As each year brings new, innovative, and exciting video game releases, it's crucial for budding properties to stand out from the crowd. By establishing a unique gameplay formula, compelling characters, or taking advantage of an intriguing style and presentation, new titles can bring something fresh to a medium seeing innovation all the time. Trek To Yomi will look to achieve such a feat, as it releases on home consoles, as well as Game Pass at launch, sometime this year.
Its core mechanics seem to be centered around a 2D, melee-focused combat system, with detailed cutscenes telling an intense story during the Edo period of Japan. More narrative elements were shown at PlayStation's recent State of Play event, and the game's stunning, samurai-focused presentation was at the heart of the game's two-minute trailer. The feudal far east isn't new to gamers, however, as Trek To Yomi is the most recent in a long line of games that seek inspiration from the era. Samurai games are aplenty, and developer Flying Wild Hog's latest offering has a lot to live up to.
Trek to Yomi: A Task Fitting of a Samurai
There are few warriors in history more skilled than the famed samurai. Known for their proficiency in combat, as well as wielding a strong sense of honor, the samurai have been the perfect people to use as a video game protagonist. In recent years, with titles like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, For Honor, and Ghost of Tsushima, the feudal Japanese setting has become increasingly commonplace in the realm of video games, with the aforementioned games producing some truly memorable moments.
Trek to Yomi's impressive voice cast has the opportunity to carry the game's gorgeous presentation into the same conversation as some of the best samurai games. With a 2D game design that differentiates itself from many games boasting a similar setting, there's every chance it brings something truly unique to the table. Many other titles have far more overt marketing, or a higher budget than the Devolver Digital-published Trek to Yomi.
Sekiro and Ghost of Tsushima already have a substantial, dedicated fanbase as a result of their success. It will likely take a huge effort to break into a genre with such critically acclaimed titles, but Trek to Yomi's stunning visuals on display will certainly capture the attention of gamers everywhere.
Like A Shogun in Japan, Gameplay is King
So many games set in medieval Japan succeed, not just because of their setting, but other aspects that fans have come to love. Ghost of Tsushima's endless exploration, and Nioh's intricate, precise gameplay, are essential pillars of each's respective success. Thankfully, Trek to Yomi's swordsman hero, Hiroki, shares a skill set with both Jin Sakai and William Adams, and said abilities are perfect for any game's main character. An honorable set of values, intimidating looks, and skills in close combat are components of any great action-adventure game protagonist, with the latter being vital to ensuring the battle mechanics are engaging.
In fact, Trek to Yomi has the luxury of drawing inspiration from a number of different games, across multiple genres. There's plenty of inspiration to gain from other samurai-centered titles, to 2D hack-and-slash offerings like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment, or even the NES' Ninja Gaiden.
Though Trek to Yomi looks far more methodical, and slower in its combat, the inspiration drawn from such games is evident. Many developers introduce a samurai class to take advantage of the success of such titles, but fail to capture the magic as they utilize a gameplay loop that simply doesn't do it justice. Trek to Yomi doesn't look likely to fall into this trap, but forging a niche all its own, in a samurai genre that is only getting bigger, will perhaps prove a more impressive feat when it releases later this year.
Trek to Yomi releases in 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.