Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Incredibly violent action game filled with bloody vengeance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Ryse: Son of Rome
What's It About?
RYSE: SON OF ROME follows the story of Marius Titus, a Roman soldier, who loves his country but eventually finds himself betrayed by those in power. After witnessing the murder of his family, he swears vengeance on those who did the deed, barbarians from Britannia. He journeys with the Roman army to wage war on those who live on the island, but when he gets there he realizes that his real enemy may be closer to home. The game's action is centered squarely on brutal but strategic melee combat with swords and shields, with special attention paid to gruesome executions carried out via a quick-time event system that requires players to copy on-screen button cues. There are also moments in larger battles in which players can command their troops, ordering them to various sections of the battlefield or grouping them to form a phalanx. Beyond the campaign lies a multiplayer arena mode, where players take on the roles of gladiators in the ring and fend off wave after wave of attackers.
Is It Any Good?
Ryse: Son of Rome may be brutal and bloody, but it's not just a series of simple button-mashing slaughters. It demands that players think about each button they push, choosing when to attack, dodge, block, or break an enemy's defense. Also, although the vicious executions may be intended first and foremost to thrill the game's adult players, they require a good deal of strategy as well since carrying out a successful execution results in a boost to Marius' health, damage, or experience collection rate. Players will need to choose which of these is most important just before striking the killing blow.
Still, although the combat is generally engaging for adult players, some parts of the experience leave room for improvement. The phalanx system is too simplistic to really satisfy, and sections in which players command an army are often just confusing. Plus, the co-op multiplayer mode lacks depth. But these aren't deal breakers. Ryse: Son of Rome is a well-crafted and thrilling historical action game that ought to prove satisfying for many of the grown-ups who play.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the impact of violence in media. How do you think games on next-generation systems such as Xbox One and PlayStation 4 will affect the way violence is presented in games?
Families also can discuss sexuality in games. Are the few women in this game depicted fairly and honestly? What message might they send to any mature female gamers who play?
Game Details
- Platform : Xbox One
- Subjects : Hobbies : collecting , Social Studies : history
- Skills : Collaboration : cooperation , teamwork , Thinking & Reasoning : logic , strategy
- Pricing structure :
- Available online? : Not available online
- Publisher : Microsoft Studios
- Release date : November 22, 2013
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : June 27, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate