Ghost Of Yōtei State Of Play: New Gameplay Features Revealed

Earlier this week, PlayStation and Sucker Punch announced that its Ghost of Yōtei focused State of Play would come today. The State of Play featured 20 minutes of gameplay showing off new weapons, ways to personalize the player’s journey, new special modes, and more. Here’s a rundown of everything that was revealed.

Ghost of Yōtei follows Atsu on her quest for vengeance against a criminal gang called the Yōtei Six, who killed her family. After 16 years, after learning to fight, kill, and hunt, she returns home with a list of names: The Snake, The Oni, The Kitsune, The Spider, The Dragon, and Lord Saito. One new gameplay feature coming that Sucker Punch talked about is how Atsu and the player can relive her memories with her family. With a push of a button, the player can transport to the past and return back. This is available when Atsu goes back to her childhood home.

Sucker Punch focused on player freedom in all areas of Ghost of Yōtei. In this game, there is an underlying clue system that provides players with opportunities to focus on what they want to focus on, whether it be clearing bandit camps, uncovering collectables, and more. A new card system keeps track of all the different adventures that players can track and choose from.

Atsu can also take on bounties as a way to make money quickly.

The freedom isn’t just limited to exploration; players can fight the way they want, leaning into either more stealth-focused abilities, combat-focused abilities, or a combination of both. Unlike Jin, the protagonist of the first game, Atsu can handle different types of weapons and can choose between a katana, spear,  ōdachi, and dual swords. Each weapon gives Atsu an advantage against a particular opponent and has their own set of upgrades.

Atsu will meet many allies throughout her journey. Some will join her, while others can provide additional services. With its new Wolf Pack system, Atsu can keep track of all of her allies and utilize their services.

New special game modes are making its return to Ghost of Yōtei. Players can choose Samurai Cinema mode from the jump that provides japanese dialogue with english subtitles that’s fully lip synched. Kurosawa mode, the black and white mode made to emulate the classic director’s style returns along with two new modes that celebrate two other influential directors who have had an impact on the genre as a whole.

Miike mode honors 13 Assassins director Takashi Miike. This mode puts the camera closer during combat and adds more blood and mud for a more intense, raw experience.

With Watanabe mode, Sucker Punch has partnered with Shinichiro Watanabe, director of Samuari Champloo. This mode adds lo-fi beats during exploration and combat.

Sucker Punch and PlayStation also announced and revealed the first look at the PS5 Ghost of Yōtei limited edition console designs and accompaying controllers.

Ghost of Yōtei is set to launch later this year on October 2.