Will Rise of the Ronin Be a Souls-Like Game?

With only two weeks left before its release, we take a look at Rise of the Ronin to see whether it will be a souls-like game

Whether it’s a Metroidvania or a AAA action RPG, it seems that these days, most new games borrow heavy influence from FromSoftware’s Souls games. Coined from Demon Souls, the term “souls-like” refers to games that usually feature punishing combat mechanics, colossal boss fights, desolate setting, and an overarching lore, among other things.

With Team Ninja’s newest game, Rise of the Ronin, slated to release in a few weeks, many gamers are wondering whether this game will follow the “Souls” formula. 

Will it feature those hard-hitting baddies who force you to “Git Gud” and a storyline that’s harder to keep track of than your calories on vacation? 

Or will it be one of those traditional Action-Adventure RPGs much like Assassin’s Creed or Horizon Forbidden West?

It’s a question that’s on the mind of every gamer who has been following the game for its entire development cycle. Well, we’ve got the answers right here!

In this article, we’ll explore the difficulty settings and combat design of the upcoming Rise of the Ronin and answer the question once and for all. Let’s get started.

Will Rise of the Ronin Be a Souls-Like Game?

When Rise of the Ronin was first announced in a teaser trailer in the 2022 PlayStation State of Play event, souls fans were the loudest to cheer. It seemed to be the perfect new souls-like game that people had been waiting for after Elden Ring. 

The game, much like another FromSoft’s gem, Sekiro, was set in a Japanese backdrop. So fans were expecting sword combat mechanics that were on a similar level. And Since Playstation was already known to host past souls-borne games like Demon Souls and Bloodbourne, the answer seemed pretty obvious – It’s definitely a souls-like!

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But casual gamers rejoice! 

It seems that Rise of the Ronin will not be a souls-like game after all. 

The Playstation page of Rise of the Ronin put up an FAQ section that says the game will feature three separate difficulty settings: Dawn(easy), Dusk(medium), and Twilight(hard).

This choice by the devs is to make the game accessible to as many players as possible. But then again, the team also said that Team Ninja’s games are not supposed to be easy. So hardcore gamers don’t have any reason to think of the game as any less.

In fact, Team Ninja has been responsible for games such as Nioh and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty and they are all great examples of classic soul-likes. Turning up the difficulty setting in the game all the way up to Twilight will make the combat a lot more challenging and punishing if you’re looking to scratch that Dark Souls/Elden Ring itch.

Besides, even if it isn’t an exact souls-like game, it borrows some inspirations from the genre. Things like in-depth character creation, along with a fleshed-out parrying and backstabbing mechanics all look quite promising.

The Boss Battle against Shinpachi Nagakura that we caught a glimpse of in the 8-minute gameplay video also looked quite intense. So, the game will certainly offer plenty of challenges to Souls veterans who want a hardcore gaming experience even when you play in the default difficulty setting.

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What Else is New?

While the news might come as a disappointment to some fans, Rise of the Ronin is gearing up to be a pretty amazing PS5 exclusive this month. Frankly, the developer’s decision to make the game more accessible to casual players might actually be a good move. 

This gives the game the best chance to reach a wider audience and become a series that we all love, much like the Assassin’s Creed games. After all, that’s what gaming is all about.

To know more about the gameplay and release updates of Rise of the Ronin, be sure to check out our complete breakdown article. We hope you’re just as excited as we are to see what else this game has to offer!