Ryse: Son of Rome

 Xbox One
User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 1780 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 895 out of 1780
  2. Mixed: 424 out of 1780
  3. Negative: 461 out of 1780
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  1. the_blueprint
    Dec 18, 2014
    4
    This on-rails hack and slasher is fun for 30 minutes but gets repetitive and boring real fast! It has amazing graphics and performance by the main character but who cares if the story and characters are all but non-existent? It's short (about 5-6 hours) but you'll get bored a lot quicker then that!
  2. TandemEngine
    Nov 22, 2013
    4
    Was disappointed by this game to be honest.At least it looks nice.The story was predictable,the combat got played out after a while,even though it's parry,bash,slash, execution flow chart of combat is amusing at first it's limited by it realism and the repetitive nature of the combat really cuts this game off at the knees.
  3. JamesEsau87
    Nov 24, 2013
    4
    Beautiful Game..........That's it......Takes absolutely no skill what so ever, your going to literally going to spam with sword and throw in an occasional block.....Extremely repetitive would now waste the money to buy this again.
  4. Elitesmile101
    Nov 27, 2013
    4
    This is a prime example of good graphics and bad gameplay. Don't get me wrong, cutting people up is fun but it gets boring after hours of the same exact bland gameplay,
  5. K2D
    Dec 4, 2013
    4
    This is good looking, boring, tech-demo. The first five minutes you'll be blown away by the grapics. After that you'll a have a tedius, monotone workday ahead of you in the shoes of a roman soldier. Welcome to the butchers.
  6. Johnnysixfinger
    Dec 19, 2013
    4
    This game is so one dimensional, definitely not worth the Even after the 3GB update to revise combat, the game falls flat on its face.

    Sure things are beautiful but you're always fighting the same 3 boring enemies to advance the story. This game tried to be a God of War but the dumbed down combat and lack of variety would hardly keep a 7 year old entertained more than a few hours.    This game is so one dimensional, definitely not worth the Even after the 3GB update to revise combat, the game falls flat on its face.

    Sure things are beautiful but you're always fighting the same 3 boring enemies to advance the story. This game tried to be a God of War but the dumbed down combat and lack of variety would hardly keep a 7 year old entertained more than a few hours.

    Don't even get me started on the upgrade system, an Android or Iphone game has more complex upgrades and oh wait do you ask if this game is a Free-To-Play? You will after seeing the number of micro-transactions they prompt you with. AVOID THIS GAME UNLESS YOU HAVE NOTHING TO PLAY    … Expand
  7. Harbinger1
    Jan 21, 2014
    4
    One of the best looking games Ive play, characters and there animations are gorgeous but even that cannot redeem the repetitive game play...
    Its just a button masher nothing more go to one play and button mash next place and so forth until you beat the game
  8. TriviumFan17x
    Mar 25, 2014
    4
    This game is decent if you like simple action games that pose no real difficulty. The story is rather generic and uninteresting. The only really good thing to say about this game is the graphics and some of the fighting that takes place in the cut scenes are terrific. The actual fighting is insanely repetitive and boring however. If you have to pay for this game, its not worth it.This game is decent if you like simple action games that pose no real difficulty. The story is rather generic and uninteresting. The only really good thing to say about this game is the graphics and some of the fighting that takes place in the cut scenes are terrific. The actual fighting is insanely repetitive and boring however. If you have to pay for this game, its not worth it. Borrow it or rent it and its decent.… Expand
  9. namazu
    May 5, 2014
    4
    This is more like a playable graphics demo. the graphics are amazing, but the gameplay is terrible. the hitboxes, blocky controls and choppy combat make this game extremely frustrating.
  10. Iluvatar21
    Apr 29, 2014
    4
    HOW I RATE: 10-9 score: perfect or near-perfect don't exist; 8 score: one of the best games ever. Top score; 7-6 score: great but not one of the best; 5-below score: serious flaws.
    ===========
    t's a game you'd rather not pay 60 bucks for or 1 dollar for either. It's a pretty tech demo with no actual gameplay.
  11. dgbot07
    Mar 20, 2014
    4
    Absolutely misleading graphs. Perfect elements contrast with serrated negligible in some detail. Storyline cliche.

    Where is the difficulty of this game that I find?
  12. Liamzl
    Jun 2, 2014
    4
    Fantastic graphics engine but feel more like a E3 Reveal game and that's what it is. The storyline is ok at times but really does not deliver the promise of an in-depth gaming experience. I really wanted to like this game, I really did. But I just couldn't...
  13. Dallaswithad
    Jun 4, 2014
    4
    Its repetitive. Its repetitive. Graphics are good. Graphics are good. Atmosphere is great. Atmosphere is great. Combat is fun for two hours.Combat is fun for two hours. 60 bucks it too much. 60 bucks is too much.
    Very good rent. Very good rent.
  14. tomenigma
    Jul 31, 2015
    4
    Ryse features nice graphics however very weak game-play ruins overall experience. This is a corridor game with very limited excitement on the way. Way too easy and quite disappointing at the end. My 4 points go toward the art direction and graphics.
  15. JinIluminado
    Apr 30, 2018
    4
    Repitam comigo crianças: Gráfico não é tudo.

    O jogo tem um visual tão bom que a nota 4 é só por causa dele, o resto é uma historia genérica, com dialogos pífios e uma unica missão "Mate os barbáros".
  16. Tawan
    Apr 24, 2018
    4
    This game have only beauty graphics, nothing more, bad history, horrible gameplay e etc.
  17. Axelle_1
    Sep 6, 2021
    4
    унылая игра мне кароче не понравилась не знаю не нравиться мне кароче
  18. FastTriton
    May 9, 2023
    4
    Empire of boredome... Game is beautiful even in 2023. Camera is terrible and may make you sick, and I am not that type of person talking about camera angles in games. Gameplay is run forward and press hit to beat all enemies, which are only 3-4 types. You will not miss anything, if you skip this game.
  19. fatolcay
    Dec 7, 2013
    3
    A below average game with boring gameplay awful QTE events that go on even if you fail to push the button and abysmal combat system. The historycal accuracy is nonexistant and the game is nothing more than a tech demo made to show how shiny things can be on the new xbone.
  20. Leon2012
    Jun 7, 2014
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Ryse is a visually stunning game that really turns up the graphics benchmark with the use of CryEngine. The game play mechanics tend to be enjoyable for a short period of time and the story line takes on a twist that I wasn't fully expecting.

    Games made with the CryEngine do not need a review explaining that the graphics are good, this is to be expected with CryEngine so we'll continue with the original advertisement of this game.

    When I first heard about Ryse I watched a trailer that showed someone playing the game with the Kinect and they were fighting. Swinging their arms like they had a sword, raising their arm like they had a shield, kicking the enemy away from them and finally hurling their sword. This was an excellent promotion that caught my attention. I thought to myself "Finally, someone is going to use the Kinect the way it needs to be used!"
    I was sadly disappointed to find the only Kinect features this game actually has in it are with voice commands which are rather useless.

    With the Kinect features out of the question this game should be able to deliver spectacular fights and it almost seemed as if the developers had done so when you go through a kill animation and have to press certain buttons and see the spectacular method of killing your enemy.
    Although, after a few times of doing so you quickly realize that it's the same thing over and over. Killing an enemy without one of these sequences feels meaningless and killing them with one of those sequences becomes too repetitive.

    Then they add a feature where you can press a button and everything around you slows down and you can start owning everyone around you. This feature seems neat as well but after a few uses you once again discover it's rinse and repeat all over again.

    The story line to the game is almost good. The best part of the story line is when you discover you're Damocles. The way the game builds up the story behind Damocles makes it feel as if this warrior is so awesome that his presence would be enough to kill your enemy. Then you discover that you are Damocles in the manner that you were brought back for vengeance and at first it feels as if your character will be transformed somehow, maybe faster, or stronger with new kill animations or anew weapon.
    But this is not true. The only new thing that happens is your character places a mask over his face a few times.

    After the campaign is over you're left with the arena which doesn't have very many options and isn't all that difficult to complete. Every game I've ever played that involved an arena or Colosseum have never gotten it wrong, until now. The developers did add several things to the arena that I haven't seen in previous games but these objects are generally not needed to win and therefore don't necessarily add to the game play.

    Overall. Ryse is nothing close to what was shown in the early trailers. The graphics are very good which is expected from the CryEngine. Game play mechanics are too repetitive. The use of the Kinect is useless and should have been excluded entirely. The story line takes a very interesting twist and doesn't build on the character afterwards. The arena has things inside it that I haven't seen before giving the arena potential for unique combat, but ultimately isn't needed and isn't very challenging.    … Expand
  21. bellerophon
    Nov 22, 2013
    3
    A pretty good tech demo obviously, but a pretty bad game on the other hand, repetitive and boring after 15 minutes of gameplay. Watching the videos will give you all what this "game" has to offer visuals, no need to buy it or even play it. The problem with only nice-looking games is that they won't remain nice for long, especially in this new gen.
  22. KRT825
    Nov 22, 2013
    3
    the visuals are stunning, the graphics are insane
    but the gameplay is just tedious and boring, extremely repetitive and no fun at all
    CryTek might be good at creating ultra visuals, but they totally forgot they are making a video game, not CG movie...
    a 7 hours long cliche, that's what it's all about...
    disappointing, boring, waste of time and money
  23. Joe_E_Dee
    Nov 29, 2014
    3
    Horrible. This game is Golden Ax Beast Hunter (xbox 360) with a story line. Graphics are next gen quality, but the repetitive/ uninspiring combat drags this game down...way down. The RPG system feels completley useless. if you are after achievement points, and can get the game for 10 bucks go for it.
  24. maxsemporium
    Jan 2, 2014
    3
    This is a Monotonous game you have block alot and it only works a 3rd of the time, i couldn't beat the last boss on easy and fully upgraded, I believe this game is for zombie players, sword games should not be made to use the same series of attacks over and over in the game, i rate this game a 4, if you use the same series of attacks it doesn't do any good because block dose not work halfThis is a Monotonous game you have block alot and it only works a 3rd of the time, i couldn't beat the last boss on easy and fully upgraded, I believe this game is for zombie players, sword games should not be made to use the same series of attacks over and over in the game, i rate this game a 4, if you use the same series of attacks it doesn't do any good because block dose not work half the time, and there were a couple of times in the game i wasn't sure what to do or where to go, so thoughtless for a game designer.… Expand
  25. fsujoseph
    Mar 16, 2014
    3
    Ryse was a very disappointing game for me. At 60$ all you're getting is a very short, very boring story with quite possibly the most boring combat (basically the whole game) I have ever experienced. The ONLY thing this game sis worthy of is flashing it's awesome visuals. If this game were a girl, it would be a REALLY hot girl that has a TERRIBLE personality and is waiting for marriage toRyse was a very disappointing game for me. At 60$ all you're getting is a very short, very boring story with quite possibly the most boring combat (basically the whole game) I have ever experienced. The ONLY thing this game sis worthy of is flashing it's awesome visuals. If this game were a girl, it would be a REALLY hot girl that has a TERRIBLE personality and is waiting for marriage to have sex while you've been dating for 3 years. All flash, no show. Worth 5$ or less.… Expand
  26. kdorsey69
    Sep 19, 2014
    3
    This game is not worth buying. While visually stunning that appears all they were going for. User controls are VERY slow in responding and the moves you can do for a "kill" seem random. On "Legendary" level it just gets ridiculous. You get killed by 3 hits in full armor, yet you have to hit a Barbarian wearing nothing but cloth 10 times at least to kill him. And the views in battle areThis game is not worth buying. While visually stunning that appears all they were going for. User controls are VERY slow in responding and the moves you can do for a "kill" seem random. On "Legendary" level it just gets ridiculous. You get killed by 3 hits in full armor, yet you have to hit a Barbarian wearing nothing but cloth 10 times at least to kill him. And the views in battle are terrible. The screen shifts and all of a sudden an enemy shows up to kill you that you didn't even know was there. There is no open roaming and the direction you have to go is usually unclear. They say it took 7 years to make this game?? WTF? They should have just made it a CGF movie instead. Don't waste your time.… Expand
  27. branlin
    Sep 8, 2023
    3
    Christopher Nolan's films are often regarded as great for several reasons:

    Complex Storytelling: Nolan is known for his intricate and non-linear storytelling, which challenges audiences to engage with the narrative on a deeper level. His films often feature complex plots with multiple layers and timelines. Visual Spectacle: Nolan's movies are visually stunning, with a strong emphasis    Christopher Nolan's films are often regarded as great for several reasons:

    Complex Storytelling: Nolan is known for his intricate and non-linear storytelling, which challenges audiences to engage with the narrative on a deeper level. His films often feature complex plots with multiple layers and timelines.

    Visual Spectacle: Nolan's movies are visually stunning, with a strong emphasis on practical effects and immersive cinematography. He often combines practical and visual effects to create memorable and visually striking scenes.

    Strong Themes: Nolan's films often explore profound and thought-provoking themes such as time, identity, memory, and the nature of reality. These themes resonate with audiences and contribute to the lasting impact of his work.

    Memorable Characters: Nolan's films feature well-developed and memorable characters, often portrayed by talented actors. These characters add depth to the storytelling and make audiences emotionally invested in the narrative.

    Innovative Filmmaking Techniques: Nolan is known for pushing the boundaries of filmmaking technology and techniques. He has used IMAX cameras, practical stunts, and innovative sound design to create unique cinematic experiences.

    Ambitious Projects: Nolan is unafraid to take on ambitious and challenging projects, such as "Inception," "Interstellar," and "Dunkirk." His willingness to tackle complex and unconventional subject matter sets him apart in the industry.

    Critical Acclaim: Many of Nolan's films have received critical acclaim and have been recognized with awards and nominations, which further solidifies his reputation as a great filmmaker.

    Box Office Success: Nolan's films often perform well at the box office, demonstrating their appeal to a broad audience.

    Influence on the Industry: Nolan's work has had a significant influence on the film industry, inspiring other filmmakers and changing the way movies are made and experienced.

    Consistency: Nolan has maintained a consistent level of quality throughout his career, with few missteps, which has earned him a dedicated fan base and respect among his peers.    … Expand
  28. Nerevarinho
    Sep 16, 2021
    3
    Wasted potential. Good graphics. Good ideas. At the beginning cool combat, becomes a chore very quickly. There are microtransactions for skill currency. Leveling system is somehow there but it feels totally unimportant.
  29. rahzel
    Nov 22, 2013
    2
    Ryse is basically a tech demo. It looks amazing, but it plays like mud and is extremely boring. Gameplay is buggy, broken and boring. The story is mediocre at best. Overall, I'd say skip it until it reaches the bargain bin.
  30. Avodeskorm
    Nov 22, 2013
    2
    It felt like I have played this game before. Oh wait I did, except it was the complete opposite of this game. This game has good graphics (to console players), but did they just make terrible gameplay on purpose? Or does the cryengine just suck when it comes to this style of games? Just a linear, boring, from high budget-to low effort. I would rather play Cursed Crusade then this game. AtIt felt like I have played this game before. Oh wait I did, except it was the complete opposite of this game. This game has good graphics (to console players), but did they just make terrible gameplay on purpose? Or does the cryengine just suck when it comes to this style of games? Just a linear, boring, from high budget-to low effort. I would rather play Cursed Crusade then this game. At least that game had a characters that I grew to love and wanted to succeed.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Best Xbox One Game of 2013
1
#1 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2013
1
#1 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 77 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 77
  2. Mixed: 60 out of 77
  3. Negative: 9 out of 77
  1. Critical Hit
    Sep 8, 2014
    75
    Ryse is a bit of a marmite game, if you are looking for a great gaming experience that takes forever to perfect then Ryse is not for you. If you are interested in a Roman interactive movie with a solid story line then I’d say give it a shot.
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  2. Gamereactor Sweden
    Sep 7, 2014
    40
    Beautiful but stale, boring, shallow and lacking in variation.
    Read full review
  3. Level7.nu
    Sep 4, 2014
    50
    Ryse: Son of Rome is a really good looking game, but at the same time incredible stupid. Thanks to the graphics and the amount of brutal combat the adventure managed to entertain, at least for a bit. If you find Ryse on sale it can be worth a closer look, but for a full price game it’s a disappointment.
    Read full review
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