Although PS5 is not experiencing one of the most beloved generations for the brand's gamers, the Japanese company refuses to give up on the most profitable console in its history. One of the major complaints from users is the lack of major exclusive titles that demonstrate the potential of the machine and the company's studios, as some have not even been released on the current hardware. In this sense, the final stretch of the generation looks set to be exciting, but 2025 does not want to say goodbye without leaving a great title from PlayStation Studios.

On this occasion, the studio in charge of the big launch of the year on PS5 is Sucker Punch, which is drawing on its latest big hit to continue the story with a sequel that looks set to be epic. Following the success of Ghost of Tsushima, the development team has created a new story featuring a different protagonist to build the adventure of Ghost of Yotei, which, despite following the core gameplay foundations of its predecessor, also offers exciting new features to give players a fresh and dynamic experience when facing Atsu's revenge.

With a style that continues to evoke Kurosawa's cinema and draws on the full potential of Japanese culture of the era, Ghost of Yotei is presented as one of the games with the best artistic style to date in the PS5 catalogue. It's a demonstration of graphical and gameplay potential that will give players hours and hours of fun in the final stages of an otherwise disappointing year for their digital libraries.

Revenge as the driving force behind Atsu's story

The narrative of Ghost of Yotei departs from Jin Sakai's struggle for clan honour to focus on a more personal, raw and emotional story. The protagonist, Atsu, is neither a samurai nor the last heir to a lineage, but the daughter of a humble sword master who lived in the frozen lands of Hokkaido, in northern Japan. The peace of her village was brutally interrupted by a clan of renegade samurai, led by the cruel and bloodthirsty Kenshin, who sought to gain control of the northern lands. This group, driven by greed and treachery, massacred Atsu's family and left a trail of destruction in their wake. Faced with this irreparable loss, the young woman is forced to embark on a dark and lonely path, abandoning any code of honour to embrace the only idea that keeps her alive: revenge.

The driving force behind her journey is not to save a village, but the need to find Kenshin and make him pay for the pain he has inflicted. In this sense, Atsu's story is a profound exploration of moral boundaries. Players will witness how the line between justice and brutality blurs as the protagonist faces dilemmas that force her to make difficult decisions. The coldness of the snowy lands of Yotei, with their immensity and hidden dangers, serves as a reflection of Atsu's loneliness and despair. The Sucker Punch team has promised a more complex plot, with grey characters and unexpected twists that will keep the player glued to the screen. The narrative, while still inspired by classic cinema, adopts a darker and more melancholic tone, more in keeping with the motivation of its protagonist.

Gameplay similar to Tsushima, but with enhanced options

While Ghost of Yotei retains the essence of combat and stealth from its predecessor, Sucker Punch has added new mechanics that make it feel fresh and dynamic. The gameplay is still based on the use of combat stances, but Atsu has her own unique style. Being a more agile swordswoman, her combat focuses on speed and combo attacks. One of the new features is the ability to wield two katanas at the same time, allowing her to unleash flurries of blows that unbalance her enemies. In addition, new 'Ghost' tools have been added, such as a grappling hook that allows Atsu to ascend to inaccessible places and ambush her enemies from above. Explosives and poison arrows have also been improved, offering more tactical options for eliminating enemies without being detected.

The open world of Ghost of Yotei is larger than that of Tsushima, and the region of Hokkaido, with its snow-capped mountains and frozen forests, presents new challenges for exploration. Snow and ice behave realistically, affecting Atsu's speed and mobility, and the player must learn to navigate this new environment.

The progression system has also been expanded, with more branched skill trees allowing players to specialise in sword combat, stealth, or a combination of both. Players will be able to customise Atsu with a variety of armour and weapons, each with its own stats and advantages, allowing for a unique playstyle. In addition, boss battles have been designed to be more cinematic and epic, with a high difficulty level that will test the skills of the most experienced players to enjoy the big PS5 launch of 2025.