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[Draugoth]

Rise of the Ronin is an open-world action video game developed by Team Ninja - renowned Japanese studios to which we owe, among others, Nioh and Nioh 2, the Ninja Gaiden franchise and more recently Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. This PlayStation exclusive at the crossroads of Ghost of Tsushima, Assassin's Creed, Nioh and Dark Souls offers an open world adventure in feudal Japan from the Bakumatsu period (the end of the Edo era) which revisits this troubled part of the History of Japan. The title depicts a Japanese archipelago from the mid-19th century (1853–1868) prey to tumult through a map which, far from recreating the entirety of Japan, focuses on three cities: Yokohama, Edo (Tokyo today) and Kyoto.

Rise of the Ronin and Elden Ring, two different philosophies

Team Ninja has built a solid reputation among gamers looking for a permanent challenge once the controller is in their hands. With Rise of the Ronin, the development teams have slightly changed their approach in order to reach a wider audience. During an interview given by Team Ninja to the JV editorial team, the vision of the difficulty of Japanese studios was discussed. Unlike their previous productions (Nioh, Ninja Gaiden, etc.), Rise of the Ronin wants to please fans of Elden Ring and Souls-like, but also reach out to more “casual” players. To do this, Team Ninja has integrated three distinct difficulty modes.

Q: The Nioh and Ninja Gaiden sagas are renowned for their level of difficulty. Can we expect an extremely difficult video game? How to manage this increase in difficulty in an open world? Have you analyzed games like Elden Ring to achieve this?

Obviously Team Ninja titles aren't designed to be easy for everyone to play, but we wanted to make this title more accessible to a wide range of players. We have developed three distinct difficulty modes that players can choose based on their preferences. The first is aimed at narrative-focused players who want to experience the story and play without too much difficulty. Then we have an intermediate mode for players used to this kind of experience. Finally, we have a harder mode that is more in line with our previous games and meets the needs of hardcore gamers and Souls-like fans. - Yosuke Hayashi (Producer - Team Ninja) and Fumihiko Yasuda (Development Producer and Game Director)

Translated from JeuxVideo

 

[Pelao]

I'll probably play it on hard to keep the difficulty similar to their other games, but I'm glad my brother is going to be able to play it too, since he doesn't like hard games, but was itching to play another open world samurai game after finishing Ghost of Tsushima recently.

 

[havoc00]

Was on the fence about this due to this very issue will buy now

 

[rhodesianshepard]

As long as the majority of focus is put on the hardest difficulty, which sounds like it is, then I'm fine with it. The Nioh games are easier than Fromsoft Souls games imo. There are a lot of tools to help cheese the game. Rise of the Ronin will probably be even easier because it is open world, just like Elden Ring. I'm fine with easier difficulties, just don't water it down for die hard fans

 

[FoxMcChief]

Uh oh

 

[Certinty]

I’m glad.

I suck at these types of games so i’ve missed out on the few which have interested me due to the difficulty (Lies of P, Bloodborne etc.).

I know the challenge is part of the experience to some but for me personally i’ll rather take the option of making it easier than not playing these games at all.

 

[Saber]

In what part this game was ever described as "Souls like"?

Also, they should already rename the narrative difficulty to game journalist mode.

 

[The Fuzz damn you!]

In what part this game was ever described as "Souls like"?

Also, they should already rename the narrative difficulty to game journalist mode.

…or “I just have three trophies left and fuckit I want to move on with my life” mode.

 

[Danjin44]

In what part this game was ever described as "Souls like"?

I'm wondering about that as well.....are people assuming this is "Souls-like" because they made Nioh? The impression I got, this game wasnt really trying to be "Souls-like" and hoping is not.

I LOVE Souls games FROM makes but I fucking dont need every other devs make Souls game.....I just dont need it.

 

[MScarpa]

Huge for someone like myself. THANK YOU

 

[Hudo]

Lowest difficulty will be: "Hard" and it goes from there!

 

[rhodesianshepard]

I'm wondering about that as well.....are people assuming this is "Souls-like" because they made Nioh? The impression I got, this game wasnt really trying to be "Souls-like" and hoping is not.

I LOVE Souls games FROM makes but I fucking dont need every other devs make Souls game.....I just dont need it.

It is going to be soulslike. You drop your XP at death while going from checkpoint to checkpoint. I will never not love that gameplay loop. Also, you will play as two players, with the ability to switch between them in the middle of combat. So that will be a nice wrinkle to typical Nioh and Fromsoft games

 

[TexMex]

 

[adamsapple]

Finally one of these games I can enjoy without needing cheat engine.

 

[havoc00]

Finally one of these games I can enjoy without needing cheat engine.

Yea I was going mad playing lies of p almost broke my controller many times

 

[March Climber]

Uh oh

they should already rename the narrative difficulty to game journalist mode.

At the end of the day for Team Ninja/KT, a successful 69.99 purchase will be a successful 69.99 purchase. What happens after that purchase is made might as well be irrelevant.

 

[Big Baller]

That Sony accessibility package

 

[GHG]

Don't have such a good feeling about this anymore.

That Sony accessibility package

Maybe that's why they won't remaster bloodborne or sanction a follow up.

 

[adamsapple]

Don't have such a good feeling about this anymore.



Maybe that's why they won't remaster bloodborne or sanction a follow up.

I would gladly pay $10 for a Bloodborne remastered upgrade which includes accessibility difficulty options.

 

[DarthPutin]

Nice, as I want to explore these places and period, but no way I have reactions for hardcore combat. Elden Ring was infinitely cheesable, at least in the beginning areas. Also wish them good sales.

 

[StereoVsn]

Glad to hear that. At least I may not need to get easy mode mod now or use a trainer/wemod .

 

[GHG]

I would gladly pay $10 for a Bloodborne remastered upgrade which includes accessibility difficulty options.

Don't give them any ideas.

Spoiler

But lets be real, for $10 all you'll get is a shaving of one of Jim Ryan's crusty toenails.

 

[TrebleShot]

Yep good stuff way more interesting now, like others means I won’t have mod in the easy mode

 

[ManaByte]

Lowest difficulty will be: "Hard" and it goes from there!

We need this man back.

 

[havoc00]

We need this man back.

I really wish Xbox would have taken him up on his offer and hired him. Hell I’d enjoy a devils third remaster

 

[Skifi28]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think it has ever been described as "souls-like" by the developers. Just because they made these types of games in the past doesn't mean everything will do will be the same. Looks more like a traditional open world game with intricate combat.

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

I just bumped FF7 Intermission down to easy for the last boss battle, the 3rd phase got real annoying. Ain’t nobody got time for that!

I want a Ghost of Tsushima difficulty level for this. So I’ll play this intermediate level.

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

Good, that makes it a definite buy from me.

 

[Topher]

Didn't even realize the game was a Soulslike. I'll try it off of Gamefly either way.

 

[Crayon]

Oh God does this topic go down here like it does in era? It can't be as bad.

 

[kiphalfton]

Doesn't look like a souls-like, but okay.

Oh God does this topic go down here like it does in era? It can't be as bad.

People act like resetera is so bad... but still go there.

Does not make sense.

 

[Northeastmonk]

Wo Long must have been the test subject. As much as I enjoyed my time with Wo Long. I hope this has better bosses and enemy variety.

 

[adamsapple]

Don't give them any ideas.

Spoiler

But lets be real, for $10 all you'll get is a shaving of one of Jim Ryan's crusty toenails.

They already beat my expectations by offering a $10 path for TLoU Part 2. I did not expect that at all.

Didn't even realize the game was a Soulslike. I'll try it off of Gamefly either way.

 

[ShadyAcshuns]

 

[Drizzlehell]

I recently converted into believing that not every game has to be accessible for everyone and it's okay for soulslikes to not have difficulty options. Even more, in most of them the difficulty being a core essence of the game.

That said, if this particular game was designed from the ground up with multiple difficulty options in mind, then I don't see a problem with it either.

 

[Crayon]

Doesn't look like a souls-like, but okay.



People act like resetera is so bad... but still go there.

Does not make sense.

Not me. I decided it was so bad and haven't been back.

 

[rogr rogr]

Souls-unlike, then.

 

[ungalo]

I like unified difficulty but i rather take difficulty options than gameplay options that make the experience too unequal between the players.

 

[balls of snow]

Options are good. Still the last showing drop the hype down.

 

[BouncyFrag]

Good.

 

[StereoVsn]

Didn't even realize the game was a Soulslike. I'll try it off of Gamefly either way.

Good idea. This is one of those games that could go either way but I did like Nioh 2.

On PC I will wait a bit for inevitable price drop though in a few months alongside some patches.

 

[Arachnid]

 

[semiconscious]

In what part this game was ever described as "Souls like"?...

yeah, i've always seen this more a tsushima like, just an open world adventure...

 

[Randall365]

Souls-unlike, then.

This - it reminds me of that first Jedi game. Struggling on a stupid boss? Drop down the difficulty and saber him in half!

The whole point of Souls games is that you have to level, get the right gear, hone the combat techniques and learn their moveset.

 

[MasterDerico]

Was on the fence about this due to this very issue will buy now

Opposite for me, i would buy day 1, now with this talk of "souls-like", my hype is now over.

 

[Labadal]

Story mode for me.

 

[Soodanim]

This isn't Miyazaki adding difficulties. Nioh did enough of its own thing, and I imagine this will as well. I like to think if they're adding difficulty options it will work out just fine. Good luck to them.

 

[EDMIX]

I'm wondering about that as well.....are people assuming this is "Souls-like" because they made Nioh? The impression I got, this game wasnt really trying to be "Souls-like" and hoping is not.

I LOVE Souls games FROM makes but I fucking dont need every other devs make Souls game.....I just dont need it.

Truth.

From what I've seen, this looks to be its own thing.

 

[X-Wing]

Great. Having these doesn’t take away anything from those who want a challenge. If the developer wants to make the game more accessible to a bigger audience the more power to them.

 

[Braag]

The Star Wars Jedi games had difficulty options and were soulslike. So opposite of what GAF thought, it's actually possible to do so.