[News] Trek to Yomi Preview

[Wassim MH]

 

Trek to Yomi has been high on my radar ever since it was first revealed a few years ago. The reveal trailer was utterly gorgeous, showing off fluid and brutal 2D samurai battles staged against meticulously constructed 3D environments with a visual style resembling the look of old Hollywood miniatures. The inspiration was clear, this was a game attempting to recreate the aesthetic sensibilities of legendary filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, seemingly going much further in that pursuit than 2020's Ghost of Tsushima.

Having played the opening hour of Trek to Yomi, I'm happy to report the game's aesthetics are absolutely on point. This game nails the cinematography and Mise-en-scène of Kurosawa's oeuvre, but it fails to capture the heart.

My preview took me through the first two chapters, following a young boy named Hiroki as he sees his village burned down and his sensei murdered before his eyes, setting off what so far seems like a fairly by-the-numbers revenge story. Based on my time with the demo, the story doesn't seem to be much of a focus anyway, and the game is happy to cost on the immaculate vibes it curates.

The moment to moment gameplay switches between 3D exploration with fixed camera angles (think old school Resident Evil or Onimusha) and 2D combat. The exploration bits feel particularly magical as the fixed camera angles give the rudimentary level design the feel of a movie set. Some people might find it overly staged but I adore this. Whatever my problems with the story or gameplay, the visual style and presentation has won my little movie-loving heart.

Things get a lot less interesting once you get into combat. When you enter a fight, the game dynamically switches modes to restrict your movement to a 2D plane. The combat is a relatively simple affair, having you mix light and heavy strikes with directional inputs for combos. You can also block and parry to open enemies up for counters. Hiroki can only face in one direction while fighting, so group fights generally have you manually turning back and forth to manage the crowd. It's perfectly functional but not particularly inspired.

Overall, while I think Trek to Yomi's gameplay and narrative - at least in the first two chapters - leave much to be desired, I can't deny it is an utterly stunning visual showcase that sees developer Flying Wild Hog try something new, and it works as a visual love letter to one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. If you're anything like me, the aesthetics alone will carry you through Hiroki's journey when Trek to Yomi launches later this year.

https://me.pcmag.com/en/gaming/13612/trek-to-yomi-preview