Ghost of Yotei: PS5 Review

Developed by Sucker Punch Productions
Published by Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform: PS5

Against a backdrop of burning trees, a figure stands poised. As an opponent moves into view, the screen narrows into a widescreen format, signifying the upcoming face-off. The camera closes in on one face, another angle catches a hand nervously wavering above a soon-to-be-unsheathed katana as the wind whistles through the background.

It could be a scene from 2020's Ghost of Tsushima, the wildly popular tale of Jin Sakai and his fight against the Mongols, and, in truth, Sucker Punch Productions have not veered too far from the cinematic edges that made the first game a success. This, however, is the hugely anticipated sequel, Ghost of Yotei, set hundreds of years after the first.

But rather than repeating the formula carte blanche, the sequel's gone down a route that works within the confines of what's gone on, while tweaking the edges to make a gameplay experience that's immersive and enjoyable.

This time, you play the role of Atsu, a woman who, as a girl, has her family murdered in front of her and must watch on as she's pinned to a burning ginkgo tree and left for dead. It's a fairly visceral start to the game in Japan and one that's not entirely without form in the genre. As Atsu pursues the Yotei Six who were responsible for the slaughter, she must travel across the land of Ezo on her quest for vengeance.

The changes from Ghost of Tsushima in Ghost of Yotei are subtle, but powerful.

While the vistas remain beautiful and there are some stunning moments as Atsu races across the land on her steed (it's never tiring watching a pack of horses follow Atsu when she rides through them), the gameplay has been tweaked to allow a more modern approach to what transpires.

From wielding dual katana to muskets, there's a more modern touch that wasn't evident in Tsushima because of the time period issues. Along with tasks like being able to paint using the touchpad and cook with the movement of the controller, Ghost of Yotei makes for an experience that's second to none.

Pitching camp and allowing time to reflect, fashion weapons and restore health via cooking is also another subtle change, albeit one which goes some way to making you feel like Atsu's journey is more of a human one than just a supernatural edge. 

But as Atsu travels the land in her guise of onryō, a vengeful spirit, she can also cross paths with those who can help her in her quest to get vengeance on the Yotei Six. While the game doesn't push you to complete your mission in a fixed order, it positively encourages you to go the long way round with thrilling encounters with ronin, helping oppressed villagers and placing you in the mix of a story that has both resonance and heart.

Combat is fluid in the game and has a feeling of difficulty even on the easiest level. From learning to parry accurately to switching between weapons in the game (unlike the stance poses of Tsushima) takes time - and is vital to your success or defeat in battle. But every encounter is meaty and the game's difficulty grade in combat welcomes both a level of stealth and also a level of just outright fighting and taking on your enemy.

Equally a bounty system that is somewhat akin to Grand Theft Auto's notoriety levels is a welcome addition, meaning that not everywhere Atsu goes, she's welcome. It's a clever touch that shows the world is reacting to what happens around her, rather than remaining static and somewhat out of touch with the elements.

The addition of the wolf as a companion to Atsu is also an intriguing one. Exploring wolf dens and helping with various side quests to free other trapped wolves which are being hunted will strengthen the bond between yourself and your hirsute buddy, but it doesn't guarantee that the wolf will always be there to save the day. It's more interesting that it shows up randomly to unleash during fights and disappears, a kind of unreliable companion that shows that nature can't be tamed.

And the story's edges of being a female in a feudal society also go some way to demonstrating the hardships Atsu would have felt either growing up or finding her way through life. There are small, telling moments peppered through the narrative that provide a dramatic edge and insight that was largely missing by the male-led protagonist of the first game. A new mechanic that allows you to flip between timelines as you explore certain areas adds a depth that's more engrossing than just a simple cutscene and goes some way to giving an insight into Atsu's mental state and past.

Plus, there's nothing more thrilling than firing a gun at enemies or hurling a full sake bottle at a fire-toting enemy and watching them explode on impact. The game knows how to deliver relatively fulfilling combat that hits on whatever level you're willing to play at.

It's not all perfect though.

Conversations still feel incredibly stilted in parts as you stand in front of your intended and talk to them. It's somewhat akin to the Horizon Zero Dawn issue where it doubles as exposition and feels noticeably so, rather than fluid and natural. 

Enemy AI remains an issue too. You may be attacked by groups of marauding bad guys, but they will all wait their turn to engage and be picked off - it's depressingly rote and does remove some of the tension too.

And parts of the game feel repetitive in their dynamics too — there's occasionally the feeling of a grind as you carry on your quest, unravelling clues by fighting someone, sparing their lives and then questioning them. While there are alternatives as to what question can be asked, none of them really feel like they influence the game, merely delay the gathering of certain necessary knowledge.

But the additions outweigh the game's occasional downsides.

From using spyglasses to tag enemies and scout locations, to the inclusion of new styles of presentation  (the Miike and Wantanbe mode), the game has more than enough to keep lovers of the genre — and non-lovers — interested and immersed.

There's much to dive into in Ghost of Yotei, with plenty of upgrades requiring you to visit many different locations around Ezo and with the likes of the wolf requiring a skill tree to cement the bond, there will be many hours spent in the land and in the game itself.

Sucker Punch Productions has produced a winner here — it may not be perfect in some aspects, but given how damn enjoyable and how engrossing Atsu's journey to revenge and redemption is, it's one that more than deserves its place on gamers' shelves.

An early-access review code for Ghost of Yotei was provided by PlayStation NZ for the purposes of this review.