The Ronin is heavily inspired by Raiden from the Metal Gear franchise.
There are a great number of similarities between the Ronin and Raiden. I will use parentheses, with the Ronin's detail first then Raiden's next. Both are orphans trained into Japanese-style swordsmen by callous warriors (Gensai, Solidus Snake) whose horrendous acts when they were young (cannibalizing their friends, being a brutal killer in a child soldier unit) define a large part of their backstory. They both have a "battle rage" of sorts which is involved with their dark pasts (Jigoku Itto-Ryu, Ripper Mode), and both of these allow them to slay enemies with a single strike at the cost of swiftly expending energy (not being able to breathe, using energy cells very fast). Additionally, they both slew their masters, albeit for different reasons. Personality traits are harder to compare, as the personality of the Ronin is largely player-determined. They are also both mercenaries who take up jobs relevant to the plots their games are in (on the Ronin's side, he/she is Masashi/Masami's bodyguard and was sent to kill the five demons threatening Hyuga. Raiden took jobs from Maverick Security Consulting, Inc. which led to Raiden finding out about the Desperado & World Marshal P.M.Cs.)- It's somewhat of a stretch, but they also both had multiple villains to fight against which seem to be similar in order and traits. This section is mostly spoiler-tagged as they reveal multiple parts of both games' plots:
- In Book 1 of Samurai of Hyuga and level 1 of MGR respectively, Shiroyama and Mistral are fought. Both are sadistic women with hordes of disposable minions (gangsters, Dwarf G.E.K.K.Os) at their side.
- At the beginning of book 2 of Samurai of Hyuga and at the end of the prologue of MGR, Jun/Junko and Samuel Rodriguez are fought. Both are masters of the katana who outmatch their opponent and grievously wound them, and are involved with killing/attempting to kill their opponent's charge (Jun/Junko almost kills Masami/Masashi, and Sam guards Sundowner as the latter slays N'mani, a politican Raiden was protecting). However, later in the story, they both help their former enemy in some way to kill another target by helping them get an item or power that will give them an edge over their next target. Jun/Junko helps the Ronin get the Jigoku Itto-Ryu back and directly helps the Ronin slay Ichiro, while Sam duels Raiden again, instructing Raiden's companion Blade Wolf to give Sam's blade to Raiden in the case Sam dies. Raiden kills Sam, and while he is getting beat down by Armstrong, Blade Wolf gives Raiden Sam's Murasama sword, which is able to wound Armstrong. They are different in that Junko is motivated by a sick and twisted love for the Ronin, and Sam is motivated by wanting to be free of World Marshal, as Sam was unwillingly recruited after being defeated by Armstrong.
- In Book 2 of Samurai of Hyuga and level 3 of MGR, Roderico di Mirandola and Monsoon are fought. Although the two have few similarities, they are both highly dexterous and cunning fighters who question the morals and ideals of their opponents
- In Book 3 of Samurai of Hyuga and level 4 of MGR, General Shatao and Sundowner are fought. Both are large, heavily armored warriors who enjoy sating their bloodlust and causing chaos. They are also both hardened warriors, as Shatao is a general under the Emperor's command and Sundowner is a U.S. Military veteran and longtime mercenary. Although it's somewhat of a stretch, they are both related in that they are both involved with birds. Sundowner's boss theme, Red Sun, has multiple lines referencing birds of prey, while Shatao has the head of a bird, which is usually hidden by his helmet.
- In Book 4 of Samurai of Hyuga, Kiyoshi and Ichiro are fought, and in level 7 of MGR, Metal Gear Excelsus and Steven Armstrong are fought. Ichiro and Armstrong are both powerful politicians who put up a facade of friendliness and benevolence, using a scheme involving their election to reach their goal. Kiyoshi and MG Excelsus are both massive enemies that are controlled by a larger evil, but Kiyoshi is a Kirin while MG Excelsus is a 100 foot tall spider robot. Their powers are also absorbed by their controllers after being defeated by the hero (Kiyoshi is eaten by Ichiro, Armstrong absorbs the energy and nanomachines from MG Excelsus), and the other enemy gains extreme levels of strength and endurance, AND turns black (Ichiro becomes a black colored muscle-bound demon, Armstrong becomes strong enough to cause and survive the explosion of MG Excelsus with a single punch, and turns black when deflecting strikes)! However, their ideals and motives are not similar. Ichiro planned to use talismans hidden in voting armbands to sacrifice voters' souls to Hell to gain the Jigoku Itto-Ryu, while Armstrong planned to reignite the war on terror and destroy the current U.S. government to create anarchy. While Ichiro pursued power above all else, Armstrong was trying to create what he felt was a better world, where people could control their own fates rather than conforming to the government.
