Flying Wild Hog is actually a developer known for its colorful and action-packed games. They also like to develop different types of games, such as Shadow Warrior 3, the last game of their popular series, released last March, and Evil West, which they presented to gamers this year. But let’s face it, we weren’t expecting a game like Trek To Yomi…

Trek to Yomi, apart from being quite different from the developer’s previous game genres, is also completely black. white game. It is a samurai game where fixed camera angles are used like Resident Evil games, but of course not so difficult controls. If you have seen any of the trailers; The graphics with the black and white color palette and film grain effect that look perfect, no different from the samurai and kung fu movies of the past, are really the most remarkable aspects of this game. It should be said that most of the time, it is too good to distinguish whether it is real or animated.

So fixed camera angles can be used nicely too
The camera is set to a fixed position for every scene you enter, but the camera’s position and angle depend on where the action needs to be focused. is changing. So some scenes are right to left, others left to right, or some are towards and away from the camera. This really creates a very clean effect and helps you shift your focus towards your goals. Although it is a lively playground where things happen almost everywhere, there has been very little time when we did not know where to go, and it should be added that we easily discover all the hidden areas by easily exploring every road at the crossroads we come across on the road.

We witness a young samurai’s battle of honor
As for the story; Our hero is a teenager named Hiroki, who is still in the education age. Our adventure begins with the attack of our village Yomi and the death of our teacher. After the first episode, where we learn the controls and game mechanics, the adventure of honor, revenge and salvation begins, where Hiroki learns what it is like to be a real samurai responsible for protecting his village. The collectibles you find throughout the game and the weapons we can throw at enemies are highlighted with a flash of light that draws your attention. We recommend that you be careful about this. Because sometimes you can miss them due to the black and white color palette and other glare on the screen. Let’s add that we had a really hard time detecting collectibles and ammo, especially in scenes with fire in the background, in areas where the lights shine or the reflections in the water are evident. Each level has loads of collectibles to collect. Since these will be added to your diary, you can go back and search for anything you missed later.

The playground isn’t big, but it offers a unique experience
Trek to Yomi is not an open world game. The game is very successful in keeping you on the dirt walkways of the village or forest without being noticed by various obstacles. There aren’t many different areas to explore in the game because of the story where you usually fight in your village or some kind of jungle. However, Trek To Yomi still gives you a full four to five hour story. The scenes in the houses in the village affected us the most. Especially the scenes where our hero Hiroki gets behind the translucent room panels common in Japan and all you see are the shadows of you and your enemies are really cool. It kind of reminds me of that famous fight scene in Kill Bill. The blood gushing from the ceiling and floor is only visible through the translucent panels between you and the characters. Let me state it again, by the way, that it is really very impressive visually.

Easy to learn, hard to master
The combat mechanics are simple and easy to learn, but at the same time, the combos get deeper as you progress through the game. Timing right is the golden rule. This way you can block and dodge attacks. When you see openings in your enemy’s guard, you need to counterattack. But of course, all of this is limited by your stamina. Each block and attack drains your stamina, and having to catch your breath afterward can leave you vulnerable to your enemies. That’s why it’s very important to look for upgrade bottles scattered around the areas and increase your stamina and health bar. Although not in the beginning, you may have to fight four or more enemies at the same time, and you can easily lose your stamina bar.

Proper timing is important in combos
As we just mentioned, longer combos are unlocked as the game progresses. These are not too complicated and you can easily use them for more artistic attacks. However, I personally managed to move forward without too much trouble with the simple X,X,X,Y combination that ended with a heavy attack that killed most enemies. Let’s note this as a small tip. Meanwhile, the animations of attacks, blocks and dodges are also first class to match the visuals. Sometimes after stunning a high-level enemy after a combo, you can perform a hard finishing move that usually results in a severed head falling to the ground. This type of final hit is also very useful when battling multiple enemies, as they also regenerate some of your health.

Take time to get to know your enemies
Take a moment to study the enemies you encounter throughout the story to prepare for their attack with the appropriate combo of blocks, dodges, or attacks for each of them. it’s enough. Then you can easily distinguish them from each other. At this point, be careful not to go after those who defend very well. As a result, you will end up with an empty stamina bar and certain death. Also, you need to have good defense timing against enemies that attack you quickly by squeezing you. There are not many bosses in the game and you learn to deal with the ones you will encounter until the end of the game, after a few minor defeats.

Conclusion
In Trek, Yomi is an unexpectedly colorless (compared to Shadow Warrior) game from the Flying Wild Hogs team. However, it offers excellent visuals and action. I’m also sure you will enjoy playing with the story and art style. You only struggle a few times throughout the four to five hour story. There are times when it is annoying, but it is not a Dark Souls 😛 As someone who grew up with the Shogun series, we played it with pleasure. The fact that it’s free on Xbox Gamepass is a huge bonus for XBox gamers and a good reason to try it. I’m sure you won’t be able to leave until it’s finished.

80

Producer: Devolver Digital
Developer: Flying Wild Hogs
Platform: Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, PC, PS5, PS4
Genre: Platform , Adventure
Web: www.trektoyomi.com