In a recent interview with Automation Media, Yosuke Hayashi, the producer at Koei Tecmo Games, and Fumihiko Yasuda, the development producer and director at Team Ninja, discussed the upcoming open-world action RPG Rise of the Ronin. The game focuses on a ronin (a masterless samurai) navigating the Bakumatsu period, a time of significant political upheaval in Japan. The interview provided insight into the difficulty of the game.
Team Ninja is widely recognized for creating challenging action games like Nioh. Rise of the Ronin introduces an adjustable difficulty setting, which means the game isn’t focused on making things hard on you. The developers have noted the inclusion of a higher difficulty to cater to players who enjoy the demanding combat experience typically found in Team Ninja’s previous titles. However, the focus has expanded to appeal to a wider audience.
During the interview, Hayashi pointed out that Rise of the Ronin provides more than just fighting. Players interested in exploring the story can opt for normal difficulty, which allows them to enjoy these aspects more easily. Additionally, an easier setting is available for those who want to focus solely on the narrative. This approach shows the developers’ goal of making the game accessible to a broader range of players, including those who might find Team Ninja’s usual difficulty challenging.
“The highest difficulty level is for those who enjoy the typical Team Ninja-style action-packed experience. The so-called normal setting is for players who want to enjoy aspects, like developing your character, through exploring the open world. The easiest setting is for those who want to focus on enjoying the story. We decided from the very beginning that for players to experience being a ronin in the Bakumatsu period, there was no need to make it so that players couldn’t complete the title unless they fully understood the game system.”
Fumihiko Yasuda
Hayashi and Yasuda recognize Ghost of Tsushima as another open-world samurai game that influenced Rise of the Ronin. We’ve gone over the influence in another article. However, like Ghost of Tsushima, players can use ranged weapons and traditional katanas, including grappling hooks, in combat. Stealth tactics are also possible. This design philosophy fits with the overall theme of player freedom and choice within the historical setting.
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