Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Black Friday
    • Gaming
      • Black Friday PS5 Deals
      • Black Friday Switch Deals
      • Black Friday Xbox Deals
      • Black Friday Retro Deals
    • PC
      • Black Friday Gaming Laptop Deals
      • Black Friday Gaming Monitor Deals
      • Black Friday Graphics Card Deals
      • Black Friday Alienware Deals
    • Tabletop & Merch
      • Black Friday Lego Deals
      • Black Friday Board Game Deals
      • Black Friday Pokémon Card Deals
      • Black Friday Warhammer Deals
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Total Film
    • Retro Gamer
Total Film
  • home
  • Black Friday
    • View Black Friday
      • Black Friday PS5 Deals
      • Black Friday Switch Deals
      • Black Friday Xbox Deals
      • Black Friday Retro Deals
      • Black Friday Gaming Laptop Deals
      • Black Friday Gaming Monitor Deals
      • Black Friday Graphics Card Deals
      • Black Friday Alienware Deals
      • Black Friday Lego Deals
      • Black Friday Board Game Deals
      • Black Friday Pokémon Card Deals
      • Black Friday Warhammer Deals
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Total Film
    • Retro Gamer
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon promotional image
Far Cry The new Assassin's Creed Mirage DLC will have to wait, because I can finally play the Far Cry 3 expansion I missed out on 13 years ago
Dinoblade key art
Action RPGs You can finally play the Ghost of Yotei animator's dinosaur Soulslike, where you carve through dinos with a giant sword between your teeth, thanks to a Steam demo I can't believe I'm recommending
Lost Soul Aside
Action Games New Final Fantasy-style action RPG Lost Soul Aside is "unintentionally one of the funniest games of the year," players declare, which takes the sting of its Mixed Steam reviews away somewhat
A crop of The Order 1886 cover art for Official PlayStation Magazine issue 97
Action Games Don't cry because The Order 1886 is over, smile because blasting werewolves with Nikola Tesla's high-tech weapons happened
Marcus Fenix looks on in horror in Gears of War: Reloaded
Gears of War I can finally share meat-tastic cover shooting bliss with my PS5 friends thanks to Gears of War Reloaded
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
RPGs Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's Legacy of the Forge DLC adds a new secret ending that fixes an infamous, immersion-breaking moment from the open-world RPG's main quest
Vin Diesel in the cover art for The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay
FPS Games Unreasonably good Xbox FPS featuring Vin Diesel was so under the radar, not even the studio noticed when it got canceled: "They basically forced the publisher to restart the game"
Dying Light: The Beast screenshot of Kyle Crane punching a Biter using the knuckle dusters, with a GamesRadar On The Radar overlay
Survival Horror Games Dying Light: The Beast feels like Action Man: The Game, and I can't get enough of Kyle Crane's badass skull-smashing moves
Kingdom Come: Deliverance protagonist Henry caught by guards
RPGs Kingdom Come Deliverance 2's Legacy of the Forge patch notes reveal Henry can cook eggs again and "fewer drunken NPCs now wander Kuttenburg," but fans find the best changes have gone unannounced
Ghost of Yotei Atsu holding katana
Open World Games Ghost of Yotei earns praise from legendary developers behind Ninja Gaiden and Devil May Cry, with Team Ninja's Fumihko Yasuda saying he's always wanted to make a game based in Hokkaido
Rubinite trailer screenshot of a purple hand reaching for a red eye
Action Games I played the top-rated Soulslike in Steam Next Fest to see what the fuss is about – turns out it's not a Soulslike but a boss rush with amazing combat, and I see what the fuss is about
Onimusha: Way of the Sword preview screenshot from gamescom 2025
RPGs Onimusha: Way of the Sword is becoming my most anticipated game of 2026 but Sekiro fans should know it's not a difficult game – and that's OK
The RPG 3D stick figures sit in a wagon
RPGs Finally, The RPG is on Steam – "Minimalistic Skyrim" where you shove bread into open wounds to heal, and the dragon villain "constantly glitches"
pixelated fantasy characters in a wooden room
RPGs "Truly, accidental marketing at its finest": Indie dungeon RPG mistranslated as "Sh**ty Dungeon" actually got a huge boost from Japanese Steam users sharing the joke
RPGs I'm playing The Outer Worlds for the first time because my friend told me it was better than Fallout, and now I'm hyped for the sequel to push it even further
Trending
  • Pokemon Legends Z-A
  • Golden Joystick Awards 2025
  • New Games for 2025
  1. Games
  2. Action
  3. Ryse: Son of Rome

Guess what! Ryse: Son of Rome actually doesn't suck!

Features
By Hollander Cooper published 6 November 2013

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Seriously, it's super not terrible

Seriously, it's super not terrible

I know, you really think that Ryse: Son of Rome is going to suck. Like, you know it is. You posted on a forum about cancelling your pre-order (even though you didn't have one) and ranted about it being some watered-down Kinect game. And, let's be fair, you had every reason to think that. When it was shown off at E3 it was a glorified tech demo with an uninteresting muscle-bound gladiator quicktime-eventing his way through even less interesting enemies, and when it was shown at PAX the focus was on lackluster multiplayer that froze and glitched whenever we tried to do anything. But now, finally, we've gone hands-on with a near-final version of the game and hot damn, it isn't awful!

I'm not ready to say that it's "good," but the version we've all seen in the past is as good as dead in my mind. Combat is quick and satisfying, with the hero slicing and dicing (in real-time) before tapping a block button to deflect blows, Batman-style. When you've weakened an enemy you're able to execute them, gaining bonus health or experience for perfectly-timed attacks. Body parts are hacked off in a glorious display of next-gen realism, and characters flop around on the ground in disgusting heaps. It's horrendous and awful and alluring and engaging--it's exactly what I wanted from Ryse, but what I was worried I wasn't going to get.

Is it the launch title? Nah--that's likely Dead Rising 3 or Killer Instinct, but it's definitely launched itself past our expectations and revealed itself as something totally, maybe worth your time.

Check out the following slides for additional images and more information.

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
Close-up finishing moves are very detailed.

Close-up finishing moves are very detailed.

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
Fire and particle effects looked great--especially when I knocked a guy into the flames.

Fire and particle effects looked great--especially when I knocked a guy into the flames.

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
If two enemies are dazed you can do a duo execution.

If two enemies are dazed you can do a duo execution.

Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
Shield bashing is a huge, important part of Ryse's combat.

Shield bashing is a huge, important part of Ryse's combat.

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
This guy is apparently a "Minotaur" (but, actually, he's just a guy with a hat).

This guy is apparently a "Minotaur" (but, actually, he's just a guy with a hat).

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
The gore is downright disturbing.

The gore is downright disturbing.

Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
CATEGORIES
Xbox One Platforms Xbox
Hollander Cooper
Hollander Cooper
Social Links Navigation

Hollander Cooper was the Lead Features Editor of GamesRadar+ between 2011 and 2014. After that lengthy stint managing GR's editorial calendar he moved behind the curtain and into the video game industry itself, working as social media manager for EA and as a communications lead at Riot Games. Hollander is currently stationed at Apple as an organic social lead for the App Store and Apple Arcade. 

Read more
Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon promotional image
The new Assassin's Creed Mirage DLC will have to wait, because I can finally play the Far Cry 3 expansion I missed out on 13 years ago
 
 
Dinoblade key art
You can finally play the Ghost of Yotei animator's dinosaur Soulslike, where you carve through dinos with a giant sword between your teeth, thanks to a Steam demo I can't believe I'm recommending
 
 
Lost Soul Aside
New Final Fantasy-style action RPG Lost Soul Aside is "unintentionally one of the funniest games of the year," players declare, which takes the sting of its Mixed Steam reviews away somewhat
 
 
A crop of The Order 1886 cover art for Official PlayStation Magazine issue 97
Don't cry because The Order 1886 is over, smile because blasting werewolves with Nikola Tesla's high-tech weapons happened
 
 
Marcus Fenix looks on in horror in Gears of War: Reloaded
I can finally share meat-tastic cover shooting bliss with my PS5 friends thanks to Gears of War Reloaded
 
 
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's Legacy of the Forge DLC adds a new secret ending that fixes an infamous, immersion-breaking moment from the open-world RPG's main quest
 
 
Latest in Action
GTA 5 cheat codes and phone numbers
Don't sweat the GTA 6 delay, Take-Two CEO says GTA 5 is "still the most technologically advanced title in the marketplace" after 12 years
 
 
Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra screenshot of Captain America facing off against Black Panther
Black Panther and Captain America team-up game Marvel 1943 delayed "beyond early 2026" to make sure it "meets the level of quality" the devs want
 
 
GTA 6
After another GTA 6 delay he called unlikely, Take-Two CEO says "bad things happen" when games are rushed and breaks out his favorite phrase: "I'm highly confident on the new date"
 
 
GTA 6
GTA 6 delayed 6 more months as Rockstar commits to November 2026 and says “sorry”
 
 
GTA 6
"Printing money": Rockstar reveals GTA+ membership will now let anyone play GTA Online – and it's not trailer 3, but it does bode well for GTA 6 Online
 
 
Hollow Knight: Silksong bug suspended in silk strands
Analysis of 260,000 Silksong Steam reviews shows what players love and hate about Team Cherry’s brutal sequel: 2 damage, long runbacks, and... Elden Ring?
 
 
Latest in Features
Arc Raiders best weapons
Arc Raiders has made me fall in love with getting my ass kicked by giant robots
 
 
Photo taken of the PS Portal by writer Rosalie Newcombe, running the cloud streaming feature.
The PS Portal just got a handy new upgrade, but should you buy one instead of a PS5?
 
 
Rumi in KPop Demon Hunters
KPop Demon Hunters 2: everything we know about the Netflix sequel
 
 
Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake key art
As a Dragon Quest noob, Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake honestly feels like the perfect introduction
 
 
Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2.
No, we don't need Red Dead Redemption 3, we need to learn that too much of a good thing will ultimately ruin it
 
 
Key art for Alruna: End of History showing Alruna in front of a nuclear power station and religious iconography
Plant powers rule in Alruna: End of History, a grimdark Metroidvania about reclaiming industrial spaces, and I love the condensed approach to maps that still pack secrets
 
 
  1. Discussing Evelyn Dean with D'arcy in The Seance of Blake Manor's lobby
    1
    The Séance of Blake Manor review: "Like horror Clue come to life, this supernatural mystery against the clock is incredibly immersive"
  2. 2
    Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment review: "Zelda is a fantastic lead in this action-packed Tears of the Kingdom prequel, but boring missions hold the magic back"
  3. 3
    Carimara: Beneath the Forlorn Limbs review: "Playing as a goblin thing to crack a gothic fairy tale mystery with magical cards has quickly become one of my favorite gaming short stories"
  4. 4
    Spooktacular review: "This is the perfect family board game for Halloween"
  5. 5
    It’s hard to imagine there are many gamers who won’t enjoy this quick but tactical board game for 2 players
  1. Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi in Predator: Badlands
    1
    Predator: Badlands review: "Die-hard fans may be disappointed, but as a blockbuster action-adventure, Badlands kills it"
  2. 2
    Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc review "Storytelling just as compelling as the chainsaws, devils, and visually excessive fight scenes"
  3. 3
    Tron: Ares review: "Misses out by swapping the Grid for the real world"
  4. 4
    One Battle After Another review: "One of the best studio movies in years and an instant classic"
  5. 5
    The Conjuring: Last Rites review: "Not bold or memorable enough for the Warrens' final chapter"
  1. Rhea Seehorn as Carol Sturka, looking scared, in Pluribus.
    1
    Pluribus season 1 review: "Easily one of the year's best dramas"
  2. 2
    The Witcher season 4 review: "The Henry Cavill-less fourth season is the best yet"
  3. 3
    IT: Welcome to Derry review: "A supremely confident step back into the history of Stephen King's cursed town and killer clown"
  4. 4
    Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"
  5. 5
    Marvel Zombies review: "A fun expansion of the What If episode with delightful MCU Easter eggs and truly gross R-rated kills"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...