I honestly can't see why people would hate this game. Don't get me wrong, it's not a perfect game, but since when did that become the standard for newer games. I'm sick of people hating this game because of the graphics as if that's the only thing that makes a game good. The original AC games, the original GOW trilogy, and even Elden Ring didn't have have great graphics, but it's the story and challenges that make them good. Rise of Ronin's graphics aren't actually that bad when you play it for yourself and the characters are pretty solid.
The combat was what really sold me for this game. The fact that each weapon has its own fighting style is so unique. It kind of reminds of Ghost of Tsushima's combat styles, but imagine that with every different kind of weapon.
The difficulty is also pretty challenging. It's not as difficult as Elden Ring, but it's not as easy or forgiving as most other games. I can't tell you how many times I died during some of the boss fights, but it feels rewarding when you defeat them. If your looking for a game with a decent story and characters with a challenging combat system, I'd give it a try.