In Trek to Yomi, we are introduced to Hiroki, a Samurai who has sworn an oath to protect his town and its inhabitants. Facing overwhelming odds, he embarks on a perilous journey armed with his katana and shuriken. This quest will challenge him both physically and mentally, as the stakes are higher than they appear; failure would lead to catastrophic consequences.
I appreciate games that innovate on established concepts, and while the core mechanics are familiar, the visual presentation of Trek to Yomi is truly unique. The game evokes the style of an Akira Kurosawa film from the 1960s. Its striking black and white aesthetic and cinematic techniques, such as film grain and visual artifacts, contribute to an immersive experience. The camera employs fixed perspectives to further enhance this cinematic feel. The controls are intuitive, and Trek to Yomi incorporates effective tutorials seamlessly integrated into the narrative, all contributing to the feeling of an epic production. The narrative is engaging, and the inclusion of a Japanese audio track elevates the overall experience.
The game features a diverse array of combat combinations to master. Initially, button inputs may suffice, but as the game progresses, proficiency with these combinations becomes crucial for survival.
Checkpoints are strategically placed, mitigating the frustration of replaying lengthy sections after death. Furthermore, the game intelligently skips previously viewed cutscenes, ensuring a swift return to gameplay.
Trek to Yomi originally launched on PC and other consoles on May 5th of last year. This review focuses on the recently released Nintendo Switch version. Given the comparative hardware limitations of the Switch, some compromises were necessary to facilitate the port.
While such transitions are often successful, the Trek to Yomi port for the Switch unfortunately exhibits some issues. Load times are notably extended, frequently ranging from 40 seconds to a full minute. Moreover, the graphics suffer from flickering textures and visual artifacts, which detracts significantly from the game’s otherwise striking aesthetic.
The Nintendo Switch’s integrated screen offers excellent image quality, but the reduced screen size, combined with Trek to Yomi’s fixed camera angles, can sometimes hinder gameplay. In certain instances, the player character becomes difficult to discern, and environmental cues are obscured. The black and white visuals further exacerbate this issue, causing elements to blend together. This is a significant drawback.
In conclusion, Trek to Yomi presents a stylish and engaging experience with a compelling narrative and a unique approach to a familiar genre. However, I cannot recommend the Nintendo Switch version due to the technical issues that compromise the gameplay experience, particularly in portable mode.
Devolver Digital provided a review code for this analysis. Provision of materials does not influence editorial objectivity.
