Since its announcement, Crew Ninja’s Rise of the Ronin has seen its share of comparisons to Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima. The Japanese settings, samurai-esque protagonists, and fight could seem related, however they’re as totally different as might be. Rise of the Ronin launches on March twenty second, solely for PS5 – listed here are 15 methods it differs from Ghost of Tsushima.
Eras
The largest and most evident distinction between the 2 titles is the period. Ghost of Tsushima is about in 1274 when the primary Mongol invasion of the island occurred (although the occasions that happen in-game are fictitious). By comparability, Rise of the Ronin happens in the course of the latter years of the Bakumatsu, which ran from 1853 to 1867 and noticed Japan present process an enormous social and financial upheaval with the top of the Tokugawa Shogunate. How carefully the story mirrors precise occasions stays to be seen, however historic figures like Ryoma Sakamoto, Kogoro Katsura and Matthew Perry seem.
Areas
One other distinction with the setting is the varieties of areas gamers can count on. Tsushima is a rural island with forts, estates, inns and cities, however an excellent chunk is sprawling plains and wilderness. Rise of the Ronin covers three main cities – Edo, Kyoto and Yokohama alongside the encircling countryside. Nevertheless, these cities provide a extra distinctive city aptitude with their distinctive areas and districts.
Character Creator vs Mounted Look
Rise of the Ronin sees gamers controlling a Veiled Edge who’s separated from their Blade Twin when the sport begins. Whereas described as a completely realized character, a personality creator is in place to customise their look. By comparability, Ghost of Tsushima solely has Jin Sakai, and there aren’t any choices to alter his bodily look.
Traversal Strategies
What would an open-world title be and not using a glider? Even when it’s not fairly traditionally correct, Rise of the Ronin lets gamers fly round maps with an immediately deployable glider and rapidly navigate rooftops with a grappling hook. A horse can be in place for fast exploration on the bottom and ideally within the countryside, the place there aren’t many buildings to grapple from. Ghost of Tsushima solely gives a horse for getting round, although it additionally has a grappling hook for extra verticality.
Factions
In Ghost of Tsushima, it’s the individuals of the island combating collectively, variations and all, in opposition to the Mongol invasion. Issues are far more difficult when contemplating interpersonal relationships, however you’ll be able to’t essentially ally with totally different factions or get on their unhealthy facet. However, Rise of the Ronin facilitates these. Bonding with a personality for one faction dangers alienating the others, who can rapidly flip into your enemies. Moreover, making selections associated to that character can change the general movement of the narrative and its final result.
Melee Weapons
If you boil it down, Jin Sakai solely has two melee weapons – the katana and the tanto, the latter used for stealth kills. You might argue that he solely actually wants two, given the general theme and conclusion (and you’ll be proper on each counts). Nevertheless, from a pure gameplay perspective, you’re restricted to those two, and the tanto isn’t actually for close-quarters combos a lot as assassinations and takedowns.
Rise of the Ronin, alternatively, builds from Crew Ninja’s expertise with Ninja Gaiden, Nioh and Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty. You possibly can select from many various melee weapons – a katana, twin blades, spear, naginata, odachi and greatsword. There’s even the bayonet, which capabilities like a spear however can shoot at mid-range. Every has its personal transfer units, dictated by Kinds, however we’ll get into that shortly.
Ranged Weapons
Issues get slightly extra difficult right here. Rise of the Ronin objectively has extra long-range weapon selections resulting from its period. You possibly can wield a musket, revolver and flamethrower, however if you wish to sit again with a bow or toss some shurikens, that’s additionally an possibility. Ghost of Tsushima gives totally different sorts of bows and arrows alongside Ghost Instruments, from kunai and black powder bombs to sticky bombs. It’s not fairly the identical as having devoted firearms (particularly since they’re all use-based), however you’ll be able to nonetheless wreak loads of havoc with a well-placed sticky bomb.
Fight Variations
When you don’t select the stealthy strategy, Ghost of Tsushima gives some simple but deep fight. It has two sorts of strikes – mild and heavy – with dodging, blocking and parrying. Jin also can use Resolve for various strategies or therapeutic and may problem enemies to standoffs to rapidly dispatch a number of with a couple of fast strikes.
Rise of the Ronin follows a number of the identical ideas as Nioh and Wo Lengthy: Fallen Dynasty. You possibly can carry a number of weapons and should break by an enemy’s Ki to execute important hits for enormous injury. Guarding and parrying can be attainable (extra on that shortly), however the total movement of fight is decidedly totally different from Ghost of Tsushima.
Counterspark vs. Parrying
Parrying in Rise of the Ronin is known as Counterspark. Whilst you can parry enemy blows and open them as much as assaults, it additionally deflects unblockable assaults and causes important Ki injury to enemies. Against this, Tsushima’s parrying is simply that and gained’t work in opposition to unblockable assaults (although you’ve got Ghost Instruments to assist). There’s additionally Excellent Parry, the place urgent the parry button on the final second permits for a a lot stronger counter-attack.
Kinds vs Stances
Rise of the Ronin’s Kinds gives totally different strategies for every weapon, accessed by way of R1 + any of the 4 face buttons. Some weapons, just like the bayonet and spear, can entry related Kinds and are enhanced by coaching. Kinds can seemingly be switched throughout fight, not not like the stances from Nioh 1 and a pair of. You even have three totally different Fashion Varieties – Ten, Chi and Jin – the place utilizing the right Kind in opposition to one other confers a bonus.
Ghost of Tsushima gives 4 Stances (5 if you happen to depend Ghost Stance, which is extra like a Rage Mode). Every counters a selected enemy sort – Stone for Swordsmen, Moon for Brutes, and many others. – and proves much less efficient in opposition to an incompatible sort. You possibly can unlock new strategies for every Stance over time, and because you’ll usually combat an array of enemy sorts, figuring out when to change and who to take out first is essential.
Grappling Hook in Fight
If there’s one benefit fight in Rise of the Ronin gives over Ghost of Tsushima, it’s how the grappling hook is usable in fight. You possibly can smack enemies with it, pull them nearer and even propel your character in the direction of them. As soon as their Ki is depleted, it may possibly toss them like ragdolls. It’s even helpful for stealth takedowns from excessive floor.
Allies
All through Ghost of Tsushima, Jin encounters key supporting characters who can lend their help within the combat in opposition to the Mongol invasion. You could begin their respective quest chains, however a few of them, like Yuna, are intertwined with the marketing campaign from the beginning. Rise of the Ronin permits you to decide and select the allies who can accompany you, and so they present passive advantages (with the Bond system including stat will increase relying on how shut you’re). You can too choose to not have allies and theoretically go right into a mission alone.
Character Switching
Maybe one of many extra intriguing options in Rise of the Ronin is switching to your allies throughout missions and accessing their weapons, abilities and Kinds. Contemplating how sure Fashion Varieties can exploit others, it’s theoretically attainable to deliver alongside an ally who can shore up these weaknesses. Additionally, it’s fairly cool to knock down an enemy after which swap to Sakamoto Ryoma for the finisher.
Endings
With out moving into spoilers, Ghost of Tsushima solely gives one canon ending (with some slight variations primarily based on a pivotal selection gamers could make). Rise of the Ronin guarantees a number of endings primarily based in your selections, which is sensible because you’re supporting factions with totally different visions for Japan’s future. How that performs out stays to be seen, and it’s additionally unknown if a “canon” or “finest” ending is achievable.
Marketing campaign Co-op
Rise of the Ronin options four-player co-op for its story missions, and although we haven’t seen the function in motion, it’s onerous not to consider Ghost of Tsushima Legends. The distinction is that Legends gives distinctive story missions and actions separate from the marketing campaign. It additionally gives a 2v2 PvP mode, whereas Rise of the Ronin is bereft of any aggressive multiplayer.
