Rise of the Ronin feels like a natural next step for developer Team Ninja. After two decades spent creating some of the best linear action games in the genre, the studio is stepping outside of its comfort zone with its first crack at an open-world action RPG. Combining a freeform structure with a combat style similar to Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty and the Nioh series is an enticing prospect, and it's one of the key areas where Rise of the Ronin stands out after playing its opening two hours.

Set in late 1800s Japan, Rise of the Ronin sees you take control of a nameless work-for-hire warrior in what is known as the "Bakumatsu" period. This era in Japanese history is notable for heralding the end of the militaristic Tokugawa Shogunate, as the country transitioned to a more modernized government that saw East and West collide. It was a period of cultural revolution and uncertainty, and this transition is evident in much of Rise of the Ronin's design, from the weapons in your arsenal to the architecture of some of Yokohama's buildings. Your progress through the game also introduces you to historical figures from throughout the period. The opening hours throw you into a boss fight against Commander Matthew C. Perry--whose American "Black Ships" ended Japan's centuries of isolation--while another of the game's earliest missions sees you fight alongside the legendary samurai, Sakamoto Ryoma.

As a Ronin, you're thrust into the kimono of a samurai without a master--a wandering swordsman, free to carve your own path. This freedom informs Rise of the Ronin and begins at the game's outset, as you're asked to pick your combat origins. Whichever choice you make gives you a slight boost to one of the game's four attributes: Strength, Dexterity, Charisma, and Intelligence. It also dictates which special skill you start with, such as the ability to deflect arrows and bullets or the aptitude to deceive people in conversation. From here, the game recommends the kinds of weapons you should use, but you're free to choose whichever pairing takes your fancy, from the classic katana and odachi combo to the idiosyncratic mix of a bayonet and polearm.