I recently had the opportunity to interview Yosuke Hayashi y Fumihiko Yasuda by Koei Tecmo—the producer and director of The Ascension of the Ronin respectively—and learned some very interesting things about the themes and influences behind this game. They talked about the movies and ‘manga’ that inspired him, how they created their open world, and more.
One opinion I saw repeatedly when the game was announced was that it didn’t seem very original. Multiple comparisons emerged with Ghost of Tsushima, Axe: Shadows Die Twice and Team Ninja’s previous works inspired by Japanese history and mythology. That’s why the first thing I asked them was «what’s so special Rise of The Ronin so that it stands out among other games of the same genre and theme?
According to Yasuda, It is the emphasis on the story of a ronin, a masterless samurai, that makes the title special
What is the game really about?
I got the impression that Yasuda did not want to talk at that moment about the element that truly identifies Rise of The Ronin (which has been translated into Spanish as The Ascension of the Ronin): his themes. This revolves around the political division that Japan suffered at the end of the Bakumatsu era, when the country finally opened itself to foreign relations. While some saw this as a great opportunity or even a necessity, others saw it as a threat against their nation.
Both have talked about it in videos that detail the world of the game and that You can watch with Spanish subtitles here.
This led me to ask you If the theme of the game, which revolves around the schism between pro-shogunate and anti-shogunate groups, was intended to reflect the current political polarization seen not only in Japan, but practically throughout the world
I must confess that your response disappointed me a little. Despite the clearly political nature of the game’s plot, Hayashi and Yasuda responded that The Ascension of the Ronin (Rise of The Ronin) is simply a work of entertainment that has no message beyond that.
This is especially difficult to understand given my next question.
Samurai movies and anime
I wanted to know what they were the movies that most influenced the development of the game
These are works with a lot of political content. Jojimbo deals with a town divided by alliances with two powerful families, while Rurouni Kenshin is literally about the political tensions of the transition from the Bakumatsu era to the Meiji Restoration.
The developers also answered questions in the interview about the game difficulty debate and how they decided how difficult it must be The Ascension of the Ronin. Although their previous games—those already mentioned Nioh y Wo Long— didn’t have the option to choose difficulty, they decided to make their new game have it so that even those who just want to enjoy the story can experience it without getting stuck.
Rise of The Ronin o The Ascension of the Ronin will go on sale exclusively for PS5 on Friday March 22, 2024. We invite you to also read our review of this title.
