Ghost of Yōtei was one of the biggest games last year, and it felt complete. Sucker Punch decided they weren’t finished with Atsu’s story, so the studio’s one-year update brings a new expansion, Echoes of Sekigahara, a story pack that jumps between Atsu’s past and present.
Like the Iki Island expansion for Ghost of Tsushima, which was an epilogue of sorts, Atsu’s new adventure slots neatly into the narrative. Jin’s story was a sort of bookend for the fugitive samurai, and after playing Echoes of Sekigahara, I feel it serves Atsu the same way. It does a lot of interesting narrative work, giving you information about Atsu’s past.
The expansion costs $20 in Canada and includes the story expansion plus the Most Wanted mode, a roguelike where you complete bounties and upgrade your characters with perks and upgrades to become more powerful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d48IWwIRg98
Ghost of Yōtei’s Expansion Is Excellent
You must first complete a set number of story quests to unlock the expansion; after that, a new bounty appears, bringing Atsu into contact with Nagato, a rakishly handsome swordsman who enjoyed more than a few long hot spring sessions with our surly heroine during the Sekigahara campaign. Players of the main game will recognize this as the conflict in which Atsu developed her deadly skills before becoming a bounty hunter.
After the death of the Snake, the first member of the Yōtei Six to be killed by Atsu in her campaign for revenge, Nagato returns to Ezo. The Snake’s former crew, the Vipers, know where a cache of war funds kept by Saito and the Six can be found, funds which they had used to finance their attempt to conquer the Shogunate; if Nagato and Atsu manage to obtain it, they will greatly undermine the rebellion and, of course, will have sufficient money to live well.
Through flashbacks and the present day, we learn of the bond between Nagato and Atsu. It’s pretty predictable, with so many trope-laden cutscenes showcasing the pair’s chemistry. They teach and learn from each other, and I absolutely loved how their connection begins.
In the present day, a bounty for The Handsome appears, which, as you might expect, is Nagato. By accepting his bounty, you are taken to a new region known as the Ashoro Foothills, a place filled with activities and enemies like the base game offers, and it lasts for around 10 hours. As Atsu embarks on this personal bounty, the story begins to show why Nagato is in this region and reveals truths about him.
Together, the pair embark on missions and serve as a capable companion, helping Atsu in battle. He’s very good with a bow so that he can make quick work of enemies with his arsenal, and he’s also good at keeping enemies busy so you can move in and defeat them. Atsu must stop the Viper’s forces and several generals vying to become The Spider after the death at the hands of Astu, while also ensuring Lord Saito doesn’t reap the region’s resources. By cutting off access to food, water, and weapons, the army will suffer, allowing the Matsumae to stop them.
Between searching for new alters, wolf dens, and helping locals who fear the invading armies, this expansion is great, if a bit predictable. Once I acclimated to climbing cliffs, remembering the proper weapon order to counter enemies, and learning how the new heavy melee weapons work, I had a blast. The new heavy weapons are breakable, but they’re perfect for breaking armour and knocking down doors.
The region is also filled with incredible sights, including vistas my photo album loved, like the winding river that stretches as far as you can see in the Ashoro Foothills. There are also tons of sidequests to fill your time with, including new bounties, new meals to cook, new gear, and tons of showdowns against bandits.
Most Wanted
The new Most Wanted mode is also worth your time. It’s the best of Yōtei’s combat, letting you tackle the Yōtei Six again. Every run takes you into progressively harder encounters and pits you against remixed boss battles, with temporary perks that let you combine abilities in ever more absurd ways.
There are four specialized Hunter loadouts: Atsu, Oyuki, Nagato and Jin Sakai, each with permanent upgrades, techniques, charms and weapon improvements. The Most Wanted setup is filled with a satisfying progression loop which makes it impossible to stop with just one run – you’ll keep going on runs.
Most Wanted succeeds because it focuses on what Yōtei does best and lets the combat flow splendidly without restraint. It isn’t just a simple reuse of existing campaign content: the boss encounters are reworked, the enemies are different, and the perk system encourages experimentation instead of forcing you to choose a single best build. With each playthrough, you could end up with a wonderfully silly combination that turns your selected Hunter into an unstoppable murder machine.
I was instantly on board for Most Wanted after Sucker Punch revealed Jin Sakai was back. He’s been refreshed for this mode and plays as he did in Ghost of Tsushima, down to the sword stances. Playing as Jin was a refreshing treat because he’s such a well-rounded character who can deal with any threat effectively. Whether I’m going offensive or defensive, the on-the-fly switch-ups are hard to resist.
Every round is set across Ezo and is filled with points of interest to keep the mode feeling fresh. Yes, the enemies and bosses keep cycling, but the challenge of overcoming increasingly hostile forces is what makes Most Wanted hard to stop playing. Many of the challenges are remixed to keep things fresh and showcase how strong the combat is.
I like Most Wanted and am glad it’s part of the Complete Edition. It’s another PlayStation title with a roguelike mode, following in the footsteps of God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla and The Last of Us Part 2’s No Return Mode. Unfortunately, for as much as I liked it, it doesn’t reach the same highs as Valhalla, an expansion which adds a lot of context to Kratos.
Verdict
The new content in Ghost of Yōtei: Complete Edition is unabashedly great stuff. After completing the platinum last year, I was excited to finally get new content, and it delivers: a strong story paired with an addictive roguelike element. Between the new story expansion, Most Wanted, and Legends mode, now is the perfect time to dive into this tale of family and revenge. I wish it came sooner.
[The publisher provided a copy of the game for review purposes.]
Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
Ghost of Yōtei: Complete Edition Review
Summary
The new content in Ghost of Yōtei: Complete Edition is unabashedly great stuff. After completing the platinum last year, I was excited to finally get new content, and it delivers: strong story paired with an addictive roguelike element. Between the new story expansion, Most Wanted, and Legends mode, there is no better time to dive into this tale of family and revenge. I just wish it came sooner.
Liked
Atsu's and Nagato's story is well worth returning for
Most Wanted mode is a blast
New region is dense and filled with activities
Didn't Like
Not much in terms of new mechanics
8
