Trek to Yomi, a black and white ode to the masterful samurai films of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, is now releasing forNintendo Switchon January 30, as reported byDevolver Digital. The game is currently available onPlayStation 5,PlayStation 4,Xbox Series X|S,Xbox One, andPC.The publisher unveiled a new trailer showcasing the game’s core visual identity, which is a feast for the eyes just like Sony’sGhost of Tsushima. The story delves into the history of the Edo period Samurai, and captures the raw intensity between these legendary warriors who lived by traditions and honor. Every frame in Trek to Yomi is etched in different shades of grey, relying on the sharp sounds of clashing swords and violent skirmishes to immerse the player in a monochromatic and authentic atmosphere in spirit with Kurosawa’s movies.ALSO READ:Mass Effect 2’s Lead Writer Mac Walters Leaves BioWareThe soundtrack of the game is also designed with authenticity in mind.According to the composers, the music was recorded and composed with instruments that were only available during the Edo period, like the Japanese flute Shinobue that commoners used to play at the time. Trek to Yomi also captures the protagonist’s descent into Yomi (the land of the dead) using a specific musical style called Gagaku (elegant music), which has a pitch scale that descends as you keep playing. It helped capture how the trip becomes more distorted and mangled the further you progress into the depth of Yomi, and give a unique mood that cannot be found anywhere else.
The performance of Trek to Yomi on Nintendo Switch is still a mystery, but thedevelopers have already determinedmid-development that 30fps will be maintained throughout the game (since most old movies had 24 fps only), but current generation consoles can take that up to 40-55 fps perDigital Foundry’s tech review. Digital Foundry also experimented with lighting and screen composition to ensure there wasn’t any noticeable difference between the eighth and ninth generations of gaming consoles, so players can expect a similar comfortable experience on the Switch despite the demanding film-grain art style.
