The plot of revenge tale “Ghost of Yotei” isn’t exactly original. The sequel to the acclaimed open-world game “Ghost of Tsushima” begins with a brutal scene: A blacksmith’s family is massacred by outlaws. Only the daughter escapes alive, and returns years later to take revenge on the perpetrators.
Achieving this revenge is the task in this beautifully designed game set in early 17th century Japan. Protagonist Atsu wants to kill the Yotei Six, the gang responsible for the massacre of her family, and to do so she must first track them down.
Players move through an open world with plenty to explore. The first destinations are the ruins of the protagonist’s former childhood home and an inn where the first of the Yotei Six is said to be staying.
At first, the villains only encounter Atsu’s katana sword. Later, additional weapons are added, each particularly effective against a different weapon type, like a rock-paper-scissors system. Ideally, players will get into a real combat flow.
Atsu doesn’t learn new skills through experience points but rather by visiting shrines scattered throughout the open world. Enemies occasionally await outside, as in a particularly visually impressive battle in a misty field behind a cemetery.
Some improvements are also found behind challenges that test the player’s skill, such as splitting bamboo canes with a quickly executed key combination.
Stealth is also an important part of the game, albeit without any major innovations. It’s all about using tall grass, avoiding enemies’ vantage points, and assassinating them from behind – which is fine until you’re eventually discovered and have to fight your way through the horde.
Fortunately, Atsu repeatedly encounters new characters who help her and slowly form a resistance force.
Overall, “Ghost of Yotei” doesn’t reinvent the open-world action-adventure genre or the revenge story. However, the game brings together various interesting elements and packs them tightly into a breathtaking visual experience. The combat system is also impressive.
The game is available for the PlayStation 5 and costs around €80/$80. It’s suitable for players aged at least 18.
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