Team Ninja shared so much information on the PlayStation.Blog today about Rise of the Ronin. The blog post shared how historically accurate they were and how they brought Bakumatsu-era Japanese cities to life during an era when culture and technology clashed.
Rise of the Ronin will be released on March 22 on PlayStation 5, and they recently showed a brand new trailer at the recent State of Play. Rise of the Ronin is easily one of my most anticipated games this year. It has the parry combat, which makes it look difficult, but they did show in trailers that there are difficulty settings. The world looks like there is so much to explore, and I can't help but compare it to Ghost of Tsushima and Assassin's Creed.
They showed us how historically accurate the game would be and what the mission structure, tools and weapons, side activities, and transportation would be.
The blog states that the story takes place in Bakumatsu, Japan, a period of significant change triggered by the arrival of the Black Ships. In this era of mayhem, the story first unfolds in Yokohama, then in Edo (today's Tokyo), and finally in Kyoto. These three major cities are each built as an open world where the non-homogeneous mixture of newly introduced Western culture and traditional Japanese beauty is dramatically depicted in detailed quality with new-generation graphics technology.
Yokohama
They mention that Yokohama will be the first city you will explore in the game. You'll explore Yokohama's landmarks, such as the U.S. Consulate, Chinatown, the Yokohama State Guest House, the lighthouse, and even brothels. As you travel the outskirts of Yokohama, you'll find yourself in a series of inn-towns along the Tokaido Road, the most crucial route of the era in Japan, linking Kyoto, the imperial capital, with Edo, the seat of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Kannai – Yamashita
An area overlooking the ocean in southeast Kannai, while Yamate designates the bluff and upper town, Yamashita designates the lower town. In accordance with provisions set out in the US-Japan trade treaty, it is the site of the Foreign Settlement, where soldiers from various nations are stationed. Yamashita Park, one of the famous tourist spots today, was built with reclaimed rubble from the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and formally opened in 1930.
Kannai – Motomachi
An area in southeast Kannai that saw a significant population boom after the port of Yokohama opened to foreign trade. Visitors to the area's Chinatown would find various trinkets for sale and unique architectural characteristics of Chinese culture, such as the grand Kanteibyo Temple, a colourful temple dedicated to the ancient Chinese hero Guan Yu. The current Kanteibyo Temple is the fourth rebuild of the temple, after being devastated and destroyed several times by unforeseen events, like the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and World War II, and remains to serve as the heart of Yokohama Chinatown.
Edo
Edo is a megacity that serves as the base of the Edo Shogunate. The Kojimachi district is where the samurai residence surrounds and protects Edo Castle. You can also roam around the townsmen district of Asakusa to find Sensoji Temple and Azuma Bridge; the Nihonbashi district to check out its famous Nihonbashi Bridge and rows of merchant houses, and other cultural districts—like the Senzoku district—to feel the bustling energy of the Yoshihara brothels.
Traverse as you please with a grappling rope, horse, or glider
Apart from running through cities and their surroundings and swimming through rivers and oceans, you can explore the vast open world of Bakumatsu Japan by utilizing grappling rope to move vertically or by horse and glider for a thrilling traversal.
Grappling rope
You can quickly ascend and traverse when you throw the grappling rope at a latching point. It allows you to move to higher ground and can be used in combat to grab foes during battle scenes.
Horses
You can call a horse when you blow into the Horse Calling Whistle. You’ll travel much faster and more efficiently to your faraway destination than running. As the game progresses, you’ll gain access to additional riding equipment and a more comprehensive range of higher-performance horses.
Gliders
After acquiring the glider, you can deploy it as you fall from a high point to glide through the air. You can fly a long distance by keeping it at a certain angle. The glider also comes in handy when infiltrating an enemy’s territory from a high altitude without getting noticed.
Fast Travel between Hidden Sword Banners
Fast travel points, or Hidden Sword Banners, are scattered worldwide, allowing you to instantly travel from one Hidden Sword Banner to another unlocked banner. Not only will banners allow you to replenish consumable items by contact, but you can also update your party members and equipment during a mission. It also serves as a gateway for other players to jump in for online multiplayer.
Somo Missions with locals
Somo describes those who are not samurai, including those who have abandoned their social status as samurai and become wealthy farmers, wealthy merchants, and local merchants. During Somo missions, you will be given special tasks by those locals if you have specific items in possession or foster a certain level of relationship with them.
Preordained Fate
During play, you’ll encounter random in-game events called Preordained Fate. Depending on where or when it occurs in the game, you may not experience the same event twice.
Public safety
Defeating rogues improves the security of the bad areas. As you improve public safety, you will establish extended connections within the locale and its people.
Activities
As you go deeper into the story, you’ll unlock various activities in different locations and have a chance to collect rewards according to how well you perform in these activities. In training, you can visit dojos in various regions and battle with characters that you’ve encountered previously. Other activities include Yabusame (horseback archery), Artillery Training, and Cat Collecting, in which you must find cats hiding in unexpected places.
Obstacle courses
In each area, some places cannot be reached by the standard method of traverse. You’ll need to skillfully use your grappling rope or gliding device to reach the finish line, where you’ll find a special reward for the activity, like a treasure chest, a shrine, or a cat.
Rise of the Ronin will be available for PS5 on March 22.
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