Sony has shared a few more informations about Rise of the Ronin. More specifically, they shared info about the factions in the upcoming action RPG developed by Koei Tecmo’s Team Ninja.
In Rise of the Ronin, we explore a japanese landscape of political unrest after three centuries of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The game takes place in 1863 during the era known as Bakumatsu.
According to a new update the game’s PlayStation Store page, three major factions are of particular interest. There’s a group defending the shogunate, another against it, and yet another composed of western forces.
Sabaku
The Sabaku is a group of loyalists to the Tokugawa shogun. They wish to keep the power centralized and uphold the current order against external and internal threats.
Two relevant members of the Sabaku are chief minister Naosuke Ii and geisha Taka Murayama. The former is known as “The Red Demon of Ii” using Iai martial arts and a sword called Hiroyuki Ringa.
According to her description, Taka Murayama works at the Miyozaki pleasure district in Yokohama. Her witty talking skills and good looks with a hint of melancholy made her quite famous.
Tobaku
Meanwhile the Tobaku are an anti-shogunate group. Despite being united under the same banner to fight against the imperial forces, they’re made of very diverse small groups.
Relevant members highlighted in the page update include Ryoma Sakamoto and Kogoro Katsura. Ryoma is a ronin who used to work for the Tosa clan. He wants to open the Japanese ports for foreign trade.
Ryoma is a master in the Hokushin-Itto-ryu style of swordplay but also carries a Western pistol. His sword, Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki, is a precious heirloom made by the Tosa swordsmiths.
Kogoro Katsura is a retainer to the Choshu clan. Though he’s a kind and level-headed individual, his love for sake leads to scandals sometimes. His sword is an elegant blade called Bizen Osafune Kiyomitsu.
Obei
Finally, the Obei are western forces trying to force the end of the isolationist policies of Japan. The group includes individuals from the USA and European countries.
US Commodore Matthew Perry and British diplomat Rutherford Alcock are important members of the Obei. The former wants to make sure the United States is the first one to open Japan ports to the world.
Meanwhile Great Britain sent Rutherford to assess the advantages of having Japan as a partner in the global economy. Though he sees their policies as barbaric, the Japanese craftsmanship fascinates him.
Rise of the Ronin comes to PlayStation 5 on March 22, 2024.
