One of the draws of revenge tales is that they’re often simple. A protagonist is wronged and they overcome obstacles to attain a sense of justice. Although it’s set up like that, the vengeful drive behind “Ghost of Yotei” is anything but direct.
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Players are introduced to the protagonist Atsu, who survives the slaughter of her family when she’s a young girl. A sword pinned her to a ginkgo tree, but she miraculously survived and escaped. Years later, she returns as a seasoned warrior having fought in the Battle of Sekigahara. Atsu has one goal in mine, the elimination of the Yotei Six, who brutally attacked her family. She wants to die, trying to kill them all.
NEW WEAPONS AND FAMILIAR COMBAT
“Ghost of Yotei” kicks off with the elimination of the Snake, which occurs during the combat tutorial that shows the ins and outs of the system. The follow-up to “Ghost of Tsushima” carries over many of the same concepts of the original but in a more expanded form. Players have five main melee weapons — the katana, dual katana, odachi, kusarigama and yari.
The armaments each have a strength and weakness against certain blades. Dual katanas are strong against polearms while odachis specialize in taking down adversaries wielding heavy weapons. Meanwhile, the Yari excels at taking down scythe-wielding foes.
Along with this, players have access to quickfire weapons tied to the R1 button. That lets Atsu throw kunai, a blinding powder called Metsubushi, smoke bombs and more. These tertiary weapons create openings for attacks or to gain distance from a foe. Lastly, players have ranged weapons such as the fast firing bow called the Hankyu, long ranged Yumi, bombs and Tangeshima, or musket. These can be used for stealth or to overwhelm foes.
Atsu uses a spear known as yari to defeat her foes in “Ghost of Yotei.” (Sony Interactive Entertainment)
FREEDOM TO EXPLORE
Although the weapons are varied and have their own roles, these are just tools for Atsu’s revenge. What’s more impressive is the grand adventure laid out before players as Atsu travels Ezo, a region now known as the island of Hokkaido.
After slaying the Snake, the developer, Sucker Punch Productions, gives players the freedom to explore the land on their own. Atsu has a detective’s mind like Batman, and she’ll follow leads that take her to visually distinct regions that include snowy wastes and fire-blasted forests. Mount Yotei looms above it all in the distance.
What’s notable is how the world of “Ghost of Yotei” blends the culture of this wild land with the artistry that has become the developer’s hallmark. It differs from this year’s other samurai epic, “Assassin’s Creed Shadows,” because of its tighter storytelling and visual flair. Ubisoft’s effort was more granular and gritty like a photograph, trying to capture every detail, while “Ghost of Yotei” feels like a Zhang Yimou film drenched in vivid colors.
Players will discover power-ups and customization options while exploring the beautiful land of Ezo in “Ghost of Yotei.” (Sony Interactive Entertainment)
MORE FOCUSED AND MORE SOULFUL
The hues and the carefully composed scenarios lend the campaign a focus that’s rarely seen in open-world games where players have so much distracting freedom. Sucker Punch crafted the world and narrative so that one flows elegantly into the other.
Each region is dominated by a particular strand of Atsu’s revenge. She attacks her goal with single-minded determination, but at the same time, it’s a tale that never runs smoothly, and that unexpected variation gives her revenge tale a soulful depth akin to the vibrant colors of her world.
“Ghost of Yotei” accentuates those storytelling moments with memorable chase scenes and escapes. Atsu does have a few training montages that smartly leverage difficulty. The developers sprinkle puzzle elements into some dungeons while also adding moments where stealth is more useful and efficient than brute force. The level design and gameplay offer a flexibility that keeps the campaign fresh and compelling.
Mount Yotei always looms in the background in “Ghost of Yotei.” (Sony Interactive Entertainment)
WORTHWHILE SIDEQUESTS
Although the main narrative is the most memorable part of the campaign, “Ghost of Yotei” does have plenty of side quests, but they never feel rote. Many of them are necessary to power up Atsu. Players can find Altars of Reflection to boost her skills, or take on quests for new armor or charms with their own perks.
The side quests are balanced so that they’re entertaining with short but sweet tales while providing perks that make it worthwhile. Doing enough makes Atsu feel nearly unstoppable after the first chapter, giving players a sense of mastery and growth.
The only issue with “Ghost of Yotei” is that the enemy artificial intelligence isn’t the smartest or complex. Although the campaign has a day and night cycle, it doesn’t really affect how NPCs act. When it comes to stealth, they lack the awareness of enemies in other games such as “Death Stranding 2.” The unchanging routines of the characters also make the world feel sterile.
That’s a small flaw in an otherwise brilliant piece of artistic storytelling, one that stays with players even after the credits roll.
‘GHOST OF YOTEI’
4 stars out of 4
Platform: PlayStation 5
Rating: Mature