DaRmaZat Rise of the Ronin, published by KOEI TECMO and developed by Team NINJA—known for Ninja Gaiden, the Nioh franchise, and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty—immediately impressed last year with its enchanting open world and solid combat, though it also had its flaws. After a year of PlayStation exclusivity, the action RPG is now making the leap to PC.
This PC port of Rise of the Ronin will be released on March 11 with various technical improvements for an optimized experience. The version supports upscaling via NVIDIA DLSS (including Reflex), AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS. Additionally, it offers 3D audio, resolutions up to 8K, Ray Tracing, Frame Generation, and full compatibility with ultra-wide and super ultra-wide monitors.
The Shogunate as the Big Villain—or Perhaps the Side Quests?
Rise of the Ronin is set in 19th-century Japan during the Bakumatsu period, a time of internal turmoil and increasing Western influence. The game revolves around the Blade Twins, a brother and sister who lost both their parents to a brutal act by the Shogunate. Under the leadership of the mysterious Bladeswitch, the head of the rebel group Veiled Edge, they grow into highly skilled assassins. Their mission: to obtain a crucial document on a heavily guarded ship and assassinate Matthew Perry—an essential first step in their ultimate plan to overthrow the Shogunate. However, they are suddenly separated, and you, playing as one of the two, must decide—alongside various ronin allies—whether to keep fighting against the Shogunate or switch sides.
When it comes to the fictional story and setting, Rise of the Ronin does not disappoint. The world can be explored on foot, on horseback, using a grapple hook, or even with a glider, and is packed with Japanese lore. There are plenty of dialogue choices that help shape the intriguing plot. However, the protagonist lacks depth, as they barely speak, and their personality is not developed much beyond the typical, somewhat repetitive side quests. These include freeing numerous villages from bandits, gathering plants for medicine, taking photographs, or searching for missing persons—often assigned by NPCs that may or may not seem enthusiastic about their requests.
Solid Combat, but Unpredictable Enemy AI
The core combat system in Rise of the Ronin—which flirts slightly with the soulslike genre—revolves around Ki power. Using martial skills, you deplete an opponent’s Ki to break their stance. Once broken, you can unleash a devastating attack, as they are left more vulnerable. This mechanic is most effective when combined with the Counterspark, a timing-based parry that works best when alternated with your standard attacks. When you die, a Vendetta system is triggered—you must reclaim your lost karma by defeating the same enemy who killed you. If you fail again, the karma is lost permanently.
The game’s extensive combat system is undoubtedly its strongest aspect.
Yes, the in-depth combat system is a clear highlight, but the controls—with their many button combinations—do require some adjustment. Additionally, frequent tutorial screens introducing yet another new mechanic can make the game feel like an endless tutorial. Personally, I didn’t mind this too much, but I can imagine it might feel overwhelming or drawn out for some players.
Another issue lies in the enemy AI. Enemies will only chase you up to a certain distance, meaning you can lure them to the edge of their engagement zone and repeatedly land easy hits. This flaw is especially noticeable in cities or locations with height differences, such as staircases, slightly diminishing the immersion.
Technically Inconsistent, but Hope for Improvement
I have nothing but praise for the soundtrack and 3D audio, but visually, the game presents itself as a somewhat outdated console title. This is particularly evident in terms of fidelity, but also in how destructible objects like barrels, cabinets, or tables disappear instantly upon destruction. Additionally, cutscenes are limited to 60 FPS, while gameplay can thankfully reach up to 120 FPS.
In terms of overall performance, this PC port is not yet at its best, even on newer hardware like the AMD Ryzen 7800X3D and Nvidia RTX 4090 used for this review. While the frame rate isn’t disastrous, 1% low FPS values can sometimes drop deep into the 30s, even on standard settings with Ray Tracing disabled and DLSS upscaling set to Quality—resulting in noticeable stuttering.
In terms of overall performance, this PC port is unfortunately not yet at its best.
Because the base frame rate was already unstable, I barely tested the available Frame Generation technology. Additionally, I occasionally encountered temporary freezes lasting up to a second, and once even experienced a game crash. In short, further optimization is definitely needed for this port, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Final Thoughts
Even on PC, Rise of the Ronin remains a solid action RPG with an engaging story set in an authentic and captivating version of 19th-century Japan. The game also boasts a great soundtrack and, above all, highly satisfying combat. However, the somewhat repetitive side missions and inconsistent AI slightly diminish the overall experience. As for the performance of this PC port, it’s not terrible, but it’s far from exceptional either. Hopefully, this will improve soon—preferably with a Day One patch.
Additional Information
Release date: March 11, 2025
Reviewed on: PC. Download code provided by developer and publisher via BeyondGaming.
Developer: Koei Tecmo, Team Ninja
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Official Website: https://www.playstation.com/nl-nl/games/rise-of-the-ronin
Relevant Links: Rise of the Ronin on STEAM
