This independent title from Poles Flying Wild Hog, creators of ‘Evil West’ and the ‘Shadow Warrior’ saga, is absolutely stunning from a visual point of view. Although this ‘Trek to Yomi’ has been criticized for the limitations of its combat system, the truth is that its very careful atmosphere of Akira Kurosawa’s black and white samurai film gives it a unique identity.
Available for Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S (and with Game Pass on Microsoft consoles), this newcomer to 2D action games is also reminiscent of classics like ‘Prince of Persia ‘ original, although in that case the scenarios were infinitely more labyrinthine and the action and platforms more demanding. ‘Trek to Yomi’ is not that complex, but it makes up for it with an aesthetic of overflowing beauty.
Set in the rich Edo period of Japanese history (between 1603 and 1867), the game tells us about the revenge of a young warrior whose village has been assaulted and reduced to ashes by some bandits. The importance of documentation in ‘Trek to Yomi’ has been essential: historians have been counted on so that aspects such as the soundtrack, the costumes or the settings are faithful to the period that is portrayed.
Unfortunately, the game doesn’t have the fluidity (although it does have the violence) of a genuine samurai movie, and its rich arsenal of punches doesn’t add up to an equally complex mechanic. All in all, ‘Trek to Yomi’ is a fabulous visual spectacle, varied and fun enough to work as a good homage to Japanese martial arts movie classics.
