Ghost of Yotei Review (PS5)
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
When I first saw the trailer for Ghost of Yotei, I was all in. As a massive fan of Ghost of Tsushima—platinum trophy and all—I had high hopes. The trailer hit hard: clean visuals, cinematic swordplay, and a mysterious new vibe. I was hyped.
And then the usual noise started online.
“Woke this, woke that…” because the main protagonist is a woman? Come on. That take is lazy. The female lead actually made the story feel fresh. And let’s be real—this kind of representation can only pull more gamers into the world we love. Nothing wrong with that.
Visually? A Next-Level Feudal Dream
Let’s start with the visuals: Ghost of Yotei looks stunning.
It builds on the beauty of Tsushima and takes it even further—lush forests, misty mountain temples, golden leaves in slow motion. The scenery alone made me stop mid-mission just to soak it all in. The team clearly pushed the PS5 to its limits.
Combat: Sharp, But Not As Fluid
Combat was solid, but it didn’t hit quite like the original.
Sure, they introduced new weapons and flashy abilities—and that bo staff moment? But something about the combat system felt stiffer. I missed the stance-switching from Tsushima—it felt like a step back in terms of flow. If they blended the old stance system with these new weapons? That would’ve been chef’s kiss.
Story & Progression
The narrative was good, but not as gripping as Jin’s tale in Tsushima.
I wasn’t rushing to complete side quests this time around. The main story carried enough weight to finish the first playthrough, but it didn’t pull me back in for a New Game+ like Tsushima did. I’ll probably return to it later and give it another shot—might hit different on the second round.
Verdict: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Still a strong entry in the series. Visually stunning, emotionally grounded, and bold in its choice of lead. I just wish the combat had a bit more bite and the story a little more pull. If you’re into samurai stories, gorgeous open-world design, and cinematic sword fights, Ghost of Yotei is worth the ride.
And who knows… maybe NG+ will hit different.