Ghost of Yōtei: Complete Edition Review – Where You Atsu?

Ghost of Yōtei: Complete Edition takes one of the best games on the PlayStation 5 and adds an exciting new campaign, a snazzy roguelike mode, and more to make it an even more worthwhile package. Whether or not you’ve played the base game, this is a fantastic way to experience Yōtei in all its gorgeous, gory glory.

Despite digging Ghost of Tsushima quite a bit, I hadn’t gotten around to playing Ghost of Yōtei prior to this review. Now that I’ve finally gotten to spend a good long while with it through Ghost of Yōtei: Complete Edition, I’ve come to the same conclusion that so many others had – it’s fantastic. This is even more true with the Complete Edition, which adds a full narrative and roguelike mode to make the package even sweeter.

The biggest addition to Ghost of Yōtei: Complete Edition is Echoes of Sekigahara – the single-player expansion that reunites Atsu with a mysterious (and handsome) figure from her past as she battles against the worst remnants of the Snake’s forces. You get a large new area to explore and a number of flashbacks that build on Atsu’s story, making for a rather worthwhile new narrative to experience.

Ghost of Yōtei: Complete Edition shows a new side of Atsu.

Without spoiling things, Atsu and “Nagato the Handsome’s” interactions, both in the flashbacks and in the present-day missions, show a side of the protagonist that you don’t really see in the main game. Given her harsh backstory and role as a roaming warrior, Atsu understandably never has the chance to show much vulnerability or softness. When paired with Nagato, we see her be flustered and smitten, which is almost surreal but helps further round out her character.

Additionally, the Snake/Viper side of the story is an excellent way of expanding the world of Ghost of Yōtei: Complete Edition. Since the Snake dies at the start of the base game, he gets less development than the other members of the Yōtei Six, so I appreciate that his character is built out here. Interestingly, his absence largely drives his development, as the villagers and Viper bandits talk about him and show you what his territory is like now that he’s been killed. It’s well done, as it fleshes out the existing world using pieces of the narrative already in place.

I wrote a feature about it last week, but the Most Wanted mode included with Ghost of Yōtei: Complete Edition is another great addition. It sounds straightforward, as you work your way through enemy waves while grabbing power-ups and currency. But it stands out from similar modes because you can use different characters from throughout the story and unlock things over repeated runs. Plus, given that the combat in Ghost of Yōtei is such a visceral and exciting experience, I’m glad there’s a way to jump right into nonstop action if you want.

Finally, a number of cosmetics are included as part of Ghost of Yōtei: Complete Edition, which is a nifty little touch. I got a lot of enjoyment out of making Atsu look like a cool samurai in seemingly countless different ways, so having more options to do so earlier is a welcome bonus.