Just as I arrive in Yokohama, one of Rise of the RoninIn the three big cities I hear a quiet meowing in the distance. Spurred on by the cutest of all cats, I sprint towards the stables when I come across a run-down bandit camp. I kill everyone there, not just because the game’s swordplay is amazing, but because I really want to pet the kitten. This has become my obsession in Team Ninja’s latest RPG, and as a cat owner myself, I think this game – and this cat hunting objective – will make cat lovers swoon.
Read more: Team Ninja’s new game is an “action role-playing game” set in the 19th century
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Rise of the Ronin is the upcoming action-adventure game from Nioh And Wo Long: The Fallen Dynasty Developer Team Ninja. Coming to PlayStation 5 on March 22nd, this open-world samurai RPG is set in the Bakumatsu era, the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the policy of cultural isolation that gave way to the modernization of Japan as we know it. As a nameless and masterless warrior, known as “Ronin” in the Land of the Rising Sun, you take part in important events Japan’s late 19th centuryMeeting with historically important figures such as the American naval officer Matthew C. Perry and anti-shogunate nationalist Ryoma Sakamoto (yes, the same guy played by Kazuma Kiryu last year). Like a dragon: that’s what they were). I had a lot of fun with this politically charged story of revolution and upheaval at a time when the country is being hit by a cholera outbreak caused by an influx of foreigners. It’s great to learn about history, but perhaps the best part is searching the world for cats.
Rise of the Ronin‘s Cats make you stronger
Cats are everywhere Rise of the Ronin, just hanging out and doing cat stuff: cleaning, hissing, meowing, sleeping. Each one invites you to find and pet them, although since I know cats, I would probably prefer to be left alone. Either way, if you manage to spend some time cuddling with these fur babies, you’ll be handsomely rewarded for your efforts. First of all, tracking down these cats either on mountains, on the streets, in houses or even deep in enemy caves is pure satisfaction and an exciting adventure. By holding R1 on the DualSense controller, you can “pet” the cat, giving you a quick petting animation as the camera moves in to the loving embrace you both share. It’s adorably sweet and heartwarming, especially when the cat purrs and nuzzles its head against your body Cubital fossa (or the space between your arm and forearm). It’s like coming home after a long day and petting your cat. You worked hard for this moment, you know?
Aside from the satisfaction of keeping a (digital) cat, Rise of the Ronin rewards you for finding and petting her. Early on you meet an entertainer who has a particular fondness for cats. This character sells all sorts of special items in exchange for silver coins, a currency you get for completing open-world objectives like finding lost cats and hunting down fugitives. You can purchase regular old gear from her, such as armor and weapons, and you can also purchase stat boosting scrolls to gain experience points for the Charm attribute, which affects your stance, Ki recovery, and luck stats. In this way, finding the cats is both heartwarming and rewarding, making it a fantastic way to grow stronger while filling your heart with love.
There’s also historical context for why finding these missing cats strengthens your powers Rise of the Ronin. As Smithsonian Magazine explained in a September 2020 postCats have featured prominently in Japanese folklore for centuries, from corpse-eating monsters to the ubiquitous Maneki Neko (or “lucky cat”). But I have my own suspicions as to why Rise of the Ronin attaches great importance to finding cats: we need them more than they need us, because they warm our souls and provide positive benefits throughout our lives. It is sweet.
Read more: I’m here for everything Rise of the Ronin Served
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“What a relief it is to see even a small number of my beloved cats come back to me,” the dealer tells me right at the beginning Rise of the Ronin. “I can’t imagine life without her…Feeling her weight on my lap is enough to lift my spirits.” I feel the same way when my cat, the chatty “Loki” Winslow, decides to pet him – but only this once. There’s something about their furry fur, ticklish whiskers, sharp claws and adorable meows that cheers me up when things get tough. And things are tough in there Rise of the Ronin, in a time marked by political unrest and wanton bloodshed. We could all stand to pet the kitten every now and then, especially if it makes us stronger.
