Ryse: Son of Rome
Ryse: Son of Rome is a stunning action-adventure that follows Marius Titus on a heroic quest to avenge the death of his family, and preserve the honor of Rome, at all costs.
What it feels like
An unflinching dark tone of family murder, revenge, and brutal warfare that refuses to look away from violence and brutality. Heroic momentum and victory punctuate the combat, with successful executions and progression toward avenging his family's honor.
What it's about
Grounded in ancient Rome, Britannia, and Roman military campaigns with historical setting as the backdrop for Marius's story. Avenging the murder of his family is explicitly the central driving force of Marius Titus's journey and motivation throughout the narrative. A hero's journey to defeat enemies and honor Rome by avenging family wrongs drives the classical narrative arc.
How it plays
Fast melee combat against many enemies with flashy chained attacks is the core gameplay loop, defining the action experience. Prominently featured in both combat executions and cinematic set-pieces, punctuating the action with prompted button presses. Gore and visceral combat feedback via dismemberment and brutal executions are core to the combat satisfaction loop.
How it looks and sounds
Camera follows Marius from behind or over-the-shoulder throughout, the standard perspective for hack-and-slash action. Built with CryEngine, the game aims for high-fidelity realistic rendering of characters, environments, and Rome's architecture. Grimy, worn textures of armor, blood, and weathered Roman environments contribute to a gritty, detailed aesthetic.
How it's structured
A bounded, authored story arc with a clear beginning, middle, and definite end following Marius's revenge quest. Campaign is structured as discrete stages played through in a mostly fixed order, following Marius's military progression. Single-player campaign is the primary experience, though multiplayer modes are available as secondary features.
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