re happy to see that the community is enjoying the various difficulty levels. The highest difficulty setting, Midnight, is unlocked after completing the main story. You can enjoy challenging battles, so give it a try.
Explore the world
Some of you who have completed the Cat Collector title may be sad that you will no longer encounter new cats while exploring the world, but you can meet them again at various shrines and at Usugumo Dayu’s residence. In the latest update, we have made it possible for you to pet the collected cats near Usugumo Dayu as often as you like, so please continue to enjoy finding cats.
The fugitives are not just enemies, but also skilled characters who live in the Bakumatsu period (late 19th century Japan) with various backgrounds, just like a ronin. Our development team carefully designed each fugitive, from their names to their weapons and fighting styles, and put a lot of thought into their place in the game. When facing them, we hope you will pay attention to the details that make up these fugitives.
Free demo available now
After collating player data, we realized that many of you around the world have been enjoying Rise of the Ronin. For those who have completed their first playthrough, we hope you will continue to enjoy the game by seeing alternative paths when accessing Testament of the Soul or by challenging yourself through the higher difficulty settings and Midnight.
The free playable demo of Rise of the Ronin is now available for download on the PlayStation Store. You can enjoy the fight with Gonzo mentioned at the beginning of the article, and your save data can be transferred to the full game. For those who have not played Rise of the Ronin, we encourage you to explore the game’s vast and beautiful world.
*These results are as of June 20, 2024
*This data is for players who are connected online.
