Ghost of Yotei (PS5) Review

Ghost of Yotei is arguably a game that carries heavy expectations. This sequel has been eagerly awaited by fans of games about “samurai”. After the success of the first series, Ghost of Tsushima, Sucker Punch Production indirectly confirmed “Ghost” to be an IP that will be continued with various other stories. Of course, the classic question asked by fans themselves is: Is it worth it? While Ghost of Tsushima was not without its flaws, its success was rooted in a fairly realistic and cinematic samurai experience.

After more than 50 hours of in-game exploration and completion of the entire achievement going platinum on PS5, Ghost of Yotei can generally be described by the phrase “don't fix what's not broken” or don't fix what isn't broken.

A familiar yet refreshing new story

Ghost of Yotei features a new character named Atsu set in Hokkaido. The title “Yotei” refers to Mount Yotei in the area, which serves as an iconic backdrop for Atsu's story. The Ghost of Yotei story itself is set about 300 years after the Ghost of Tsushima series, so there is no “ghost” connection between the first and second series, although there is a "ghost" connection between the first and second series. easter egg from the first series that was quite hidden.

It is quite predictable that the main plot of Ghost of Yotei will be about revenge. In the official synopsis, Atsu who has grown up, about 16 years after the death of his family, is looking for 6 mysterious figures behind the tragic event. I was skeptical at first, as the theme of revenge is not new, but Ghost of Yotei presents the story quite well and cinematically. Ghost of Yotei has a storyline that is not so predictable, although the targets are clear. This is actually more or less supported by the storyline that looks linear compared to the rest of the story. open world that the studio promised. Sure, you can explore to your heart's content, but the main story will be stuck at a certain point before you finish the rest of the main story.

For the most part, the storyline and gameplay feel very much like Ghost of Tsushima. This can be both a plus and a minus point, as there are players who have the expectation that these two games should have very, very different stories. But this is debatable, as it can be inferred that Sucker Punch Studios intends to maintain the consistency of the “Ghost” IP for new series going forward. The question is: How long can this formula last?

More weapons = more ways to play

As shown in several videos on PlayStation's YouTube channel, in Ghost of Yotei, Atsu uses a variety of weapons that are effective against specific enemy weapons. This approach is taken quite differently from Ghost of Tsushima where “stance” is the difference. This creativity can be appreciated and the execution looks good. Whether it's katana, kusarigama, yari, dual katana, or odachi, players are forced to adapt to suit their playstyle. On top of that, Atsu is also equipped with so many weapons quickfire which complements Atsu's rather wild (but ninja-like) playstyle.

One thing that I also need to appreciate is the effectiveness of weapons that are not too exclusive. That is, players can still use their preferred weapon types against a wide variety of enemies. This isn't like Ghost of Tsushima, where without the stance It's almost impossible to deal damage to the enemy. For example, odachi, with its huge size, can still be used against large and small enemies, and there are even some skills that support this use. This keeps the player's creativity on track. Sure, there's one piece of armor that actually encourages the use of the right weapon, but it's only one of many options. Based on my own experience, especially in the boss-fighting phase, it's rare to be able to use the weapon for which it's intended, instead it's best to use a weapon that's in the player's comfort zone.

Immersive play safety and meaningful

It wouldn't be the “Ghost” series if it didn't come with such an immersive gaming experience. First, it's immersive in terms of the world. Like the first series, the experience with Atsu riding a horse through fields full of flowers and colored forests is quite unique and encourages players to explore the open world. Although the map is a bit smaller than the first installment, the variety of activities makes the experience more optimized.

One of the criticisms of Ghost of Tsushima that was rectified in Ghost of Yotei was in the aspect of side quests. In Ghost of Tsushima, the average side quest is quite monotonous and doesn't really add much meaning, except for certain characters. In Ghost of Yotei, the open world It's a new challenge to fill the world with events that don't just “exist”. Whether major or minor side quests, nothing feels so monotonous. Plus, we're introduced to the bounty where we can become a mercenary, However, interestingly, each of these assassin missions has a unique background story, although of course almost all are themed around murder.

Plus, with the variety of new weapons introduced, players can still feel the sensation of combat that feels so close. I think this is also complemented by the integration with the DualSense controller, which makes sword fighting feel very immersive.

Conclusion

Ghost of Yotei, the sequel to the hit game Ghost of Tsushima, once again manages to deliver an immersive “samurai” experience that is better than the previous installment. It retains what made the series iconic, while improving aspects that make the experience more complete.

Atsu, as the main character who carries the torch of the sequel, also has a fairly convincing story despite taking a different path of “ghost” interpretation compared to the first series.

Pros

• A fresh yet familiar new story
• New mechanics including more varied yet immersive weapons
• Open world, but still has linearity to guide the player

Disadvantages

• Familiarity with “Ghost of Tsushima” may be a minus point for some audiences
• Too many weapons can make the game unfocused