Game review: The Samurai + A Kingdom + Dancing

From AAA titles to mobile games, here’s what we’re playing

Now playing: Ghost of Yotei—A Ronin Slasher That Delivers (PlayStation 5)

Ghost of Yotei, the newest PS5 hit, doesn’t flex its blade for attention. There’s no over-the-top gore or dramatic shouting—just a quiet intensity that builds with every swing of the sword. It feels more like a haiku than a blockbuster: restrained, elegant, and precise when it needs to be. And yet, once you dive into the massive exploration and fluid sword fights, you better have your snacks ready—you won’t be putting the controller down anytime soon.

Set in the early Edo period, far north in Ezo (now Hokkaido), this standalone sequel to Ghost of Tsushima trades sunlit fields of Tsushima for a world blanketed in snow and silence. You play as Atsu, a wandering female ronin who can’t decide whether she’s alive or just refusing to die. Returning home to the shadow of Mount Yotei (not Mount Fuji), she sets out to face the Yotei Six, the vicious gang that burned her past to ash. 

Combat is the game’s heartbeat. Each duel feels personal and deliberate, with strikes and parries flowing in smooth, rhythmic motion. Every fight demands focus, rewarding patience over aggressive strength. The stealth mechanics aren’t as polished and sensitive as those in The Last of Us or Death Stranding, but they deliver when it counts. Expect the full potential of the PS5 controller in this game.

Ghost of Yotei isn’t just about cutting down villains—it’s about the stress-free moments in between. Find yourself lost in side paths that shape Atsu’s character: visiting shrines, slicing through bamboo, hunting bounties, soaking in hot springs, cooking hearty meals, and so much more.

As expected visually, Ghost of Yotei is stunning. The flower-covered landscapes, drifting leaves, and distant peaks make every scene feel alive. The returning Kurosawa mode is a nostalgic monochrome touch, though it’s hard to ignore how breathtaking the game looks in full color—it’s like not dipping your isaw into flavorful vinegar. Of course, up to you. 

The soundtrack completes the whole gaming experience—a single shamisen note echoing through the cold air, blending traditional Japanese tones with subtle Western influences. It’s atmospheric and deeply emotional, perfectly matching the game’s meditative tone.

Atsu’s journey isn’t just about finding retribution; it’s reckoning, healing, and everything in between. Ghost of Yotei is vengeance wrapped in poetry—less about blood spilled, more about ghosts remembered. 

Mobile Game: KingShot—Is it a Crown Worth Taking? (IOS/Android)

Perhaps one of the most advertised games on social media, KingShot is a mobile strategy game where building things seems like forever. Unlike its action-packed demo, the full game is less about constant combat and more about the slow, steady grind of rebuilding what’s been lost.

You begin with a small band of survivors, tasked with reviving a fallen kingdom. From there, it’s the familiar mobile strategy rhythm—gather resources, assign workers, upgrade structures, and fend off enemies. It’s a cycle of waiting, defending, and expanding—keeping your digital world alive one tap at a time.

The visuals are bright and cartoony, with comic-strip-style cutscenes occasionally breaking up the grind. There’s no lengthy tutorial—just quick taps, instant builds, and that familiar dopamine drip of progress bars filling up. The early game feels generous and fun, until the inevitable paywall appears and nudges your wallet for the next upgrade.

KingShot isn’t here to reinvent mobile gaming—but as a casual, coffee-break companion, it does its job. Simple, direct, and occasionally satisfying. And honestly, sometimes that’s enough.

Classics Reloaded: Dance Dance Revolution—The Dance Classic in Our Core Memory (Arcade/PlayStation)

Konami’s Dance Dance Revolution didn’t just redefine rhythm gaming and digital fitness in the late 90s—it’s a time machine dressed in flashing disco lights and pounding bass. The moment the first beat drops and those directional arrows start flying, it all comes rushing back. This was where kids—now your titos and titas—turned into VIP Dancers or Manoeuvres members, where sweat met swagger under flickering mall lights, surrounded by the unmistakable scent of hotdogs and siomai from the nearby food court. 

Dance Dance Revolution wasn’t just another arcade game—it was a cultural explosion. Gamers flock beside the game machine, drenched in perspiration, tokens in their pockets, waiting for their turn, coaching each other. At its core, Dance Dance Revolution couldn’t be simpler—just step on the arrows flashing on-screen, perfectly in time with the beat. Nail a combo, the crowd cheers. Miss a step and feel the whole world stutter. Anyone who ever stepped on the metal dance pad knows it’s pure adrenaline amidst the arcade chaos. And with the many onlookers, you’re not just playing—you’re performing.  

Its soundtrack—a mix of techno and J-pop—was an anthem for an era, each offering its own level of challenge. “Butterfly” not familiar to you? Search it on the net and wait for those memory cells to pulsate. Dance Dance Revolution is a pulsing reminder that fun isn’t always pixel related—it’s about experiences shared with friends, mainly the hyper ones.

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