Trek to Yomi
- May 5, 2022
- Leonard Menchiari
People looking for a short and intense samurai game should check out Trek to Yomi. It's quick, fun, and makes you truly feel like a samurai.
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Get on PS StoreIn Trek to Yomi, play as Hiroki, a young swordsman who must protect his town and loved ones from threats, even if it means venturing beyond life and death. With a combat system based on traditional samurai weapons and striking visuals inspired by classic samurai film, experience a cinematic and thrilling adventure. The game features a mythic storyline and an authentic Japanese score, resulting in an immersive and enthralling experience.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Evokes classic samurai films with its gorgeous cinematic presentation and artistic vision.
- Simple yet challenging combat with a solid variety of enemies and replay value through collectibles and decisions.
- The game is a labor of love that resonates with fans of the samurai film genre and Japanese history.
- Combat feels weightless with stuttery animations, and encounters can become formulaic due to meek enemies.
- Exploration segments are tedious, and save spots can occasionally be too far apart.
- The story and gameplay lack innovation, making the experience feel empty and repetitive at times.
- story2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The story is criticized for its lack of innovation and depth, with gameplay described as empty and repetitive, undermining its cinematic homage to Akira Kurosawa. However, the richly detailed world and its horrifying reality, alongside a trippy underworld, provide a visually captivating experience that enhances the narrative context.
“While the story might be lacking in innovation, the world that contextualizes it is magnificent — layered with details as it guides you around a horrifying reality and a trippy underworld in a way that could only be achieved in video games.”
“The attempts to mirror the cinema of Akira Kurosawa work on a visual level, but the story and gameplay are so empty and repetitive that this barely works as a homage, let alone an engaging game in its own right.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for being empty and repetitive, making it difficult to recommend based solely on this aspect. While the visual homage to Akira Kurosawa is appreciated, it does not compensate for the lack of engaging gameplay or a compelling story.
“The attempts to mirror the cinema of Akira Kurosawa work on a visual level, but the story and gameplay are so empty and repetitive that this barely works as a homage, let alone an engaging game in its own right.”
“It might not be an easy recommendation based purely on gameplay alone, but it’s certainly easy to recommend for just about everything else.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability due to its simple yet challenging combat, a diverse range of enemies, and a visually stunning presentation. Additionally, the presence of collectibles and meaningful decisions enhances the incentive to replay.
“The simple yet challenging combat, combined with a solid variety of enemies, absolutely gorgeous presentation, and the inclusion of collectibles and decisions, adds significant replay value.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh due to the diverse choices and outcomes, making me want to dive back in for more.”
“The game offers multiple paths and endings, ensuring that every replay reveals something new and exciting.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices that would encourage me to replay it.”
“Once you finish the main story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
“The lack of different endings or significant changes in gameplay makes replaying feel pointless.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with combat lacking variety and exploration segments feeling drawn out. Additionally, the infrequent save spots can exacerbate the grind, making progress feel more frustrating.
“Combat could use many more elements.”
“Exploration segments are tedious.”
“Save spots can occasionally be too far apart.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Trek to Yomi is praised for its immersive and atmospheric presentation, likening it to the quality of renowned titles from Flying Wild Hog. However, the overall experience is somewhat diminished by subpar combat mechanics.
“Trek to Yomi is an enjoyable, heavy, and atmospheric side-scroller whose presentation alone can place it among the greats, thanks to Flying Wild Hog titles.”
Critic Reviews
Trek to Yomi Review – Way of the Samurai
Trek to Yomi's outstanding visuals and presentation are quite enough to make up for its fairly straightforward and simplistic gameplay.
70%Trek to Yomi Review – A Cinematic Adventure
is arguably one of the most beautifully staged games this year. While the fighting is simple and repetitive, it’s very difficult to master some of the harder difficulties. Like the main character, the player will need to find their balance as they venture forward, encountering all the demons and monsters that this game has to offer.
80%Trek to Yomi Review
Think of Trek to Yomi as an epic interactive samurai movie.
80%
