So, imagine this. Sucker Punch Productions did this big ol’ reveal for their new PlayStation 5 game, “Ghost of Yōtei,” during this State of Play thing. I’m not saying it’s mind-blowing, but it kinda is? Anyway, they gave us the lowdown on Atsu’s gear, her adventure across Ezo, and a bunch of cool presentation modes that, trust me, you gotta see.
Remember “Ghost of Tsushima”? Of course, you do. That Kurosawa Mode was just chef’s kiss! Like, Akira Kurosawa would probably be nodding in approval from the great beyond. All that grainy, soulful, black and white action with Japanese lip syncing. Well, it’s back in “Ghost of Yōtei.” Amazing, right?
But hold up, there’s a new style called Takashi Miike Mode. The camera zooms in close, and bam! Blood and mud fly everywhere. Kinda raw, but hey, Miike directed “13 Assassins,” so you know it’s legit. Oh, and they roped in Shinichirō Watanabe, the “Samurai Champloo” dude. There’s this chill mode with these lo-fi beats as you wander around. Makes slashing and exploring less, um, intense?
Right, so Thursday, they went on about new weapons. Got dual katanas (double trouble), ōdachi, and something called a kusarigama? Atsu can flip between them mid-battle like it’s no big deal. Plus, there’s the whole exploration thing — follow cute animals and find secret spots. So, kinda like Tsushima, but with an Elden Ring twist, if that makes sense. You see something awesome in the distance? Go for it. Might be something epic there, or maybe not. Who knows.
And oh! Limited edition consoles and controllers. Flashy stuff, with Mount Yōtei on the box, Atsu’s face on the controllers. Fancy, right?
Anyway, you’d think this was a sequel to “Ghost of Tsushima,” but nah. It’s its own wild ride, 300 years later, somewhere else in Japan. Atsu’s story is pretty intense, all about avenging her family against these Yōtei Six folks. Sounds like a real vendetta. As you go, you can choose who to take down first. More freedom, less linear. Not your average ghost story, for sure.