Gameplay is almost entirely confined to hacking & slashing enemies with Marius' sword, and bashing them with his shield, knee and foot. You have two attack buttons, each of which can be held to perform a heavy attack, along with a roll away button and a defend button.
What the combat system relies on, rather than complexity, is timing. Getting the timing right on parrying an enemy blow, then the combination in which you strike back, and the precise timing of each of those strikes, is what Ryse is all about. It's a very tight focus for gameplay, but I found it to be highly satisfying. Its simplicity is a big part of why it works.
Once an enemy's health is worked down enough, an execution can be performed. That's when the real fun starts. There's well over 100 brutal kill animations in Ryse and they're a constant thrill to watch.
