Ronin: The Last Samurai Review—Embrace the Way of Bushido and Carry the Sword of Vengeance

Reading Time: 2 mins 21 secs

Cosying into a beanbag that I had in my reading corner, I can’t help but enjoy a cuppa 🍵 and scrolling through TapTap for more games (Good Lords, why do I do this to myself?)

Out of nowhere, nostalgia hits me, and I’m taking a trip down my memory lane, recalling one of my most profound impressions—the time when the student union played ‘The Last Samurai’ film at the freshman orientation’s movie night session. 

“Like these blossoms, we are all dying. To know life in every breath, every cup of tea, every life we take. The way of the warrior...that is Bushido.”—Katsumoto, The Last Samurai.

Although it may have premiered nearly two decades ago, I can’t help but be wowed by the epic film. Without any hesitation, I turn to my daily affair—indulging in games.

For a moment, the emergence of feudal Japan in the form of Ronin: The Last Samurai (RLS) is experienced as joy, while pangs of nostalgia elicited waves of warmth from my heart. 

Created by Dreamotion Inc, RLS hails you as the last ronin (a samurai who has lost his lord), setting off on the path of vengeance. Set in a war-ravaged era in Japan, a realm of blood and fire where no region is without the sight of violence, RLS admits no such divergence to the theme.

Just minutes after starting the game, I was immediately smitten by the way RLS takes everything great about Sekiro-like battles and streamlines it into a roguelike action slasher that’s instantly accessible but impressively skill-based. 

Quite simply, RLS is sublime to watch, truly poetry in motion.

At its best, I find myself dancing seamlessly across the battlefield, cutting down anyone who stands in my way. If my flow were ever to be disrupted, it will signify that even the most mundane sword fights can be fatal. Upon death, you can utilise an in-game currency (Gems) and resurrect twice per run. 

As annoying as it may be, this loop is intensely addictive. 

Perfecting my technique and slicing through a boss without taking a hit is immensely satisfying and genuinely makes me feel like a samurai. It, however, is matched only by the disappointment in falling to lesser enemies before I can even enter the boss phase. So, I'd recommend that you keep an eye out to know when to block.

With such a stunning ink-and-wash painting style, I can’t help but love the visuals this fighting game has to offer, as every inch of it is absolutely brilliant. Its colour palette is essentially muted blacks, greys, and whites with incredible hues of reds for certain animations and mechanics.

On a different note, I discovered that you’d only have to entertain ads whenever you wish to claim a free chest. What that means is that you won’t be bombarded by unavoidable ads just because you’ve been playing for a while. Wouldn’t you say that we’re deprived of such features in mobile games?

Anyway, if you’re looking to get your hands on another fighting game or just want to sit back and embrace death with excellent graphics, RLS is undoubtedly the game for you. Now that I (hopefully) have intrigued you to see what all the excitement is about, be sure to ready your sword and live the life of a true samurai here.

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