While I personally prefer Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei is still one of the best PS5 exclusives you can play right now. Ghost of Yotei’s latest DLC bundle includes a new story, Echoes of Sekigahara, along with a new roguelike mode titled Most Wanted.
While I think the Echoes of Sekigahara storyline does a little more to help flesh out Atsu as a protagonist, there’s still some fun to be had in the new Most Wanted mode, as far as combat variety is concerned.
It is worth noting that this new DLC can be purchased separately for A$22.95 if you already own Ghost of Yotei, or altogether as a complete package, in the newly released Ghost of Yotei: Complete Edition.
You will also need to have played some of the story to access the Echoes of Sekigahara storyline, having killed at least a couple of the Yotei Six.
Our review will be focusing solely on these new additions, but you can check out our Ghost of Yotei review for our full thoughts on the base game.
Echoes of Sekigahara
Echoes of Sekigahara can technically function as a standalone story, but it does take place in the broader context of the main story, and the game requires that you’ve at least killed a couple of members of the Yotei Six. Once available, however, you’ll be able to head over to the DLC’s new region, the Ashoro Foothills, where you’ll meet Nagato, also known as Nagato the Handsome.
Nagato serves as Atsu’s old flame, one who she also fought with in the Battle of Sekigaraha, which the game takes multiple opportunities to explain to the player in the form of multiple playable flashbacks.
Nagato is an engaging character, and his past with Atsu is a turbulent one at that, and one I would rather not spoil, given the story’s 4-5 hour runtime. I do love, however, just how the relationship between Atsu and Nagato develops and strengthens throughout the course of the story, even outside of these admittedly engaging flashbacks.
Your new alliance with Nagato sees you taking on a number of potential targets, all aiming to take the place of The Snake, one of the members of the Yotei Six that Atsu is responsible for ending. While Nagato is along for the ride, his controversial past with Atsu seems to get in the way and ultimately alters how Atsu’s need for revenge develops.
When all is said and done, the overarching story gets much more contemplative and nuanced, which can admittedly feel a little out of place within the larger context of the story, given Atsu’s need for revenge is so resolute. But for what it’s worth, the story here ultimately serves as more of a shining light in the otherwise dark and violent tale. Nagato is himself a relatively deep and nuanced character, and it doesn’t take long to feel for both him and Atsu.
Ghost of Yotei doesn’t really need tweaking in the gameplay department, but there isn’t really much that’s new in this DLC either. We do learn that Atsu’s grappling hook was given to her by Nagato, but the introduction of new Massive Weapons feels like the biggest step forward for combat.
These weapons really speak for themselves, and at certain points, either in camps or from fallen enemies, Atsu will be able to wield a bunch of huge hammers and axes alike to smash enemies to a pulp. Some larger enemies wielding these weapons also need to be disarmed, and using their own weapon against them is a real treat.
Outside of the main story, Ashoro Foothills gives you a few new contracts to complete and cosmetics to unlock, but these really give you an extra 2-3 hours from the region itself, leaving it feeling a little underdeveloped if you’re coming back to this after finishing the game, craving a substantial area to explore.
Most Wanted
The new Most Wanted mode is accessible from the game’s menu from the very beginning, so there’s no need to complete the main story. The mode does actually recommend you complete the main story, given you get access to various stances and weapons, which you should learn how to use and who to use them against. Given its harsher difficulty, you would also just simply benefit from playing the main story, at least to some degree, for the sake of context.
Most Wanted essentially mashes each member of the Yotei Six into a more brutal gauntlet, filled with waves of increasingly difficult enemies to take down. Each member’s bounty ends with a boss battle of sorts, and given how epic these confrontations feel in the main game, the new Most Wanted mode still manages to keep up in terms of making you feel the weight of each battle.
Four playable characters are available, including Atsu, Oyuki, Nagato, and Ghost of Tsushima’s own Jin Sakai. Completing each bounty grants you coins as a reward, which you will need to unlock each of the three remaining characters after Atsu, which does add to both the longevity and replay value of the mode.
Each character also has access to their own weapons, stances and perks to help you find your own approach and playstyle. After unlocking Jin, however, I never looked back. You’ll also get to open certain yellow chests, which let you choose between more permanent rewards, like XP, coins or Boss Tokens, the latter of which lead to exclusive unlockable cosmetics.
Between each wave of enemies, you’ll also get the chance to select from one of three perks, which will stay with you for the remainder of the run. While I had mentioned the mode was difficult, it won’t feel impossible for anyone who is comfortable with the game’s combat. Much like the main game, the challenge feels fair and never harsh, with your defeat usually the result of your own mistakes, as opposed to wonky controls or cheap enemies.
It’s a fun mode that will add another handful of hours to the overall experience, and I completed this mode in just over 3 hours, in which a minimum of 7 runs were required.
Final Thoughts
At A$22.95, there’s really no reason not to pick this up if you’re a fan of the base game. The story adds depth to Atsu’s character, and Nagato himself is a worthy addition that I won’t soon forget.
The Most Wanted mode is also a bunch of fun, and beckons you back for another run with its emphasis on chaotic, consistent combat. If you’ve never played Ghost of Yotei before, though, make sure to pick up the Complete Edition, as I feel that should now be considered just as definitive.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Engaging story; Most Wanted mode brings out the best in its combat
Lowlights: Ashoro Foothills feels a little small and underdeveloped outside of the new story
Developer: Sucker Punch Productions
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 5
Available: Now
Review conducted on PlayStation 5 Pro with a code provided by the publisher.
Featured header image also provided by the publisher.
