The moment I first encountered the combat system in Rise of the Ronin, I knew this wasn't going to be just another action game. As someone who's spent over 300 hours across FromSoftware titles and completed Ghost of Tsushima three times, I can confidently say this game demands a different kind of precision. The way it blends the frantic energy of Sekiro with the cinematic flair of Tsushima creates something uniquely challenging, especially during those early hours when you're still figuring out the controls and enemy patterns.
What struck me immediately was how the game makes you earn every victory. Unlike many modern action titles that handhold players through combat tutorials, Rise of the Ronin throws you into the deep end with enemies that deploy overwhelming force from the very beginning. I remember my first major duel taking nearly 25 attempts to complete - and this was just in the opening region. The combat system revolves around precise parrying and switching between fighting styles, but the control scheme does feel somewhat unconventional initially. It took me about 15 hours of gameplay to truly internalize the timing for perfect parries, and even now, after 40 hours with the game, I still occasionally fumble with the control layout during particularly intense encounters.
The narrative context of being a masterless warrior hunting for your blade twin perfectly complements the gameplay loop. Without the structure of a clan to guide your actions, every decision carries weight, and the leads you gather through helping various factions directly impact your progression. I found myself particularly drawn to the stealth assassination mechanics, which provide satisfying alternatives to direct confrontation. The game encourages creative approaches to enemy encounters - sometimes I'd spend upwards of 30 minutes scouting an area, planning my route, and executing silent takedowns rather than engaging in open combat. This flexibility reminds me of why I fell in love with immersive sims years ago, though Rise of the Ronin executes it within a more action-oriented framework.
What truly sets the combat apart, in my opinion, is how it balances accessibility with depth. While the initial learning curve is steep - I'd estimate most players need 8-10 hours to feel comfortable with the systems - the satisfaction of mastering the mechanics is incredibly rewarding. The different fighting styles aren't just cosmetic variations; they fundamentally change how you approach encounters. I've developed personal preferences for certain styles against specific enemy types, and discovering these synergies has been one of the most engaging aspects of my 60-hour playthrough so far. The game constantly pushes you to adapt rather than relying on a single strategy, which keeps combat fresh throughout the experience.
The enemy design deserves special mention for how it complements the combat philosophy. Early enemies that seemed impossibly difficult during my first 10 hours become manageable challenges later on, not because they've gotten easier, but because the game has effectively taught you to read their patterns and respond appropriately. I've noticed that enemies typically have 3-5 distinct attack patterns that you need to recognize and counter with specific responses. This creates a rhythm to combat that feels almost musical once you get the hang of it, though the frustration of those early encounters is very real. I can't count how many times I died to basic enemies in the opening area because I was still adjusting to the control scheme's unique demands.
Where Rise of the Ronin truly shines is in how it makes you feel the progression from struggling novice to competent warrior. The difference between my performance at hour 5 and hour 25 was dramatic - not just in terms of character stats or equipment, but in my actual understanding of the game's systems. This organic skill development is something I wish more action games would emulate. The combat manages to feel challenging without becoming unfair, though I'll admit there were moments during my first 15 hours where the difficulty felt borderline oppressive. The key breakthrough for me came when I stopped treating it like other action games and started embracing its unique rhythm and timing.
Looking back at my complete playthrough, which took approximately 72 hours to finish the main story and significant side content, I appreciate how the game respects the player's intelligence and dedication. It doesn't compromise its vision for accessibility, yet remains fundamentally fair in its challenges. The combat system reveals its depth gradually, rewarding persistence with some of the most satisfying encounters I've experienced in recent memory. While the initial control scheme may feel unconventional, and the early difficulty curve is undoubtedly steep, mastering Rise of the Ronin's combat provides a sense of accomplishment that few contemporary action games can match. It's a game that demands your full attention but repays that investment with genuinely memorable gameplay moments that will stick with me long after I've moved on to other titles.