In Rise of the Ronin, players must make an important choice – should they join the Pro-Shogun or Anti-Shogun group? This decision is very meaningful.
It will change the story’s path and decide what happens to key characters. To help you decide, let’s look closely at each group.
The Pro-Shogun Group: Supporting Tokugawa Rule
The Pro-Shogun group is made up of people loyal to the Tokugawa Shogun military rulers. Their goal is to keep the Shogun in power after ruling Japan for centuries. Joining this group means supporting the Shogun’s authority and following their policies.
Important Allies and Goals
If you join Pro-Shogun, you will team up with influential people like Chief Minister Naosuke Ii, Naval Leader Kaishu Katsu, and even Western forces led by American Matthew Perry. Together, you will try to stop rebels and keep trade open with the West.
Results of Choosing Pro-Shogun
Supporting this group gets you access to Western-style clothes and weapons. However, some important Anti-Shogun characters may die in the fighting. You must weigh the benefits against possibly losing allies you’ve bonded with.
The Anti-Shogun Group: Overthrowing the Shogun
The Anti-Shogun group wants to remove the Tokugawa Shogun from power. They see the Shogun as oppressive and want the Imperial Court to rule again. Joining them means fighting to get rid of foreign influence and make Japan independent.
Important Allies and Goals
As part of Anti-Shogun, you’ll work with leaders like Shoin Yoshida, Kogoro Katsura, and Genzui Kusaka. Your goal is to overthrow the Shogun by any means, including assassination attempts and open battle against Shogun forces.
Results of Choosing Anti-Shogun
Picking the Anti-Shogun side gets you traditional Japanese clothes and weapons. But some key Pro-Shogun characters may die in the conflict, which could damage your bonds with allies on that side.
Weighing Your Options
In the end, whether you choose Pro-Shogun or Anti-Shogun depends on your personal values and preferences. Think about which allies you want closer bonds with, the story path you prefer, and the trade-offs of each choice.
While the overall ending stays the same no matter your choice, your journey to get there and the fates of certain characters will be different based on which group you join.
The Power of Choice
One of Rise of the Ronin‘s greatest strengths is letting players make meaningful choices that shape their experience. The Pro-Shogun or Anti-Shogun decision is a prime example. It lets you side with characters and beliefs that resonate with you while seeing the consequences of your actions play out.
No matter which group you pledge loyalty to, you can expect an engaging, immersive story true to the historical setting while offering a personalized adventure through the turbulent Bakumatsu period.
