REVIEW: Ghost of Yotei follows a samurai with a desire for revenge

Ghost of Yotei is the sequel to the hit 2019 game, Ghost of TsushimaWith a different plot and protagonist, the game preserves all the elements that made its predecessor famous—while also introducing some gameplay innovations. And even without breaking new ground, the game delivers a solid experience for players looking for a good story with revenge and samurai, set against the backdrop of beautiful feudal Japan. Check out our review below. Ghost of Yotei protocols for PlayStation 5.

History

Ghost of Yotei presents the player with the classic story of death, revenge, and blood from Japanese culture (and any Western or Eastern culture, really). The protagonist Male was just a young teenager when her home and family were destroyed by the cruel Lord Saito and his henchmen, the Yotei Six. Atsu was left for dead impaled on the family ginkgo tree, but she survived and now, with rage in her heart and skill at the tip of her sword, she sets out to exact her revenge.

However, Atsu's quest for revenge becomes inexorably intertwined with the fate of the citizens of Yotei Valley, who suffer at the hands of the Saito clan, intent on becoming the strongest in Japan. In this way, Atsu becomes more than just a mercenary out for blood, but a vigilante justice who helps those in need (in exchange for a few coins when she can, of course).

Atsu's main difference from Jin, the protagonist of the first game, is not only that their stories are separated by over 300 years of Japan's history of prosperity and war, but also that she (unlike him) is not a samurai, but a mercenary. Atsu has no strict code of honor or a lord to obey, so she doesn't hesitate to kill her enemies in whatever way suits her or to follow her instincts to achieve her goals. 

Besides the kurosawa mode, which leaves the game with cinematic black and white filters, and Watanabe, which adds musical tracks in lofi to the game's soundtrack, we highly recommend trying the game in its original Japanese language. Both the English and Portuguese voice acting are great, but to appreciate Atsu's entire journey as a onryio (demonic ghost from Japanese legends) and scratching the names of the Yotei Six on your Japanese banner is a unique experience.

Fortunately, Atsu's story gracefully escapes any revenge plot clichés. The main character's development throughout the 40-hour main campaign is admirable—not to mention all the supporting characters who not only enrich the plot but also aid Atsu's development. With surprises and twists that punctuate the story appropriately, Ghost of Yotei creates an engaging narrative that is capable of working with and enhancing the main elements of a classic samurai story.

Gameplay

Anyone who has had the opportunity to play its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima, will feel very comfortable with the gameplay. Ghost of YoteiWhile closely mimicking the combat mechanics of the first game, it also introduces some new elements that diversify Atsu's combat. The first major change is that, instead of using different fighting stances for each enemy (as Jin did in the first title), she has four different weapons at her disposal.

Atsu starts with just his trusty katana, but along her journey she also masters the double katanas, odachi (great sword), half (spear) and kusarigama (scythe with chain). Each weapon is effective at breaking down the defenses of different enemies. For example, against an opponent with a spear, dual katanas can quickly break down the defenses and open up space for shorter strikes. The same procedure can be done with any weapon, but if you don't use the right equipment, Atsu will take much longer to break down her enemy's posture, which can complicate her situation when surrounded by combatants.

O arc e Tanegashima (rifle) serve as perfect secondary weapons for targeting enemies from a distance. While the bow offers a variety of arrows (normal, flaming, or poisonous) to eliminate enemies and remain hidden, the Tanegashima is a more appropriate alternative when Atsu finds himself facing a larger opponent or near a powder keg to blow up. And speaking of stealth, use and abuse any opportunity you have to eliminate your enemies silently, because once an enemy spots you, they will almost always call for reinforcements.

In addition to weapons, Atsu also has extra tools to help him in combat: kunai (ninja throwing knives), smoke bombs, powder to blind enemies, and even oil to set your weapons ablaze! All of these items have limited resources, needing to be used sparingly and at the right time to benefit Atsu in combat. The warrior also has a short-range pistol capable of stunning enemies, but unlike her Tanegashima, it reloads almost instantly between shots.

If Atsu finds herself in a dire situation, she can also count on the help of a wolf who comes to her rescue and can even face some enemies. The animal is part of the legends her family told her and can have different abilities unlocked as the player helps her free other members of her pack who are hunted and captured by Lord Saito's clan. And not only can the wolf grant special advantages in combat, but the amulets Atsu earns in the game and equips in her inventory can also make her attacks more deadly or increase her resistance to damage.

Just like in the first game, side quests return with great side stories to follow and different rewards. Follow the yellow-breasted birds to find hot springs or reflection altars to increase your health or unlock new abilities, and keep an eye out for enemy camps to test your blades and acquire more resources to improve your weapons and armor. If you get lost on the map or even with your next objective, simply select your next point of interest and slide your finger across the DualSense controller's touchpad, and a gust of wind will point you in the direction you should go.

And speaking of side quests, many of them won't be marked on the map, or you'll have to spend some coins to buy traveler's maps. Fortunately, the Shamisen, the antique Japanese guitar left by his mother, can help Atsu find points of interest in the world. By learning new songs on the Shamisen, the player can play them at any point during their journey to generate winds that indicate wolf dens, bamboo cutting points, or even reflection altars.

Graphics and bugs

Ghost of Yotei preserves the same graphical quality as its predecessor. The development team at Sucker Punch manages to recreate feudal Japan of the early 17th century with exquisite detail. From villages to temples, including the daily lives of the inhabitants, everything is rendered with precision, care, and a great deal of talent. Every step through dense forests, snowy mountains, or verdant plains is a visual delight for the player.

As standard in current games, Ghost of Yotei features a quality mode (4K and 30 FPS) e performance (1080p and 60 FPS). Although the choice of mode is up to the player, the recommendation is to prioritize the performance mode, since during the tests carried out for this analysis we did not notice significant differences in the quality of the visuals when sacrificing the number of frames per second. 

Another technical highlight of Ghost of Yotei are its almost non-existent loading times to start the game or fast travel. More specifically, when Atsu switches from the present to the past in his house, the switch is practically instantaneous. Furthermore, the DualSense controller's haptic feedback is well utilized, with the device reacting to Atsu's and enemy strikes, as well as adaptive trigger pressure for using the bow or rifle.

Furthermore, the game seems to require a bit more processing power from the PS5, as a slight increase in temperature can be seen on the back of the console during more intense combat and sequences involving a lot of particles in the environment, such as leaves, ash, or insects. Could this be a sign that we're approaching the end of the generation with titles that "stress" the consoles' hardware more?

Even playing the game before release (a very common period in which developers release correction patches), Ghost of Yotei presented almost no technical glitches or bugs. The only noticeable issue was with the horse, which caused Atsu to dismount at random times or when he simply walked in between characters during a conversation. But none of this detracted from the gameplay experience, thankfully.

Availability price

Ghost of Yotei will be available for purchase from October 2 in digital edition by BRL 399,90 on the PS Store or in physical edition by R$ 359,91 at Amazon.

Conclusion

Ghost of Yotei is a sequel that successfully utilizes and refines all the elements that made its predecessor a success. It may not have continued the story of the samurai Jin, but the new protagonist, Atsu, never lets her katana drop. The similarities between the two games may be numerous, but Ghost of Yotei manages to showcase its true qualities and highlights through a compelling story and dynamic combat that make the player want to continue living this Japanese tale, even after the credits roll.

And you, what did you think of our review? Ghost of Yotei? Tell us in the comments!

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