Ghost of Yōtei: A Hauntingly Beautiful Sequel

Five years have passed since the release of Sucker Punch Productions' Ghost of Tsushima, and now its sequel, Ghost of Yōtei, has arrived. This installment takes place in a different era of Japanese history, following Atsu, played by Erika Ishii, on her quest for vengeance. Critics have praised the game's writing, side activities, and main story, although some have noted that it bears a strong resemblance to the original. With a Metacritic score of 86, Ghost of Yōtei has received generally favorable reviews. The Washington Post's Gene Park praised the game's narrative, stating that it 'plays like a page-turner' with Erika Ishii's performance as a 'snarling, vengeful mercenary' being a highlight. The Guardian's Keza MacDonald also appreciated Ishii's performance, finding herself 'fully drawn into Atsu's bloody quest.' Wccftech's Alessio Palumbo noted that while Ghost of Yōtei may not be historically accurate, it effectively tells a classic revenge story. However, not all critics were impressed, with Radio Times' Rob Leane finding the storytelling to be 'a bit of a mixed bag' and feeling that the game relied too heavily on mechanics from its predecessor. Despite this, many critics agree that Ghost of Yōtei is a worthy sequel, with Comic Gaming Magazine's Zubi Khan stating that it is 'an outstanding and hauntingly beautiful open-world game' that 'manages to stand sword to sword with its already fantastic legacy.'