Gaming

Ghost of Yotei review: A tale sharpened by vengeance

Cold steel, quiet moments, and the heavy cost of revenge

Published

September 25, 2025

Revenge doesn’t leave room for ceremony. It doesn’t wait for drums to roll or banners to rise. Revenge is quick, sharp, and personal—like a blade pressed against the throat of the one who wronged you. That’s the story Ghost of Yotei tells, and it’s the story you live the moment you step into Atsu’s sandals.

If Ghost of Tsushima was about honor, legacy, and the soul of a nation under siege, Ghost of Yotei takes a different cut. It strips away the grandeur of armies clashing on fields and the dilemma of fighting as samurai or ghost. Instead, it focuses on something more primal: one woman’s burning need to reclaim her home and carve justice into those who tore it from her.

This shift makes Yotei a different kind of ghost story. One less about how history remembers you and more about how vengeance consumes you.

First impressions: A premier PS5 experience

Within the first hour, Ghost of Yotei asserts itself as a premier PS5 title. That’s almost a given these days, but here it’s worth pausing to appreciate. Yotei is breathtaking, from snowcapped peaks to dense villages, rendered with such clarity that you find yourself slowing down just to look.

Even the act of riding your horse feels cinematic, the camera pulling back ever so slightly to give you a wider, painterly view of the world. It’s a quiet but effective touch that makes exploration feel grand without losing intimacy.

The DualSense controller adds another layer, not with flashy gimmicks but with quiet, mundane moments. You feel it in the strain of building a fire, the tension of stringing a shamisen, the rhythm of cooking, or the delicate strokes of sumi-e side missions.

They don’t change the game, but they draw you into its quieter spaces—the stillness between battles where Atsu is more than her vengeance.

The opening sequence also sets the tone. Forget the sweeping invasion of Tsushima, where armies clashed and honor hung in the balance. Here, Atsu’s journey begins with something far smaller and more personal: a confrontation with one of her primary targets. No soldiers at your back, no sprawling battlefield—just you, your steel, and the first taste of revenge.

Combat and exploration: Sharpened and reforged

If Tsushima made combat dance-like with its flowing stances, Yotei changes the rhythm. Stances are gone, replaced instead with switching weapons tailored to enemy types.

On paper, it’s a neat twist. In practice, it can feel clunkier. Switching mid-fight, I often tried to chain an attack only to end up swapping weapons instead. Some of that might be muscle memory, but even after adjusting, the mechanic occasionally broke the flow.

That said, the expanded arsenal adds versatility. You’re no longer bound to katana-only duels. Since Atsu isn’t weighed down by samurai honor, every tool at your disposal is fair game—even in duels.

Throwing kunai, other ghost tools, and heavier weapons all come into play, making fights unpredictable and deeply satisfying when you string the right combinations together.

Loadouts are another standout addition. You get five customizable sets of armor and charms, and you can switch between them mid-fight. It’s a system that rewards experimentation, letting you prepare builds for stealth, brute force, or balanced encounters.

Progression feels organic, too. Yotei doesn’t spell out what you can or can’t handle. It’s only when you test yourself against strongholds that you discover just how outmatched you are.

That trial-and-error loop—failing, upgrading, returning stronger—feels like a lesson taught through scars, perfectly in line with Atsu’s path of vengeance.

And then there’s exploration. You’re free to roam after the prologue, but the game gently nudges you toward key areas first. Along the way, incidental encounters teach mechanics without overt tutorials.

Birds and foxes still guide you, but less intrusively than before. Often it’s NPCs whose chance encounters point you toward bamboo strikes, hot springs, or vanity items, making the world feel more lived in.

Story and side quests: Revenge with depth

What surprised me most about Ghost of Yotei is how well story and gameplay hold each other. The cohesion here is tighter than in Tsushima — which was already tight to begin with. Every side quest, every diversion, flows back into Atsu’s journey.

On the surface, Atsu is a mercenary and bounty hunter, her blade guided by vengeance. But the side quests are where cracks show. You see her warmth, her compassion—the humanity she tries to bury beneath her steel. It’s this duality that shapes pivotal story beats. Atsu isn’t just a vessel for revenge; she’s someone who struggles with how much of herself she’s willing to sacrifice to see it through.

That’s what makes her story resonate. You aren’t just dishing out cold steel—you’re watching someone wrestle with the very cost of vengeance.

It’s also where the game sneaks in moments that make you smile. Twenty hours in, I switched the dialogue to Japanese and noticed NPCs calling Atsu rurouni. That’s “wanderer” in English—a reminder that while the localized anime Rurouni Kenshin was branded as Samurai X, its truer translation is Kenshin the Wanderer. It’s a subtle cultural touch that grounded Atsu’s character even more, a drifter carrying vengeance but also a heart still searching.

Around the 60-percent mark, I switched to Watanabe mode, where the creator of Samurai Champloo lends his signature lo-fi beats to exploration and combat.

After 40 to 45 hours, the change in music breathed new life into the experience. Still, the tracks lacked variety. A handful more would have gone a long way toward making the mode feel as dynamic as it deserved.

Variety and challenge

Combat and exploration may carry the game, but variety keeps it fresh. Early hours separate puzzles, platforming, and raids. Deeper in, the game starts blending them.

Solve a puzzle, it opens into a platforming section, which then rewards you with a raid. It’s a satisfying escalation that prevents fatigue from setting in.

Photo mode is fun as always.

And of course, the Easter eggs are back. Just as Tsushima tucked little surprises for fans to find, Yotei does the same. They’re never heavy-handed, always small delights for those paying attention.

The price of vengeance

By the time the credits roll, Ghost of Yotei leaves you with something sharper than spectacle. Where Tsushima gave you the weight of history, Yotei carves its mark with intimacy. Revenge doesn’t need armies or nations to matter—it just needs a blade and a target.

That’s why Ghost of Yotei stands on its own. It may lack the grandeur of its predecessor, but it’s more cohesive, more personal, and more daring in how it tells its story. Atsu’s journey isn’t about how the world remembers her; it’s about how far vengeance will take her—and how much of herself she’ll lose along the way.

In the end, Ghost of Yotei is less a story about honor and more a reminder of the cost of revenge. And it’s a price you’ll feel, long after the controller is set down.

I highly recommend this game. It’s a swift Swipe Up—as swift as Atsu unleashing a katana strike.

Ghost of Yotei was reviewed on a PlayStation 5. The Publisher provided the review keys.

Related Topics:Ghost of Yotei PlayStation PlayStation 5 PS5 Sucker Punch Studios

Gaming

PRAGMATA release date, Nintendo Switch 2 availability confirmed

Preorders now open, free demo available too

Published

December 19, 2025

GadgetMatch

Capcom has announced the official release date for upcoming sci-fi action game PRAGMATA. The title will be available on April 24, 2026 on multiple platforms.

Aside from launching on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam, PRAGMATA will also be available on Nintendo Switch 2, as confirmed in a new trailer exploring the lunar cityscape.

Preorders are now available as well on all platforms. In addition, the Sketchbook Demo is now available on Steam and is coming to consoles soon.

The free public demo provides the opportunity to experience the title’s immersive setting and thrilling gameplay for the first time. It also includes fun extra surprises to challenge players.= and encourage repeat playthroughs.

As a preorder bonus, players will receive Hugh’s samurai-styled Neo bushido outfit and Diana’s ninja-inspired Neo Kunoichi costume.

Alongside the standard version, a Deluxe Edition will be available. This includes the Shelter Variety Pack, an assortment of alternate outfits for the two characters.

The Deluxe Edition also includes a weapon skin, emotes, extra background music, and an in-game library with 75 digital artwork pieces.

The new trailer expands what players know of the game’s environment so far, with the protagonists in what seemingly looks like a futuristic dystopian city. It shows Hugh and Diana both being chased by various opponents, as well as a bit of their dynamic together.

As for its gameplay, PRAGMATA will feature a dual-character control, enabling players to control both Hugh and Diana simultaneously.

Central to the action is a “hacking” mechanic but Capcom will enrich combat with a more strategic and exciting element unique to the title.

Gaming

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade free demo released

For Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox

Published

December 18, 2025

GadgetMatch

Square Enix has released a free demo for Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade which is launching on January 22, 2026.

The demo is available on Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox on PC. Players can carry their save data from the demo period over to the full game and claim the bonus items “Revival Earrings” and “Survival Set” in the process.

In addition, the game has Xbox Play Anywhere support. This means players can enjoy seamless progression across console and PC platforms.

Switch 2 users can enter the following codes to download the demo via the “Redeem Code” option on the Nintendo e-Shop:

United States: D3GM3304HKQBB2VB
Europe: D3GM3304HKPBB2VB
Japan: D3GM3304H3DBB2VB
Korea: D3GM3304H3CBB2VB
Hong Kong and Taiwan: D3GM3304H3BBB2VB
Southeast Asia: D3GM3304HY9BB2VB

Meanwhile, the free demo for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox for PC is available via this link.

Aside from the aforementioned platforms, the visually enhanced and expanded version of the original 2020 remake is already available on PlayStation 5, Steam, and Epic games.

What players can expect

In the demo, players can experience the game’s iconic opening chapter, in which the mercenary Cloud Strife and the underground resistance group Avalanche attempt to destroy a Mako Reactor powering the dystopian city of Midgar.

In their fight against the Shinra Electric Power Company, Cloud and his comrades are thrust into a larger conflict that will decide the fate of the planet.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade features improved graphics and performance. Aside from that, the game includes FF7R EPISODE INTERmission.

This exciting additional story features fan-favorite ninja Yuffie Kisaragi as she embarks on a thrilling new adventure.

Players can expect expanded gameplay mechanics, refined combat systems, and immersive storytelling that deepens the lore of Midgar.

Square Enix has also released a new One-Winged Angel trailer:

Gaming

The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro might be the comfiest headphones I’ve tried

The memory foam cushioning is divine.

Published

December 17, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

Despite being a self-professed audiophile, I have always had a problem with wearing headphones the whole day. Sooner or later, the weight just becomes too much. So, when I saw the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro with its thick cushioning, it was love at first sight.

But will that love last?

Lookin’ like a succulent pork belly

Obviously, I’m exaggerating, but the head strap really does look like a pork belly because of how thick it is. And that’s not a complaint, either.

The BlackShark V3 Pro has one of the most comfortable cushioning I’ve ever experienced from a pair of headphones. Plus, both the head strap and the earcups use memory foam, so it feels like new every single time.

Over time, I can barely feel the headphones bearing down on the top of my head because of the thick cushioning. I lasted more than five hours before I felt anything. Even after taking it off for a spell, I was ready to get back into the game. For me, that’s an absurdly good record.

The earcups, on the other hand, fit perfectly. For reference, I have an average ear size. A lot of headphones I’ve tried often leave my ears in pain from all the flexing, but the BlackShark’s fit is just right.

A minimalist but elegant design

Besides the nice cushioning, the rest of the headphones exude that elegant look you might expect from more premium headphones. Except for incredibly subtle Razer branding and a thin ring of lime green around the mic button, there’s nothing to indicate that this is a pro gaming headset.

The earcups are connected to the strap via thin metal arms and a braided cable. The same arms offer 15-degree maneuverability to ensure the most comfortable fit.

Unfortunately, they don’t fold, so it’s harder to take these headphones outside. It’s a slight wrinkle in an otherwise stellar design.

Going back to analog

A lot of headphones today prefer using gesture controls over actual buttons and knobs. Getting rid of buttons does help make designs look sleeker. However, it comes with the added frustration of fiddling around with often-finicky gestures.

Thankfully, the BlackShark V3 Pro has a wealth of buttons and knobs for, in my opinion, easier control. This also lends to its credence as a gaming peripheral. When I’m in the zone, I don’t want to mess around with gestures that might not even work.

The left cup has a dedicated power button, a microphone button, a USB-C slot, and a 3.5mm port (for both input and output). It also has a nifty knob for volume control.

Meanwhile, the right cup has an equalizer button, a noise cancelling button, and a dial to adjust the ANC levels. There’s also audio feedback that lets you know exactly what you’ve pressed.

I love this layout. Though you can argue that all these buttons seem like overkill, there’s just something about manually pressing buttons and turning knobs, especially when you’re focused on gaming. It’s like a palpable feeling of turning it to 11 that you just don’t get with gesture controls.

Premium for gaming, a step less for everything else

The BlackShark V3 Pro is a bass-leaning headset. That’s pretty much what you’d expect from a gaming-focused device. A premium on bass helps you feel the immersive thump of gunshots, explosions, and even simple footsteps.

Personally, I don’t prefer bass-heavy devices. However, this pair refreshingly does not tear with high bass level. It offers a pretty rich output for the deeper end of the audio spectrum. An extensive listening session of metal created thrumming breakdowns and heavy drum solos.

However, there’s a clear step down when it comes to treble. It’s only one step down, though, because I can hear that these cans are capable of impressive treble. However, the focus on bass can drown out the other end. I’ve tried adjusting the equalizer, but it made too little difference to elevate the experience for audiophiles.

Additionally, the soundstage feels more centered than immersive. This pair isn’t what I’d pick for long listening sessions. Then again, this wasn’t made for that. This shines more brightly for gamers.

With THX Spatial Audio, these headphones feel more alive during FPS gaming sessions. Another audio enhancement can amplify footsteps, too. The audio adjustment feels weird at first, but it does give a competitive edge for shooters. It’s also compatible with a few other games, including Civilization VII, which gave a pleasant auditory experience.

A much better mic than I expected

The BlackShark V3 Pro comes with a detachable microphone you can snap on to the 3.55mm port. As a pro gaming peripheral, the attachment is expected but not even necessary for a headset of this caliber already.

It’s a fairly decent, well-thought-of accessory. The audio input was, according to people I played with, clear for in-game comms.

Even better, the Razer Synapse app comes with its own equalizer just for the mic. If you need more control over how you want your voice to be broadcast, these headphones give a surprising level of customization. Being easily accessible through the app is a huge plus, too.

In terms of quality, I might still default to a dedicated external mic. However, if you don’t have one, Razer’s premium pair is a great alternative.

Battery good enough for almost two weeks

Razer promises that the BlackShark V3 Pro can last around 70 hours on a single charge. This is a fairly accurate prediction which aligned with how I used the headphones.

As I mentioned, I can withstand around five hours straight of using the headphones. By the end of the first week, I still had a lot of juice. And if I didn’t push it to my absolute limit, I could make this last even longer than two weeks.

Ultimately, the battery’s life depends on how you use the headphones, which differ greatly from person to person. And, at the end of the day, I had no problems with keeping the headphones connected to the long and braided wire.

Is the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro your GadgetMatch?

The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro is one of the most comfortable pair of headphones I’ve ever tried. It’s also a premium gaming peripheral that reflects its price point well at US$ 249.99.

Sure, you won’t get a pair of headphones worthy for an audiophile, which makes this a Swipe Left if you are. But as a gamer, these are more than what you need, which makes it a hardy Swipe Right.

As someone who’s both, I’d still give this a Swipe Right. My audiophile side already has a more balanced alternatives, after all. But the BlackShark V3 Pro is excellent as a tough-as-nails daily driver.