Historical Japanese settings continue to enthrall game developers, with titles like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Ghost of Tsushima, and Like a Dragon: Ishin gaining popularity. Joining this trend is Team Ninja's Rise of the Ronin, an open-world action game set in 19th-century Japan. While drawing comparisons to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice due to its combat and traversal mechanics, Rise of the Ronin shares a similar story and setting with Like a Dragon: Ishin.
Both Like a Dragon: Ishin and Rise of the Ronin unfold during Japan's tumultuous Bakumatsu Era, marking the end of the feudal shogunate that had ruled Japanese governance for two centuries. This era, considered one of the darkest in Japanese history, is depicted differently in both games, offering two unique storytelling approaches to this iconic historical period.
A Tale of Two Games
The Bakumatsu Era, spanning from 1853 to 1867, witnessed the rise of anti-Shogun sentiments and the emergence of groups like the nationalist Ishin Shishi faction. Under the Tokugawa shogunate, Japan maintained a highly isolationist foreign policy, shunning trade with most Western nations. As citizens sought to embrace Western technology, the Ishin Shishi rallied around the rightful heir to the Japanese throne, advocating a return to imperial rule under Emperor Meiji.
In opposition to the Ishin Shishi were pro-Shogun groups like the Shinsengumi secret police, comprising low-ranking samurai tasked with protecting key figures in the Tokugawa government. In Like a Dragon: Ishin, players assume the role of Sakamoto Ryoma as he infiltrates the Shinsengumi to unravel the mystery behind his father's murder, navigating tensions between the Shinsengumi and Ishin Shishi. Similarly, Rise of the Ronin features characters like Ryoma, pivotal figures in the story of Like a Dragon: Ishin and real-life historical figures who played significant roles during that period.
Divergent Paths
Although both games are set in Japan's Bakumatsu era, they offer distinct portrayals of the period. Like a Dragon: Ishin follows the familiar Yakuza and Like a Dragon formula, blending action-brawler combat with various side activities and substories. In contrast, Rise of the Ronin heavily emphasizes its Soulslike combat, challenging players with unforgiving battle mechanics while providing an open world to explore using diverse traversal methods like a grappling hook and glider.
Moreover, the games diverge in their storytelling and settings. While Rise of the Ronin is primarily set in Edo, Like a Dragon: Ishin transports players to Kyoto. Additionally, Rise of the Ronin places greater emphasis on Western forces than Like a Dragon: Ishin, featuring Commodore Matthew Perry as a significant character, credited by Western scholars for negotiating Japan's opening to the Western world.