Ghost of Yotei may be the massive open world PS5 recreation I’ve been ready for, if its newest State of Play is any indication. I’ve been unironically replaying by way of the PC model of Ghost of Tsushima. Now the franchise is again with an in-depth have a look at its sequel, Ghost of Yotei. As was the case with the unique recreation, Yotei appears to be one other showcase for the PS5 Professional, with some actually jaw-dropping visuals in the course of the presentation. It showcases a far-reaching open world, increasing on the scope of the primary recreation. It’s a much bigger, badder, and bloodier Ghost.
Out For Revenge
Ghost of Yotei introduces a component of Japanese folklore, with the residents of Ezo believing that Erika Ishi’s Atsu is a vengeful ghost referred to as an Onyo. Sucker Punch’s Nate Fox explains that she is after vengeance, carving a bloody path to take down the Yotei Six — a clan of criminals who murdered her household. This provides Yotei far more of a private stake than seen in Ghost of Tsushima, and a protagonist who’s extra morally versatile with killing than Jin Sakai. And one who isn’t tied down by a samurai’s code of honor. On the push of a button, Atsu may enter a playable flashback, which is probably going to provide some context to your misplaced household, and possibly even tug on our heartstrings.
Ghost of Yotei isn’t about recruiting allies — this revenge quest is all about monitoring down and reducing down the Yotei Six. It appears to put an excellent larger emphasis on exploration than earlier than as a result of the trail of a wandering warrior appears extra in keeping with Atsu’s mission.
An Expanded Open World: Extra Selections, Extra Weapons
As you discover, you’ll unlock clues, offered as playing cards that can reveal new places, mission aims, and extra. Areas might result in new, deadlier enemy varieties or a quest line to unlock new expertise. Ghost of Yotei additionally encourages you to play nevertheless you need, making it really feel much less checklist-like than different open-world video games. Shrines now unlock new skills, which may be discovered organically on their very own or tracked simply on a map you can buy. Atsu’s spyglass may reveal faraway places seen on the horizon in addition to tag enemies. Probably the greatest parts of Tsushima was its iconic samurai duels. Ghost of Yotei brings them again by introducing bounties — non-compulsory baddies you can take down for a fast approach to earn some cash, ala Pink Lifeless Redemption.
Ghost of Yotei additionally provides a bigger diploma of freedom, because of the big arsenal of weapons at Atsu’s disposal. Atsu can wield conventional samurai weapons akin to a Katana and spear, in addition to new weapon varieties not seen earlier than within the franchise. This consists of the chain-based Suragama, the extra-long curved blade of Odachi, and even twin katanas. Every of those weapons may be switched on the fly and consists of its separate talent tree. If ranged fight is extra your pace, additionally, you will have bows and firearms at your disposal. Atsu is neither a samurai nor a Ninja — and Ghost of Yotei paints a lead protagonist who leans into this concept with gore-tastic, visceral fight. The brand new weapons can dismember and disarm (pun supposed) enemies in gory and superb vogue. The number of weapons permits for extra inventive and fluid play types, with out one hand tying the opposite.
To additional improve the sensation of freedom, Ghost of Yotei means that you can create campsites on the fly. On the campsites, you’ll be able to relaxation and cook dinner meals, which appears to point that searching can have a much bigger focus this time round. Different acquainted open-world actions, like steam baths, are additionally making a return. The State of Play additionally confirmed a formidable quantity of beauty customization for the look of Atsu, though it’s not clear how deep the cosmetics go, or if we will customise particular person items.
Customized Samurai
The State of Play additionally introduced some Ghost of Yotei-themed equipment. Two Ghost of Yotei PS5 slim fashions had been proven — accessible in gold and black variants. The bundles additionally embrace a themed DualSense controller, accessible in two shade variants. The DualSense controller shall be on sale individually. Console covers for the bottom PS5 Slim and PS5 Professional had been additionally proven, though the covers are solely accessible within the gold variant. Pre-order dates for these equipment haven’t been confirmed.
Additional enhancing the tailor-made participant expertise, Ghost of Yotei additionally guarantees a number of new audio and visible modes, together with the return of the epic Kuraswoa Mode. Along with this, the closing moments of the presentation showcased a brand new lo-fi beats soundtrack mode. Legendary anime director, Shinichirō Watanabe, the thoughts behind Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, is arranging the tracks with a number of tracks from the lo-fi mode launched on Spotify instantly following the State of Play. The sport may even embrace an extra visible modes. Mikke Mode focuses on close-ups of blood and mud-soaked fight, impressed by the fashion of 13 Assassins’ Director Takashi Mikke.
Ghosts of Yotei is being launched on PS5 on October 2.
