Ryse: Son of Rome

About Ryse: Son of Rome

Ryse: Son of Rome arrived in November 2013 from Crytek Frankfurt. It hits PC and Xbox One as a linear action title focused on the Roman Empire. You play Marius Titus, a soldier whose family gets killed by barbarians. The story follows his path to Britannia and back home to exact revenge. This isn't an open world sandbox. It is a cinematic single player experience with some multiplayer modes thrown in. The game uses CryEngine to push visuals on the PC. You will find cutscenes and quick time events that drive the narrative forward while you fight through hordes of enemies.

Gameplay

You control Marius during set-piece battles against Roman legions, Germanic tribes, and gladiators. Combat relies heavily on timing-based button prompts mixed with standard hacking and slashing attacks. You can parry, bash, and finish off opponents using special execution moves that feel weighty but sometimes stiff. The game alternates between fast combat sequences and quick time events where you must press buttons in rhythm to dodge or strike. There are also multiplayer modes if you want to team up with a friend for cooperative missions. Sessions last a few hours as you move through chapters rather than exploring a map freely.

What Players Think

The PlayPile data shows mixed results here. IGDB lists a score of 68.3 out of 100 based on 327 user ratings. Average playtime sits around 6.5 hours for the main story, with most users finishing it in under ten hours. Community moods lean toward "satisfied" for the visuals but "frustrated" regarding combat depth. Review snippets often mention the graphics are top tier while gameplay feels repetitive. Only 24 percent of players completed all available achievements, suggesting many stopped after the campaign. Prices have dropped significantly, with a historical low of $3.41 on Gamesplanet making it an easy purchase for curious players.

PlayPile's Take

Buy this only if you want to see great graphics and don't mind linear gameplay. The price is currently very low at around three dollars, so the risk is minimal. You get about six hours of content before credits roll. Achievements are scarce, with a 24 percent completion rate indicating most people just skip the harder parts. It works well as a short movie you can play through on a rainy afternoon. Skip it if you need deep combat mechanics or long-term replay value. The story wraps up quickly without much room for exploration.

Storyline

Embark on a journey of revenge, betrayal and divine intervention: Ryse: Son of Rome tells the story of Marius Titus, a young Roman soldier who witnesses the murder of his family at the hands of barbarian bandits, then travels with the Roman army to Britannia to seek revenge. Quickly rising through the ranks, Marius must become a leader of men and defender of the Empire on his quest to exact vengeance – a destiny he soon discovers can only be fulfilled much closer to home.