Photo Mode and Japanese Landscapes: Ghost of Yotei Astonishes a Samurai Film Legend

The team behind Ghost of Yotei aimed to recreate Hokkaido and its surroundings with such care that players not only learn the region’s history and meet its inhabitants, but retain those impressions long after playing.

Like the studio’s previous release, Ghost of Yotei presents breathtaking vistas. The developers encourage players to pause from time to time and simply take in their work.

The team drew heavily on Japanese culture and history. The narrative unfolds across picturesque locations that players can first capture with the camera and later explore in person — these are based on real sites. Sucker Punch Productions achieved a high degree of fidelity in recreating places and customs. Thanks to an initiative by PlayStation’s Japan division, actor Ken Matsudaira — famed for his roles in samurai dramas and portrayals of historical figures such as Tokugawa Yoshimune and Asano Naganori — had the opportunity to experience Ghost of Yotei. He remarked that the game allows you to feel like a participant in a period costume drama.

The photo mode — restored and expanded — offers players an extra incentive to explore. The camera can store up to 16 keyframes for crafting animated tracked shots; focal length ranges from 12 to 300 mm; depth of field is adjustable between f/1.2 and f/63; and focus distance spans 0.1 to 200 meters. A broad selection of color grades and intensity levels is available, along with exposure and contrast controls, and options to add leaves, flowers, insects, or dust. Players can manipulate wind, time of day, weather, and environmental animations; alter Atsu’s appearance, expressions, helmet or mask; tweak sword lens flares, aspect ratio, music, and stickers.

Source: iXBT.games