Analysis of Trek to Yomi, or how some weak swords stand in front of a beauty worthy of Akira Kurosawa

I am in the middle of the samurai era during this 2022. Without eating or drinking it, I have been completely absorbed by the most feudal Japan and its mysticism. Not only have I played Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut, but I’ve even retaken One Piece in Wano Arc.

Two fabulous experiences that have put me completely in tune to face Trek to Yomi. Flying Wild Hog’s work has been on my mind since the first day I saw it and it’s time to taste the steel of his sword. Any title endorsed by Devolver Digital always has the prior approval, until I take the controls and see first-hand what it offers.

Hike to Yomi

That is the place that we will visit in the game, but not for pleasure, of course. We take control of Hiroki, a young samurai apprentice who from a very young age must lead the defense of his people. After losing his teacher to him, she swears on her deathbed that she will protect what she loves most at any cost.

Simple words to say, difficult task to carry out. Without going into too much detail, the truth is that Hiroki ends up in Yomi, one of the most recurrent spectral realms within Japanese religions. On a journey that will end up defining who he really is, we will be able to choose the different steps to follow.

Are we a vengeful being who is carried away by bloodlust, do we soften with the arrival of love or are we unwavering in maintaining our loyalty to duty? Difficult question that is settled over about three hours of play and with a visual section that cannot leave you indifferent.

And it is that the greatest attraction of Trek to Yomi. Flyng Wild Hog has opted for the use of black and white, just as it happens in the films of the legendary director Akira Kurosawa. Very recognizable, as well as beautiful, this chromatic bet that is complemented by a small grainy filter and the unmistakable black bands on the top and bottom.

As we could see in the different previews, everything indicated that we were facing a side-scrolling title, in which the perspective would always be from the same point throughout the entire journey. Nothing is further from reality. The truth is that the development team has been able to get a lot of juice out of the different plans and, above all, play with the depths.

We go through towns, forests, temples and all kinds of places that invite us to explore beyond what appears at first sight. There is always a hidden corner that rewards the search with a collectible, a resistance improvement or the possibility of recovering ammunition for ranged weapons.

Not only that, but there are progressive camera turns, which follow each other as we move Hiroki. Trek to Yomi It has no problem breaking out of the side-scrolling scheme and duly rewards us if we figure out how to do it.

The way of the samurai is a piece of cake

Katana in hand, Hiroki will do nothing more than tear apart anyone who gets in front of him. We are talking about a samurai, a vigilante of duty and a battle-hardened person. He knows every possible move with a sword, so no situation catches him completely off guard.

And how do we come into play? Well, slicing and severing using all kinds of combos. With enemies ahead and behind the hero, Trek to Yomi offers us a wide variety of maneuvers to placate enemies. Certainly there is a very wide range of options to choose how to attack in battle, but two aspects must be taken into account.

The first of them is that we will not be able to attack without thinking. We have a resistance bar that runs out if we start distributing sword blows without rhyme or reason and when it reaches zero it will leave us completely sold. The second is that you don’t always have to go on the offensive, since we can block the attacks with the sword and if we calculate well, leave the opponent exposed with a parry.

However, the depth of possibilities quickly collapses. And it is that once you discover a series of combos that end with a stun, Trek to Yomi becomes a walk. I’m talking about button sequences that are very easy to pull off, where you don’t have to land every hit to be effective and leave the enemy completely exposed. To round off the play, it is at this point that we can perform executions that restore life.

So it doesn’t take long for you to realize that it’s better to abuse three combos in particular than to believe Jin Sakai. It is no less true that ranged weapons are present, with a balance between the speed of their shot and the damage they deal. Bo shuriken, bow and the Ozutsu rifle will always be waiting for your chance.

Its moments of glory are preferable to reserve for the final bosses, which do put us in more trouble, but are solved without too many complications with a few arrows and bullets. A pity that the most common enemies do not force you to change the way you play, since although there are some that use spears, supernatural powers or teleportation, the way to deal with them is the same.

Surprising by the creators of the Shadow Warrior saga, who have always been identified for offering the most varied mechanics. The puzzles, although they bring a touch of sauce, feel very little spicy for the gameplay as a whole.

iGamesNews’s opinion

Does it feel like a missed opportunity Trek to Yomi? Probably not that much, but it is possible that the expectations made us place one of the most promising works of 2022 in a place too high. Flying Wild Hog has used a recognizable artistic section that enters the eyes, but has remained very short balancing its playable section.

Among the great assets of the title is its replayability, since we will not only have to make decisions once, but there will be several and with different options. Its duration will mean that, if you put your mind to it, you will have aired it in an afternoon, while its soundtrack is far from having the presence that the studio presumes.