A tale of revenge

There are some games that just scream to be played. Looking at videos and screenshots Trek to Yomi is one of those games. From its muted black and white decor to the cinematic approach to the side-scrolling genre it just begs to be downloaded. It also doesn’t hurt that the game is available day one in Xbox Game Pass for both console and PC. However, digging a little deeper under the surface quickly exposes the game’s shortcomings. From the limited combat palette to the brief play time Trek to Yomi is a game that presents better than it executes.

The story in Trek to Yomi feels like it was pulled from a template of classic film. It begins with the player as a child learning from a season sensei which quickly devolves into a massacre of their village. Then flash forward to the present day where the typical story of revenge is in full force. Sure it is cliché, but the execution just works. I was invested in the world and characters. The voiced dialogue is excellent and everything just feels polished. Like me I am sure most people will be able to see where the story is going a mile away. That never brings it down though. It felt familiar and comfortable, even in its brevity.

MSRP: $19.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, PC
Price I’d Pay: $19.99

Part of what sells it is the attention to inspiration. It is easy to compare this game to Kurosawa films with its film grain and black and white aesthetic. Almost like it was pulled directly from that library. What I appreciate is how well it is executed. On some levels it does a better job of parroting that style than Ghost of Tsushima did. The authenticity really sells the style. I loved that when exploring the game takes on a pseudo 3D style moving in and out of the environment, but all combat takes place on a 2D plane and the transition is seamless.

Speaking of combat this is where I take issue with the game. There are several systems in place but none of them feel great. For example the parry system timing never felt right. I was always struggling to get the timing down. Like most action games there are two attack styles light and heavy with a ranged weapon tossed in for good measure. Instead of new moves most of the progression is unlocking new combos to perform. The most interesting move is unlocked a little ways into the game that allowed me to stun and heal, which made most of the encounters trivial from there on out.

The combat is not necessarily offensive, it is just shallow. I felt like I had seen everything it had to offer within the first hour of game time. For a title that focuses so heavily on combat that is disappointing. I wanted to unlock new abilities and encounter enemies that forced me to change things up, but instead waded into a shallow pool where the same attacks would be sufficient for the bulk of the experience.

Trek to Yomi is not an overly long adventure either. Outside of the standard combat there is some light exploration and puzzle solving with a few boss battles tossed in for good measure. The story is what kept me chugging through to the end. It is boilerplate but interesting. I wanted to know how things concluded so I pushed through the repetitive combat. Trek to Yomi is a game that on the surface seems way more interesting than it actually is. It feels like a good Game Pass title that occupied me for a weekend, I just wish it was a bit more in-depth when it comes to the combat itself.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.