Ghost of Yotei - A beautiful and satisfying revenge story
Ghost of Yotei is a revenge story at its core. It follows a mercenary named Atsu on her hunt for a group called the Yotei 6, who sixteen years prior, had slaughtered her family, destroyed her home, and left her for dead. It's one of the more exciting action/adventure games I've played. The visuals impressed me, and even surpassed other games developed by Sony. There were some limitations surrounding the facial animations, but its definitely debatable.
Gameplay
One thing Sony has improved on in recent years is their variety in mechanics, especially from a combat perspective. In comparison to other games, Atsu has a wide range of movements. She was able to perform many kinds of dodges, attacks, and defense parries. These weren't too hard to pick up, and the controller combinations remained simple despite these new additions.
Most importantly, the mechanics of her attacks were very satisfying. As opposed to other games such as Marvel's Spiderman (2018), fighting enemies after a while didn't feel like a chore.
Story (SPOILERS)
Atsu's story arc was thrilling to watch. While we saw her as the Onryo initially, it was obvious that later down the line she would retire from this and find some sort of peace. The one criticism I have of the story was the unnecessary death of her brother Jubei. It felt as if this didn't add much, as Atsu had already learnt her lesson about the destruction the Onryo brings to those around her.
The characters added a lot to Atsu's story. She started off alone and antisocial, but eventually had a support system which she could rely on. She learns a lot from these people, and at the end are the reason she retires the Onryo. It's an obvious trope, but nevertheless its fun to watch.
There were also numerous side quests, all of them pulled me in deep with their stories. The rewards from these side quests were always tangible too, giving me an additional reason to engage with them.
Visuals & Animations
The graphics of the game were stunning. Riding through Ezo was incredible, and often went by quick due to the great scenery. It made quick travel unnecessary. I can confidently say it has one of the best open worlds I have played.
There were a few complaints about Atsu's facial expression being bland during emotional moments. A prime example is her reunion with her brother after 16 years. However, it can be argued that this reflects how emotionally hardened she has become
There was a lot of attention to detail too. Grass moves naturally in the wind, birds behave realistically, and even small environmental details like rocks have unique textures rather than feeling repetitive.
Final thoughts
I thought this was a highly thrilling game to play. Whilst the character trope is a little bit predictable, it's still enjoyable and engaging throughout.
I'd recommend this game to anyone, particularly those who enjoy crisp gameplay, satisfying combat, and beautiful worlds.
Verdict: 8.5/10
