Complete editions are generally wonderful releases for great games. They typically include all DLC and maybe some extras to make the price point worth it. That is where Ghost of Yotei: The Complete Edition comes in, bringing worthwhile gameplay and additional content that expands Atsu’s story.
Sucker Punch and Sony Interactive Entertainment brought us Ghost of Yotei last year. It was a wonderful follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima, telling a more personal journey from the ground up. Our own Ben Sheene reviewed it and found little wrong with it. And there is still little wrong with it.
It’s been a year since its release, and the complete edition has made it. It also includes a separate story about Atsu and a former lover, plus a highly addictive gaming mode called Most Wanted. Also included is the Legends expansion, a moving art show of the game and its environments, and, of course, the base game. Not a bad ‘complete edition’.
Two big pieces of this release which should warrant a hard look from fans of the Ghost series are the expansion Echoes of Sekigahara and a Valhalla-like mode called Most Wanted. If Sucker Punch and SIE included only those additions in the complete edition, it would be more than enough.
Let’s break those down.
Echoes of Sekigahara
This expansion’s story follows a bittersweet reunion between Atsu and her former friend and lover, Nagato. Both took part in the Battle of Sekigahara, and both left broken and bitter about how the battle ended up and how one of them treated the other. Much of the baggage from the battle never got sorted out, which is how this expansion unfolds.
The Echoes of Sekigahara expansion does a great job adding more depth to Atsu’s backstory, emphasizing her life before her would-be legend and what she hoped to do before it all went to pot. The expansion gives the main character that depth, helping shape her further and expand her world and experience narratively. It also shows her life before her family perished, a piece of her puzzle that was nearly absent in the base game.
As for gameplay, the expansion introduces some interesting elements, such as wielding giant weapons that knock armor off, facing big enemies, and exploring new locations that expand the Yotei world. There isn’t a lot ‘new’ outside of those elements, as the expansion mostly focuses on telling its tale rather than improving gameplay or making the world any bigger than it already is. In other words, don’t expect anything significant beyond storytelling. And that’s absolutely okay in my opinion, since it expands the overall Yotei gameplay and only benefits by making the experience richer with content.
That said, sometimes the narrative gets in the way of the action. The expansion featured a lot of cutscenes and flashbacks, almost Kojima-level, though not quite the exposition exhibition. The stop-and-go action undercut the fun open-world experience the rest of the game brings to the table, and was very much offbeat when compared to the original journey. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good story, but for this type of third-person action-adventure, I want that more than cutscenes.
Regardless, the expansion delivers with a solid multi-act structure, adds more to Atsu to make her more than just a revenge tour, and sprinkles in a hefty amount of unforeseen tragedy to make the narrative impactful. Again, the only thing I wish was more action than story. Overall, the journey is worth it, the stakes are real, and it’s a good addition to the base game.
Now, let’s discuss the other worthy addition.
Most Wanted
Pure and simple, the Most Wanted mode is all about multi-round enemy fights that lead to taking down the Yotei Six. The mode centers on specific boss hunts that take players to locations tied to the boss being hunted, while also asking them to take down an onslaught of relentless enemies. Once the player defeats the enemies, they encounter the hunted boss and try to take them down.
As boring as that might seem on paper, it’s far more exciting to experience. The mode adds more attributes to Atsu’s abilities. This means earning new skills and opening up a slew of trees. For every round Atsu survives, she earns XP that goes towards these additional components, even if the player fails to advance or finish the boss.
Beyond attributes, the mode also adds armor, skins, and the ability to play as different characters, including Jin Sakai. Each character can be built up and brings their own style to the fight, creating a fun, unique experience you can replay. And trust me, you will want to play it again and again.
Why repeatedly, you ask? The game offers varying difficulty levels, which expand the reward system and make it far more satisfying. As I mentioned earlier, this is similar to God of War: Valhalla, which offers generated enemies that lead to one big fight before moving on. It also offers that same type of challenge that Most Wanted brings to the table. That challenge is no joke.
I reviewed this game on medium difficulty and kept dying, and even struggled when I bumped it down to casual difficulty. It was tough, but the addiction of tearing into multiple enemies while trying to retain as much health as possible was a non-stop funfest. Learning how to improve and how the weapons work against certain enemies made the challenge a blast. It helped me get better at the base game, which was hilarious considering I beat it. I like challenging games, and Most Wanted brought gradual, well-placed difficulty that kept pushing the player back into the fold, while properly rewarding them for their efforts.
Overall, this mode might have been my favorite of the bunch within the complete edition. I spent the most time playing it and found challenging gameplay with a fantastic reward system that kept it engaging and interesting. I will probably keep playing it beyond this review.
Other points of interest
While the two modes above are clear reasons to consider the complete edition, a few more side attractions make it a bit more worth one’s while.
First are several charm bonuses, armors, and maps that expand the gameplay a bit more. There are also more cosmetics and new trophies to be had. In addition, Legends is included, which is a blast to play with friends from time to time, and sends the gameplay off the beaten path just a bit.
Beyond that, the base game, expansion, and new mode are the reasons to consider this complete edition. They make it more than worth it.
On that sweet note, let’s wrap up this review.
Conclusion
Ghost of Yotei: The Complete Edition is worth your time and attention. Its expansion, Echoes of Sekigahara, adds a strong narrative to the overall body of work, while Most Wanted mode will remind players how much fun the gameplay can be. Combined with additional goodies and a great base game, it is truly a ‘complete’ edition of Atsu’s story.
