Ryse: Son of Rome

Ryse: Son of Rome was one of the first games meant to show what the new Xbox could do, and in that respect it delivered without compromise. You play as the Roman soldier Marius Titus, whose family is slaughtered by a conspiracy at the very heart of the empire, and the story of revenge unfolds through flashbacks interspersed with battles in Britain and in the streets of Rome. It's a fairly straightforward, corridor-led action-adventure that doesn't bet on freedom but on direction — the camera constantly hunts for a cinematic angle, crowd scenes are packed with extras, and individual missions try to alternate between sieges, arena duels, and quieter passages.

Combat rests on a simple foundation: attack, block, dodge, and interrupt the enemy's action. Once you've weakened an opponent enough, an execution triggers where you just need to press the button matching the color the enemy flashes. The system is deliberately undemanding and rewards rhythm and smooth chaining rather than mechanical precision, which drew criticism for being too simple. On the other hand, throwing weapons, shield formations, and javelin-volley commands give the fights at least a hint of tactics and remind you that Marius commands a unit. Alongside the campaign, the game also offers an arena mode where you complete varying tasks in the Colosseum, with rules and conditions that change and points awarded for style of killing; played with a partner, it's a surprisingly addictive diversion.

Technically, at the time of release this was one of the best-looking console games period — detailed faces, elaborate armor materials, and lighting that made Ryse a convincing showcase for the new generation. The sound design is equally lavish, with an orchestral score and an atmosphere steeped in antiquity. Reviews were mixed: the game was criticized for repetitive content and a shallow combat system, while its presentation and direction were praised. Today Ryse plays like a brisk, shorter spectacle, and what's most interesting about it is how confidently it played the Hollywood blockbuster at the very start of the generation — and how well that look has held up.