Topic: RISE OF THE RONIN

I am currently using paired swords and an Odachi. Even after 10ish hours I still feel like I am very much in the learning phase with combat, so am constantly swapping out weapons as I learn new styles and moves. The polearm might be one of the best beginner friendly weapons, as all of the styles are very easy to understand and use. Versus like the bayonet weapons where its like 'press the button six times, spin around, hold the button, do a backflip' - I can't remember all that 😂

Actually told you all a little porky here (unintentionally). My console says I have been playing for four hours, and my app says 8. However this hasn't updated... ever? So I guess cause I don't leave my console connected to the internet this stops an accurate record? I only realised this because in game, your save file records your playtime as well (at least I hope I am reading that right) and I am up to almost hour 30 if I am reading that properly, which would probably make more sense. So I actually cleared Act One in probably around 15 - 20 hours instead. I guess props to them that it felt so breezy, I could believe it only took me around 8.

@Jimmer-jammer Very eloquent and literary. Exceptionally well-written and it has truly whet my appetite for my upcoming time with the game. Well done my friend, my deepest respect. I bow to you in the traditional Japanese style.

I am around hour 30 now. Still enjoying my time with it, and I've definitely been burned out on other games far earlier than this this year, but I kinda feel like something must have happened to this game in production. Some kind of shift in focus, or some sort of budget cut or some sort of race to meet a deadline or something. Whatever it was, I can't remember the last time I played a game that felt unfinished in quite the weird way this does.

Like, for example, they've created this really detailed slice of history, teaming with life and authenticity yet there is almost no way to meaningfully interact with any of it. You'll visit sprawling urban centres, bustling markets, farming or fishing villages, famous landmarks and other such things, and there is rarely even a single NPC to even talk to in these spaces, let alone something to actually do. It is like the world is finished, but is still waiting for most of the game to actually be added into it.

It is mostly striking through in the core narrative. I am a good chunk of the way through Act 2 at this point and what starts as a game about the player making choices - what factions to side with, what views to align with, who gets to live or die. This has all basically vanished in Act 2 entirely so far. Yet, the way the game is playing out feels like there were meant to be choices still, but they were either removed or never finished.

It kind of makes everything into a bit of a mess as a result because characters will wander into the narrative and just vanish, and there is clearly something missing here that would have made this made sense. Or a character will be introduced as an ally, but then be a boss in the next mission, and then an ally again in the mission after that, because the faction system that was clearly meant to be opening and closing missions off to you depending on the choices made isn't actually in here, so you are just whatever faction the mission you are doing is at that time, but it is in a vacuum with no cause and effect or repercussions - despite the game constantly telling you there are.

Again, it feels like the missions were all finished here, but the RPG that was meant to thread, connect and define all of this into a cohesive experience seems to have for some reason never made it in. But you can't ignore this, because it seems like everything else that is here was purpose built around a core faction / player decision lead RPG that actually does not exist.

Took me about 20 - 25ish hours, but I cleared Act 2. I was excited at the end when it asks you to pick a faction and says you will be locked into this choice going forwards... only for you to immediately go back to playing both sides anyway.

This choice is weird too, because it is hard to know what the game really wants you to do here. You are introduced to the rebels first, so this means you spend the longest amount of time with them, but their motivations are so specific to this time and place, I don't know how anyone is able to relate to this faction at all. They are just a bunch of narrow minded, violent, psychopathic thugs. But it also makes it super clear the Shogunate faction is rotten on the inside, full of traitors and your role within this faction is just a tool to be used and disposed of when you are seen as no longer providing value.

I have just noticed i am 25 hours in and have completed 50% i am still enjoying the game.

@Jimmer-jammer That's more like it! Looking forward to playing it after finishing DeS and then RE2 Remake, RE4 Remake, Death Stranding and Jedi Survivor, then after RotR I'll be eyeing up that plat for LotF. Do you think you will plat RotR?

Once I resigned to the fact that this game is, in the most literal sense, a direct open world translation of Team Ninja’s usual dopamine drip of incredibly tight and versatile combat, loot gathering and menu ticking, and nothing more, I’ve been able to fully appreciate what has been achieved here.

This is the way i have played it from the beginning i love to restore order in bandit camps etc, pray at the shrines to get skill points and generally clear areas as i move through the map the story keeps it all moving along but i am not in
any rush to get to the end.

This sums it up perfectly - https://www.thegamer.com/rise-of-the-ronin-public-order-expla...

Spot on.

The bottom line as you say - dont buy this thinking its going to play like Ghost of Tsushima its nothing like it and in my opinion better because of it.

One of the things i have seen slated by some reviewers is the amount of weapons, clothes etc you pick up on your journey but that is for me another massive plus as breaking the guns down at the blacksmith quickly gets you your much needed weapon upgrades.

I know this game will not be everyone's cup of Cha but for those who have already completed GoT and who want something different give RoR a try you may find you are quickly hooked.

Currently at - 56% - 32 hours.

For me the volume of loot wasn't so much the problem as much as the loot is just straight up bad. Even after the credits rolled, I still dunno what like 90 percent of the rolls on gear even did. Or even when I did understand what it did, it was completely lost on me why I'd want it. I think I managed to max out a set bonus once in the entire time I played and noticed absolutely no difference at all.

Happened to me with the skill tree too, about 90 percent of it was either stuff I didn't know what it did or I just didn't see the point of it at all. And because of the weird limitations on the tree of needing x points in say dexterity before you could buy certain nodes with skill points I think I got to the end with like 70 unused skill points and any points I did spend in the tree I did not notice at all in moment to moment gameplay except stuff that specifically offered new gameplay, like the grappling hook assassinations or the unarmed parry. But anything that gave me x percentage to some ultra specific thing, you could convince me it was bugged because I did not notice it at all.

As i said in my last post " I know this game will not be everyone's cup of Cha" some loot may be pointless as you can have so many similar things with very little difference in their stats but if you ignore that and think of it as a means to get lots of money for the stuff you want or dismantle to make something else or upgrade your good stuff it shouldn't be a deal breaker.

I also ended up with a huge amount of money too with nothing to use it on now you mention it. Just a completely broken economy, as you are flooded with mostly useless loot and the gear at the vendors is all randomly rolled so you just sell your bad loot and gamble for more bad loot. Once I realised that I just dismantled everything and never bought anything again beyond the cosmetics you buy with those silver plate things.

Didn't you use it to keep your stores full so when you fast travel all your depleted stocks are replenished?

Its obvious you dont like the game and that is your right as a paying customer i just hope gamers reading your negative views are not put off and miss out on what i think is one of the best open world games i have played in years.

Oh does it take money when you clash the stones at the flags? I didn't even notice. Ooops.

And I dunno, I posted a review in the review thread and I think it reflects I am not negative on this game, just rather mixed. It is your perennial six or seven out of 10.

I do wonder what you feel about the game when you are done with it, versus how you feel now.

Oh does it take money when you clash the stones at the flags? I didn't even notice. Ooops.

No when you visit the flags and touch it (R1) all the bullets, arrows potions etc are replenished from your store so you need to keep the stores stocked up.

And I dunno, I posted a review in the review thread and I think it reflects I am not negative on this game, just rather mixed. It is your perennial six or seven out of 10.
I do wonder what you feel about the game when you are done with it, versus how you feel now.

I am 32 hours and 56% in and am still enjoying the game, i dont think that will change, i only play a couple of hours per night so am unlikely to get bored.

I guess for me, I was enjoying the characters and the story, but Act 3 is such a mess narratively it definitely changed how I felt overall. The gameplay loop remained fun throughout though, so if you don't care about the story / characters and are just enjoying the loop, I think Rise of the Ronin is one of the better games for keeping it fun right until the credits roll.

As an alternative to what I hear is already a stellar soundtrack, how about playing along to this? I certainly plan to once I get the game in a couple of weeks, if I decide I want a change of audio that I feel will still fit/suit my playthrough.

I am having a bit of a break from RoR at the moment and am giving Alan Wake 2 a try I love RoR but have spent so many hours on it i needed to play something else, i will finish it when i have finished AW2

@Jimmer-jammer Thanks buddy! Will make a note of that.

@Jimmer-jammer Apologies for not saying so in my previous post, but Massive Congrats on your hard-earned plat for RotR, you should feel exceptionally proud of yourself.