The arrival of Helldivers 2 on the PS5 has been marked as one of the biggest moments for gaming in recent times. While the gameplay has received much praise and continues to excite players, the title has been an important influence on the co-op gaming scene.
Amidst its glory, there’s a new entry into the PS5 library that’s starting to garner the interest of many. Rise of the Ronin is a fresh title from Team Ninja and mixes detailed swordplay with co-op mechanics. The gameplay design isn’t shy about testing a player’s skills in the context of other players.
Rise of the Ronin’s careful swordplay adds a twist to its co-op gameplay
At first glance, Rise of the Ronin’s gameplay may remind you of games like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Ghost of Tsushima when mechanics like stances, counter-parrying, and movement are concerned. In fact, Ghost of Tsushima: Legends enabled players to share a co-op experience as they went against different enemy varieties.
Building on this, the game takes things up a notch by challenging players to test their reflexes against AI with a three-player co-op. This makes for some excellent teamwork and inspires players to focus on their own playstyle and how it adds to the game’s environment.
Compared to Helldivers 2, this is indeed a greater learning curve, even though the two games are drastically different from each other. In the case of Rise of the Ronin, Team Ninja has been quite meticulous about how the combat works, and this isn’t just limited to the single-player aspect of the game.
How Helldivers 2 and Rise of the Ronin differ in their co-op
The biggest difference between the two games lies in how environments work against players. In Helldivers 2, you’re facing hordes of enemies while the planet also works against you. In Rise of the Ronin, you and your teammates will often find yourselves battling against one strong enemy. Or, a few, at max. Anything more, and it’s complete chaos.
This makes the latter even more challenging, with its gameplay asking you to be careful about each and every strike you wish to land on your foe. Undoubtedly, this is going to bring in a lot of players who are up for a close-combat co-op experience. But, will it ever surpass Helldivers 2? Now that’s something we’ll have to wait and watch out for.
The great thing is that one title is a pure sci-fi fantasy for those looking for the ultimate cinematic experience, while the other thrives on a narrative set in feudal Japan. These differences keep both the games unique and fresh and attract different kinds of players.
What are your thoughts on these co-op experiences? Do you have a favorite yet? Let us know in the comments below.
