Rise of Rebellion is an upcoming 3D single-player action RPG by publisher Kodansha and developer Team Hayataka. The team released a launch date trailer over the weekend, exciting fans for what to expect next. The game will be available on Steam for PC gamers and will launch Monday, April 21.
Rise of Rebellion is a Classic Take on Action RPGs
As the newest trailer indicates, Rise of Rebellion is a classic, prototypical action RPG. It appears to be set in medieval times, with the classic old-school armor, sword, and shield, taking on medieval fantasy monsters and enemy guards. Outside of combat, the trailer did not show much else, as there was no dialogue or story plot points. However, for those who like a clean, player-controlled action combat that feels and looks good, Rise of Rebellion may be up fans’ alley.
The Steam description of the game does not add a ton of detail either and appears to depict a very straightforward action RPG. “Rise of Rebellion is a 3D action RPG that pursues the tension of confronting strong enemies and sweating in your hands. People worshiped God and the land where God dwelled. Survive the battlefield by mastering the deep tactics of melee weapons and the energy ‘Tel energy’ derived from the earth.”
The Plot
In regards to the story plot, here is what Team Hayataka has revealed thus far. “If God exists, he must be a jealous God. The dragons that once aimed for the sky were extinct due to the Wrath of Earth. People worshiped God and the land where God dwelled. The earth was full of Tel energy, and the warriors who mastered it were called Tella. You fight to regain your hometown as a Tella.”
The description goes on to reveal key elements of the game, as reported on Steam and by Gematsu.com :
Combat that Pushes the Feel of “Connection” to its Absolute Limit – The combat system is based on melee combat with swords, The key to the strategy is how to break down the enemy’s guard and inflict damage with a wide variety of attacks. By using the combo called Chain Attack you can effectively damage enemies.
The Intensity Through the Wrath of Earth – It is possible to generate Wrath of Earth by hitting an enemy that is running out of stamina with Arts and deal massive damage. When the player gets hit by the enemy’s Arts when stamina is depleted, you will be caught in your own Wrath of Earth.
Face Formidable Enemies – Throughout the island, powerful bosses await—each more challenging than the last. Use the skills you’ve earned along the way and your own tactics to take them down.
It appears that combat is the selling point for Rise of Rebellion. The team has focused on making smooth, enjoyable action combat in a classic, medieval-style RPG. The storyline is not the main focus, and they are not trying to reinvent the wheel. The game will live or die by combat, but many fans looking for a well-designed action game may find it here.
Final Thoughts
Rise of Rebellion does not seem to bring anything new to the gaming landscape at all. It has been seen and done before a million times over. But by the same token, the reason it has been done a million times over is that people love and enjoy the style. Medieval action role-playing games will probably never fade completely from pop culture. For that reason, Rise of Rebellion is worth the time. If the team makes the combat as clean as they claim, fans should enjoy the game for exactly what it is. Rise of Rebellion will be launched on PC via Steam on April 21, 2025.
