Sucker Punch has been landing punches lately with its releases, and the Ghost of Yotei Review will elaborate on why the developers are one of the best. Sequels, especially in video games, have the opportunity to refine the initial formula. The new Ghost game does precisely that. It made the world denser, added more weapons and enemy types, improved graphics, and increased polish.
Ghost of Yotei treads the same waters as its predecessor; it’s a slick action adventure game set in historical Japan. Of course, the developers have taken plenty of liberties with the story, characters, and locations, but generally speaking, the game has the old Japanese movie vibe. Are the changes enough for the fans? Let’s find out in the Ghost of Yotei Review.
Table of Contents
Ghost of Yotei Review – Revenge Story
Ghost of Yotei doesn’t wait for the story to pick up; it starts by introducing the Yotei Six, a gang of murderous outlaws. The Yotei Six kill Atsu, the protagonist’s family, in the opening sequence, setting the game up as a revenge story. It’s a simple story that takes you from one end of Ezo to the other, taking out the people who wronged you. I like the setup here; it is not convoluted, and it lets you get to the action fast.
While initially one-dimensional, the antagonists are further explored when you set out for revenge. Their stories, motivations, and actions are explained as you stalk them for the showdown. The variety is good here, as are the mini-stories told about each region you explore. You are also able to revisit memories, some of them good, some bad. The fast loading times make switching between timelines instant, which is a testament to the PlayStation 5’s power.
Ghost of Yotei Review won’t be complete without mentioning the twists and turns the story takes. There are a few genuine surprises in store in terms of the narrative. However, the story doesn’t stray far away from the usual revenge mode. While some may dislike Sucker Punch’s story this time, I find it engaging enough to keep me invested in Atsu’s journey.
Ghost of Yotei Review – New Tools
Atsu doesn’t know any stances like Jin did; instead, she uses different weapons to tackle foes. The Katana is great for duelling katana holders, but get the dual katanas out if some spear guys enter the fight. It’s a simple rock-paper-scissors system that can make short work of any enemy. Here’s the thing: You can still take out spear wielders with a single katana if you are good.
The primary focus is on perfect parries. If you can time the parries, you’ll do amazing in the game. The Ghost of Yotei Review should also explain that some enemies mix up their attack patterns to throw you off. A nice touch to always keep you on your toes. Some attacks also don’t have a UI glint/highlight to them, so you actually have to focus for counterattacks.
Atsu also has plenty of side weapons to help her in fights. She is constantly fighting multiple enemies, so having access to a vast arsenal helps. The Mitsubishi —no, not the car, the smoke bomb — is excellent at disorienting enemies. The kunai is great for stealth, and the scorch bombs are great at lighting enemies on fire. Anything that can dwindle enemy numbers is excellent in my opinion. Ghost of Yotei gives you plenty of tools to be the last girl standing on the battlefield.
Ghost of Yotei Review – Stealth Action
Ghost of Yotei combat is excellent, but what if you want to be stealthy? I’m sad to say the stealth remains essentially unchanged from the first game. You can still hide in the foliage and assassinate enemies, and you can also perform multiple takedowns. However, the whole system has not been upgraded or changed much. Is it bad? No, it works great, but I would’ve loved a more stealth focus.
There is a dedicated stealth skill tree too, but it has limited skills that basically increase how fast and how many enemies Atsu can take down. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Assassin’s Creed: Shadows does a better job of stealth than the latest Sony blockbuster. The Ghost isn’t ghosty enough in Ghost of Yotei, is what I’m saying. I’m a sucker for a good stealth game, so naturally, I always take the silent route in any game that has it. Ghost of Yotei’s level design supports stealth with plenty of hiding spots and vantage points. It could’ve done more with the tools given, though.
Thankfully, bows are back, which I consider a stealth weapon. You can use different bows with different arrows to take down enemies. I usually use the light bow for regular enemies, the heavy one for helmeted enemies, and fire arrows for the bears. Yes, there are plenty of bears, and all of them are angry at you, so it’s better to take them down fast. It’s not Metal Gear for sure.
Conclusion:
Ghost of Yotei Review needs to appreciate the exploration and UI design. While exploring, the game hides the UI so you can focus on the world. You don’t get quest markers on the map either; you are free to explore the world without distractions. There is plenty to find here, though, from new NPC missions to collectables; you won’t find them cluttering the HUD.
If you loved the first game and need more of that, then Ghost of Yotei review should’ve convinced you to try it. Get the game if you like to see Sony’s take on old Japanese cinema. Apart from a bit of lacklustre stealth, the game offers plenty of fun.
I played the game on PlayStation 5, PlayRatedGames didn’t receive a review code from Remedy Entertainment. Check out Ghost of Yotei OpenCritics page to see how the game is doing in ratings.
