Ghost of Yotei: Complete Edition Review (PS5)

A fairly robust re-release that has an upgrade path for existing owners, Ghost of Yotei: Complete Edition features both an additional chapter in Atsu's quest for revenge, titled Echoes of Sekigahara, and the introduction of a brand new game mode.

For the purposes of this article, I'll be honing in on those two new additions almost exclusively — so if you're looking for a review of the core Yotei experience, be sure to check out Liam's original Ghost of Yotei PS5 review.

We'll start with the new story campaign, which sees our bloodthirsty protagonist track down a previously unnamed acquaintance, Nagato the Handsome.

After stumbling across a wanted poster for the man himself, Atsu journeys to the Ashoro Foothills, a newly added, fully explorable region that's separate from the main game's map.

There, she hopes to find out why her former friend is mulling around Japan's northern reaches — but she's also eager to reopen old wounds.

As the expansion progresses, we get to learn much more about Atsu and Nagato's relationship, and eventually, how it all came crashing down. The tale provides a fresh perspective into Atsu's personality, and goes some way in explaining why she's so unhinged across the base game's opening hours.

Echoes of Sekigahara isn't quite as heavy on flashback sequences as I thought it would be, though. The DLC's marketing made it seem as though the adventure would be equally split between past and present, but that's way off the mark.

In reality, we only get a few glimpses of Atsu's time at the pivotal battle of Sekigahara; 95% of the expansion is spent traversing and spilling blood across the Ashoro Foothills, in very typical Ghost of Yotei fashion.

That's not necessarily a complaint, though. Sekigahara's use as a storytelling device is really well done, and the flashbacks do add a surprising amount of weight to the tension between Atsu and Nagato.

However, it's worth mentioning that the expansion is specifically set before the end of the main game. So if you're like me, and you're jumping back into Yotei after finishing it who-knows-how-many months ago, the narrative framing's definitely going to catch you off guard.

It takes roughly 8 to 10 hours to see the campaign through, so in terms of scale, the whole thing's pretty much comparable to one of Yotei's existing regions. It's got all of your usual activities like bounty hunting, side quests, and a particularly awe-inspiring mountain shrine climb.

In terms of action, there isn't much to differentiate the DLC from the base release. There are several minor additions, such as the inclusion of 'massive' weapons — super-strong clubs and hammers that fall to bits after a number of hefty blows — but enemy types and encounter design remain largely static.

Even the boss fights feel a bit familiar, although they certainly don't lack intensity. This may not be an endgame expansion, strictly speaking, but it does offer up a suitable challenge at points, even for a fully kitted Atsu.

All in all, then, I'd say Echoes of Sekigahara is a rock solid addition to Atsu's story, especially in terms of bringing even more emotional depth to her character. But I'd struggle to call it a must-play DLC, and it's probably quite a hard sell if you've already had your fill of Yotei.

However, Complete Edition's new Most Wanted mode is all killer, no filler, and it gives the overall package some serious value.

This is a single player roguelike offering that you can select from the main menu, and it basically exists as a standalone experience, much like the Legends multiplayer mode.

In it, you run through a gauntlet of (somewhat randomised) combat encounters, culminating in a boss battle against one of the Yotei Six. As you go, you get to choose between ability-boosting perks that can greatly impact your style of play.

Most Wanted is exactly what you'd expect, but there's loads of stuff to unlock, and the game's already slick and satisfying combat system is allowed to truly shine. For fans of Yotei's existing action, it's a fiendishly addictive time sink.

There's just enough depth to keep you invested, too. The mode has its own skill trees and other means of progression, while its four playable characters — including Ghost of Tsushima's Jin Sakai — bring their own strengths, weaknesses, and abilities to the party.

In short, it's bloody good fun — and if you're worried that a combat-focused mode might require mastery of Yotei's action, don't be. Just like in the main game, you're free to tweak the difficulty however you like.