History VideoGame / RiseOfTheRonin

* HopelessBossFight: Downplayed. Your first battle with the Blue Demon in the game's prologue will more than likely end in your defeat as players won't have gotten accustomed to the game's mechanics just yet. That said, it ''is'' possible to beat him, either through retrying the level via SaveScumming or the Testament of the Soul where you're much more prepared. Beating him nets you an achievemnt and plays a new cutscene where Perry shoots at the Blade Twins before they can land the final blow against the Blue Demon, giving the latter an opportunity to beat them.

* KnightTemplar: Naosuke Li wants to ensure peaceful relations between Japan and their Western neighbors are secured by any means, resorting to subterfuge and blackmail at best and outright assassination at worst. [[spoiler:Toward the end of Chapter 1, he's reached the point where he decides to outright cull the expulsionists, which leads to Taka going against him, and in turn being killed by the Blue Demon at his orders. That he's gone this far is why the protagonist sides with Katsura and Kusaka, even if they sided with the pro-shogunate factions.]]
* LastSecondEndingChoice: At the end of the game, you're presented with two choices: Kill or Spare [[spoiler:your Blade Twin. Choosing to spare your Blade Twin unlocks a new armor piece and costume for the protagonist, as well as a new scene provided you managed to save Ryoma]].

** Some characters in the game either died or had left Japan behind well before the game's events. For example, Matthew Perry is SparedByTheAdaptation here; in real life, he died in New York City in 1858, five years before the game takes place. Similarly, US Ambassador Townsend Harris left Japan in 1861.

** The narration declares that Genzui Kusaka was twenty-five years old at the time of [[spoilers:his death, when in reality he was twenty-four]].

* SilentProtagonist: Zigzagged. During normal conversations, your PlayerCharacter doesn't speak any lines. However, if not playing as them in a mission or they are in a cutscene that deals with their Blade Twin, they'll break their silence.

* YouCantThwartStageOne: Regardless of whether you [[spoiler:spare or kill Naosuke Ii,]] the shogunate's standing with the Japanese populace plummets, in the US loses steam in securing trade with Japan, the British swoop in to take the latter's place, and anti-shogunate sentiments begin to escalate.

* FiveSecondForeshadowing: Before fighting the mysterious samura during the shogun's tournament, you will notice that not only does the samurai not bow to the shogun you and like the other contestants, but [[spoiler:the shogun isn't at his seat to witness the dual]]. This is a hint as to the samurai's identity, which is revealed right after defeating him.

** When you go to meet with Genzui following the burning of the British legation in Chapter 2, Ryoma and the protagonist find a drunken Katsura accosting a wandering samurai. He shows up again later in the same chapter to duel the protagonist after they win a tournament held by the Shogun. [[spoiler:To Ryoma's shock, the samurai is none other than Yoshinobu Tokugawa, the Shogun himself.]]

** When you go to meet with Taka again in Chapter 1, Ryoma and the protagonist find Katsura accosting a wandering samurai. He shows up again in Chapter 2 to duel the protagonist after they win a tournament held by the Shogun. [[spoiler:To Ryoma's shock, the samurai is none other than Yoshinobu Tokugawa, the Shogun himself.]]

* GreyAndGreyMorality: On the one hand, the anti-shogunate forces believe the shogunate is inefficient and corrupt. On the other hand, said group also consists of ruffians and xenophobes who will not hesitate to resort to violence, if not outright believe MurderIsTheBestSolution.

* FiveSecondForeshadowing: Before fighting the mysterious samura during the shogun's tournament, you will notice that not only does the samurai not bow to the shogun like the other contestants, but [[spoiler:the shogun isn't at his seat to witness the dual]]. This is a hint as to the samurai's identity, which is revealed right after defeating him.

* FiveSecondForeshadowing: Before fighting the mysterious samura during the shogun's tournament, you will noting that tnot only does the samurai not bow to the shogun like the other contestants, but [[spoiler:the shogun isn't at his seat to witness the dual]]. This is a hint as to the samurai's identity, which is revealed right after defeating him.

* FiveSecondForshadowing: Before fighting the mysterious samura during the shogun's tournament, you will noting that tnot only does the samurai not bow to the shogun like the other contestants, but [[spoiler:the shogun isn't at his seat to witness the dual]]. This is a hint as to the samurai's identity, which is revealed right after defeating him.

* DiesDifferentlyInAdaptation: Historically, Naosuke Li was killed at the Sakurada Gate Incident. [[spoiler:While he can die as he did in real-world history, the protagonist has the option to spare him. In which case, Naosuke is instead assassinated by the Blade Twin in his own home.]]

* YouCantThwartStageOne: Regardless of whether you [[spoiler:spare or kill Naosuke Li,]] the shogunate's standing with the Japanese populace plummets, the British and French move in the US loses steam in securing trade with Japan, and anti-shogunate sentiments begin to escalate.

** If you fall in battle, you don't have to kill the opponent that took your life to get your karma back. Simply landing a grapple will return any lost karma, which is nice for boss battles.

* KnightTemplar: Naosuke Li wants to ensure peaceful relations between Japan and their Western neighbors are secured by any means, resorting to subterfuge and blackmail at best and outright assassination at worst. [[spoiler:Toward the end of Chapter 1, he's reached the point where he decides to outright cull the expulsionists, which leads to Taka going against him, and in turn being killed by the Blue Demon at his orders. That he's gone this far is why the protagonist sides with Genzui and Kusaka, even if they sided with the pro-shogunate factions.]]

* TheLostLenore: [[spoiler:Taka and Ryoma become this if you romance them]]. Downplayed case with [[spoiler:Ryoma, as he will survive the unchosen Blade Twin's attempt on his life if certain conditions are met. Taka's death at the hands of the Blue Demon cannot be prevented]].

** [[spoiler:Assuming the player meets the necessary requirements, Ryoma actually survives his assassination at the Omi Inn.]]

* YouCantThwartStageOne: Regardless of whether you [[spoiler:spare or kill Naosuke Li, the shogunate's standing with the Japanese populace plummets, the British and French move in the US loses steam in securing trade with Japan, and anti-shogunate sentiments begin to escalate]].

* HopelessBossFight: Downplayed. Your first battle with the Blue Demon in the game's prologue will more than likely end in your defeat as players won't have gotten accustomed to the game's mechanics just yet. That said, it ''is'' possible to beat him, either through retrying the level via SaveScumming or the Testament of the Soul where you're much more prepared. Beating him plays a new cutscene where Matthew shoots one of the Blade Twins, giving the Blue Demon an opportunity to beat them.

* DifficultButAwesome: The [[VideoGame/NinjaGaiden Hayabusa-Ryu]] style for the katana. The heavy attack is replaced with a parry, and it's weak to many weapon styles. The trade off is a stance that can dance around opponents, throwing them off guard with a parry, then slamming them into the ground with an Izuna Drop. Ryu Hayabusa would be proud.

* SchizoTech: The devices invented by Igashichi Iizuka include a portable camera that can take photos underwater, a "flame pipe" that is on par with a World War II flamethrower, and a tonal resonator that can allow you to see sound-based silhouettes!

* ButNowIMustGo: If he survives [[spoiler:his attempted assassination, Ryoma]] tells the protagonist he will leave for America and see more of the world and the foreigners' culture as to better foster relations with Japan's westward neighbors. [[spoiler:The post-credit scene even shows him walking through what is presumably the city streets of America.]]

* TheStinger: If [[spoiler:Ryoma survives his assassination and the protagonist spares their Blade Twin]], the post-credits scene shows [[spoiler:Ryoma walking through the streets of America and happens upon the Blade Twin, much to his surprise]].

** In chapter 2 you get Twilight of the Soul, which allows you to go back in time to try different events and clean up any missed connections or side missions that you missed.

** Some characters in the game either died or had left Japan behind well before the game's events. For example, Matthew Perry is SparedByTheAdaptation here; in real life, he had died in New York City in 1858, five years before the game takes place. Similarly, US Ambassador Townsend Harris left Japan in 1861.

** Some characters in the game either died or had left Japan behind well before the game's events. For example, Matthew Perry is SparedByTheAdaptation here; in real life, he was killed in New York City in 1858, five years before the game takes place. Similarly, US Ambassador Townsend Harris left Japan in 1861.

** Some characters in the game either died or had left Japan behind come the game's events. For example, Matthew Perry is SparedByTheAdaptation here; in real life, he was killed in New York City in 1858, five years before the game takes place. Similarly, US Ambassador Townsend Harris left Japan in 1861.

* GreyAndGreyMorality: Both the Pro and Anti-Shogunate forces have their flaws. The Tokugawa Shogunate does indeed suffer from corruption and inefficiency....just as the Choshu Clan are violent xenophobes who believe MurderIsTheBestSolution.

* PetTheDog: When the protagonist encounters Matthew Perry again after the prologue, they're surprised to learn that he chose to capture their Blade Twin and help nurse them back to full health as opposed to killing them. Matthew reasons that he'd rather prefer to make friends than enemies, and the Blade Twin would make for a valuable ally.

* ResignationNotAccepted: Once you join the Veiled Edge, you ''cannot'' leave. Any attempts to do so are met with death. When the protagonist opts to leave and search for their counterpart, the Bladesmith attacks them and says they have a duty to uphold. She only allows them to leave when she's been fatally wounded, though Taka's Bond Mission shows what's left of the Veiled Edge considers the protagonist a traitor to the Kurasu clan and attempts to eliminate them.