Ghost of Yotei might be one of my top games of the year, as Atsu’s violent journey has brought forth an incredibly satisfying combat experience. Between the fresh roster of weapons, brand-new setting, and improved visuals, Ghost of Yotei is more than a worthy successor to Ghost of Tsushima; it’s an upgrade.
After a massive year for game releases, it was unclear how Ghost of Yotei would fare against the competition, and although it’s unlikely to take home the Game of the Year award, it deserves a solid round of nominations. Beyond sharing the spirit of Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yotei shares some similarities with other heavy-hitters of the past decade. Atsu’s revenge-fueled journey is reminiscent of Ellie’s in The Last of Us Part 2, while the western-tinged soundtrack sometimes reminds me of Red Dead Redemption 2. Despite these similarities, Ghost of Yotei stands on its own, but there is one moment in the game that reminded me of a title I was definitely not expecting: Hollow Knight: Silksong.
Ghost of Yotei's Takezo the Unrivaled Boss Fight Gives Hollow Knight: Silksong a Run For Its Money
A Side Boss That Had Me Rethinking My Life Choices
What makes Takezo the Unrivaled such a surprising encounter is that his quest line can be started fairly early in the game, so it’s easy to assume that he would be a fairly simple target to take down. This is far from the case. Takezo the Unrivaled is meant to be one of the hardest challenges in the entire game, but the way Ghost of Yotei presents this to you doesn’t make it seem that way. It’s a cheeky way for Sucker Punch to keep players on their toes, and it definitely knocked my confidence down a peg.
Before taking on Takezo the Unrivaled, this side quest requires players to defeat five Ronin who are disciples of the fearsome Takezo and wish to be the ones to take him down. Once these Ronin have been defeated, Atsu can finally meet Takezo and spar with him, which teaches her the Dual Katanas Spirit Attack. After that, Atsu must travel to the top of Mount Yotei, and that’s where Takezo takes her for a grueling ride.
Defeating the five Ronin rewards Atsu with Minor Charms.
Takezo the Unrivaled Shows No Mercy
If players haven’t properly upgraded Atsu, defeating Takezo the Unrivaled feels nearly impossible. Landing just one strike to Atsu could mean her end. Many of his attacks require players to be completely locked in, as the windows for blocking and parrying are incredibly small. It’s one of those moments that makes you put down your controller for a second and wonder where you went wrong. It reminded me of when I accidentally encountered my first Valkyrie in God of War, and Kratos got the beating of a lifetime in a matter of seconds.
In terms of similarities to Silksong, it definitely brought back memories of encountering the Skull Ant for the first time. Little did I know at the time that gaining the Swift Step ability would make this fight a thousand times easier. However, even with an upgraded Atsu, Takezo the Unrivaled is still a solid challenge.
Save Takezo the Unrivaled for the End
With the side quest being available so early on, it’s tempting to try and take Takezo down, but trust me, patience pays off with this boss. Once Atsu becomes a far more skilled fighter and has extra tools at her disposal, Takezo is a fight that’s rewarding without being rage-inducing. Ghost of Yotei has plenty of combat to revel in, so leaving Takezo for one of the last showdowns is probably for the best.