Though Trek to Yomi is set to release on Xbox Game Pass, the game was just featured prominently in PlayStation’s most recent State of Play event. Fans got a pretty in-depth look at the upcoming game, and the more that was revealed, the more similarities that some fans drew to Ghost of Tsushima.
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A Striking Art Style
From taking just one look at game, it’s immediately evident that Trek to Yomi is going for a distinctive art style. A general black and white filter dominates the game’s look, with lighting and shadows being emphasized in the process. Though the game may seem almost monochrome at times, the minimalist art style helps to give the game a distinct look, while also emphasizing and elevating the key details on-screen, such as enemy movements and blood splatters.
Though it’s much more realistic in nature, Ghost of Tsushima also delivered a distinctive art style that helped to separate it from the crowd. As opposed to Trek to Yomi’s use of black and white to highlight key details, Ghost of Tsushima uses patches of vibrant color to highlight key items or the critical path, and incorporates stylized elements such as its wind-tracking mechanic to keep the player immersed in the game’s world, encouraging them to not use the map as frequently.
Deliberate Sword-Fighting Animations
In the latest trailer for Trek to Yomi, a few glimpses of the game’s sword combat were given. The combat on show seems to be a 2D version of Ghost of Tsushima, with an emphasis on parrying, blocking, and counter-attacking being shown several times in the trailer. The counters in Trek to Yomi even appear visually similar to those in Ghost of Tsushima, with the opponent’s sword being shown to glint just before they deliver a strike.
Trek to Yomi’s sword-fighting animations also look fairly similar to Ghost of Tsushima’s, albeit turned on a 2D plane. Each swing of the sword in Trek to Yomi’s trailer looks deliberate and precise, suggesting that the gameplay is going to be quite methodical, much like Ghost of Tsushima’s. Apparently, Trek to Yomi will also give players the ability to use a bow, along with some faster ranged weapons like shurikens, perhaps being used to stagger an opponent like in Ghost of Tsushima.
A Trip to the Afterlife
Underneath the surface, Trek to Yomi and Ghost of Tsushima don’t seem to have too much in common when it comes to plot. Where Ghost of Tsushima follows a Samurai’s journey to free his homeland of Mongolian invaders, Trek to Yomi sees the player take control of a young boy who seeks to fulfill a promise he made to his dying father.
Similarly, while both games are set in Japan, Ghost of Tsushima is set in 1274, 400 years before Trek to Yomi’s Edo period. That being said, Trek to Yomi does seem to be a little reminiscent of Ghost of Tsushima’s standalone Legends mode and its otherworldly elements. Trek to Yomi will apparently take the player on a journey past life and death, where they’ll encounter a variety of spiritual foes. Ghost of Tsushima Legends has some similar iconography, leaning into the more mystical side of Japanese mythology.
Trek to Yomi is set to release in 2022 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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