With Rise of Ronin releasing this week, developer Team Ninja have released a new story trailer that sets the backdrop for the upcoming action role-playing game.
Blending cinematics with gameplay, the story introduces us to some of the many characters we'll encounter in our journey across war-torn 19th-century Japan. Not only does it tease the multiple characters and political factions, but it also provides a sense of the context we'll find them in when Rise of the Ronin launches this week.
The game features a few key political factions that are vying for power. The Sabaku are the pro-shogunate forces of the Bakumatsu era and supporters of Tokugawa. They are seeking to maintain its centralized rule and defend the shogunate.
The Tobaku are anti-shogunate forces made up of diverse groups and individuals, united by their opposition to the shogunate's rule. They desire to restore imperial authority in Japan.
The third faction is the Obei. These are the Western forces comprised of US and European powers who seek to end Japan's isolationist politics and open the country up to foreign trade. They aim to influence its political and economic landscape to get what they want.
Japan, 1863. After three centuries of the Tokugawa Shogunate’s reign, the Black Ships of the West descend upon the nation’s borders and the country falls into a state of turmoil. Amidst the chaos of war, disease and political unrest, a nameless warrior forges their own path, holding the very fate of Japan in their hands.
Rise of the Ronin is set in Japan's Bakumatsu Period, 300 years into the tyrannical rule of the Tokugawa shogunate. Players take on the role of a nameless ronin carving their own patch through the war and political upheaval. As such, the choices you make the characters you ally with along the way will help determine how the story unfolds.
The game features a rich multi-choice system that presents you with critical mission decisions, like whether to assassinate or protect key figures. The choices you make will shape the course of history.
Rise of the Ronan is developed by the incredibly talented folks at Team Ninja, the studio behind hits such as Nioh and Ninja Gaiden. As such, players can expect deeply engaging combat that's simultaneously approachable for newcomers but also deep enough for veterans to take advantage of the complexity of the different playstyles.
Rise of the Ronan offers multiple close-quarters weaponry as well as ranged firearms — all of which are authentic to the period.
Rise of the Ronin is set to release this week on March 22, 2024 exclusively on PlayStation 5.