Hands On: Ghost of Yotei Legends Is Big Enough and Good Enough to Be Its Own Game

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The Legends update for Ghost of Yotei is fantastic. Best of all, it’s completely free for all players and adds a full online co-op experience. You’ll find tons of missions, four different character classes to choose from, and plenty of cosmetic items to unlock.

Sucker Punch has really outdone themselves with this update, and they have a history of doing so. Players who enjoyed the first Ghost of Tsushima: Legends will find a familiar experience, but the addition of Yotei’s unique weapon-switching combat and several new gameplay features make this version even more detailed and engaging.

The game begins with cooperative missions for two players, each focused on defeating one of four powerful bosses. While there’s a story connecting these missions, it’s essentially about playing as ‘Ghosts’ – powerful warrior spirits on a quest to vanquish terrifying demons.

The story missions are short, but can be surprisingly challenging at first. You’ll need to remember how the core combat works, and also learn to deal with new types of enemies that often require you to work with your team.

During the Spider’s campaign, you’ll encounter twisted, corrupted trees that lash out with dangerous vines. The best way to defeat them is to focus your ranged attacks on their glowing weak points. This can be tricky, though, especially when you’re also fighting off waves of demons.

The game’s systems become complex quickly, and the pace gets increasingly hectic as you play. To be honest, we’re not completely convinced by all the new additions. The combat in Yotei is already so smooth and enjoyable that these new mechanics sometimes feel disruptive, hindering the flow of action instead of enhancing it.

This increased depth is a positive change, and many players are actually enjoying the challenging gameplay.

The game features four difficulty levels – Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum – which is a fun reference to PlayStation Trophies. We haven’t had a chance to try the highest levels yet, but it’s clear they become increasingly challenging.

While the story-driven campaigns are included, they aren’t the most engaging part of Legends, and you won’t likely play them repeatedly. Most players will quickly find the wave-based survival mode more exciting and replayable, as it offers faster-paced and more varied action.

The game features four players working together on a large map to defend three locations across twelve waves of enemies. This tried-and-true formula, inspired by Ghost of Tsushima, is made even more engaging with a wider range of enemy types.

The game is usually wonderfully chaotic, and the real fun of Legends comes from teaming up with others to face waves of enemies. When your team works well together, combining unique abilities and defending your position, it’s a truly amazing experience.

As you succeed in any game mode, you’ll earn better equipment. These new weapons and charms have higher stats, making you more powerful and allowing you to tackle harder challenges. It’s a straightforward way to improve, similar to what we’ve done before – and if something works well, there’s no need to change it!

If you’re willing to put in the effort, the game offers a rewarding progression system where you’ll eventually focus on collecting the best gear to suit how you like to play. You’ll be hoping for rare item drops with exactly the bonuses you need.

This isn’t quite like playing Diablo, but there’s always a goal to strive for. You can earn beautiful cosmetic items by completing specific challenges.

Just to be clear, Legends offers a lot of content – and that’s before you even consider the new lobby! Here, you can challenge your friends to Zeni Hajiki and bamboo battles, both of which were popular in the original game.

Legends is incredibly high-quality – it’s so good, people would pay to play it, or even as a standalone game. Yet, it’s being released as a free addition to an already excellent PlayStation 5 exclusive.

Sucker Punch has achieved this feat two times in a row, and that’s definitely worth recognizing.

Have you had a chance to play Legends mode in Ghost of Yotei? We’d love to hear what you think! Share your experiences in the comments below.

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2026-03-11 23:07