We’re squarely within the closing leg of a really lengthy look forward to one in all 2025’s greatest releases. Ghost of Yotei is now lower than a month away and goes to be a giant one for Sucker Punch after it launched us to Jin Sakai and his harrowing effort to save lots of Tsushima from the Mongol invasion in Ghost of Tsushima.
With a brand new map to discover, and lots to do it in it as we step into the footwear of Atsu, a girl who has nothing to lose and every little thing to realize from her quest for revenge in opposition to those that uprooted her comparatively peaceable previous, Ghost of Yotei appears all set to construct on every little thing good concerning the franchise’s maiden voyage.
We thought it might be a good suggestion to try how Sucker Punch plans to do issues otherwise this time round. To that finish, listed here are fifteen variations between the 2 titles which might be primed to make Ghost of Yotei really feel like an entire new journey this time round.
Notice: All the data on this function is predicated on official sources.
15. A Extra Dynamic Open World
The lands of Ezo are fairly harmful for individuals who can not deal with the threats they current. Thankfully, Atsu doesn’t depend amongst them and is all set to construct her legend amongst its folks in additional methods than one.
Sucker Punch has been fairly keen about its efforts to make exploring its new map extra natural and rewarding for these amongst us who identical to to hop onto our home and experience on to no matter catches our eye. Lovely fields, flowery paths that give Atsu a velocity enhance, and an entire lot of issues to do as she blazes a path to revenge are slated to make Yotei a current-gen open world that might shake issues up from the style’s tried and examined traditions.
And whereas the map goes to be comparable in dimension to Tsushima, its scope is wanting way more formidable.
14. A New Solution to Observe Essential Quests
Like Jin, Atsu goes to satisfy just a few fascinating people on her path to bringing an finish to the Yotei Six. Not like Jin, she will get a really cool technique to preserve observe of them by way of the brand new clue card system. Making wonderful use of the sport’s distinctive artwork model, that is an addition that we’re wanting to see for ourselves as we dive into the journey.
That’s as a result of whereas the journal system from the unique sport was fairly efficient at fulfilling its goal, Sucker Punch’s new manner of monitoring vital quests and knowledge appears and feels much more immersive, a mirrored image of the time interval the sport is about in, and a really distinctive visible reminder of the individuals who matter in Atsu’s story.
13. An Modern Strategy to Discovery
Ghost of Tsushima had quite a lot of fascinating people who shaped the majority of its supporting forged, in addition to many troubled inhabitants of Tsushima who wanted Jin’s assist. What did all of them have in frequent? Jin needed to go to them to study extra about their wants, or maybe even commerce with them or improve his gear. It was consistent with a extra conventional strategy to open-world titles, however that was 5 years in the past.
We’re actually in a brand new age of gaming experiences, and Ghost of Yotei is taking a really impressed strategy to its aspect content material. Atsu can camp within the open world, enjoyable for a second by taking part in her shamisen, which we’ll get to in a minute. However that’s not all that occurs in your camp. You can very properly have one of many open world’s denizens discover you and share your hearth, offering you with helpful data and maybe even pointing you within the route of your subsequent quest.
It’s a refreshing strategy to discovering new content material, and it’s in all probability going to save lots of Yotei’s gamers quite a lot of time, which they’ll now spend attaining their aims as an alternative of in search of them out.
12. New Mission Sorts
There’s going to be quite a lot of new methods to have interaction with the lands of Ezo, and Atsu’s journey is about to place some very harmful people in her path, the Yotei Six however. In the event you’re seeking to develop her legend and maybe earn a bit of money for these weapon and kit upgrades whereas doing so, bounty hunts are actually part of the franchise’s wonderful gameplay loop.
For these of you who wish to let their weapons do the speaking, these missions are a serious new addition that cement Atsu’s function as a mercenary as an alternative of an honorable samurai like Jin.
11. A New Forecast For A New Land
One in all our favourite components of Ghost of Tsushima was the truth that the climate modified the extra we leaned into Jin’s transformation into the Ghost. Going from shiny and sunny to darkish and gloomy, with thunderclouds making their presence felt, the extra Jin left his honorable roots as a samurai behind, the island of Tsushima appeared to mourn the lack of one in all its sons and mirror the darkish path he had chosen.
Nevertheless, Ezo isn’t Tsushima. And with quite a lot of assorted biomes populating its huge expanses, it might show to be very completely different from Tsushima, and maybe even add extra selection to the climate consequently.
Whereas it stays to be seen if we’re going to witness altering seasons like in Murderer’s Creed Shadows, it might be honest to anticipate a extra dynamic climate sample in play as we dive deep into Ezo’s many mysteries and maybe even have them affect the gameplay loop on supply in Ghost of Yotei.
10. Looking The New Antagonists
Khotun Khan didn’t trouble concealing his presence in Ghost of Tsushima. Jin knew the place he was for a lot of the story, merely missing the means to take him head-on till he rallied the disparate forces of Tsushima behind the banner of the Ghost earlier than repelling the crafty Mongol chief.
The Yotei Six are way more insidious, weaving themselves into the very material of Ezo and working issues from the relative security of metaphorical shadows. Atsu goes to need to benefit from Ezo’s new exploration mechanics and all of Sucker Punch’s finest modifications in her quest for revenge, and seek out every of those terrifying threats by fostering a reference to the land and its individuals.
9. The Value of Revenge
It wouldn’t be a Ghost title if it didn’t have advanced themes to deal with. Whereas particulars stay scarce concerning the value Atsu must pay for her revenge, we’re sure that her story goes to be simply as poignant as Jin’s.
Whereas Ghost of Tsushima noticed Jin step by step change his notions of honor and custom within the face of the Mongol’s ways, Atsu has already left her previous id behind, forging a brand new one to extract a really steep value from those who made {that a} necessity.
Maybe she discovered of Jin’s legend, handed down over the three centuries between their lives? Both manner, her narrative conflicts are going to be one thing to look out for as she embarks on her hunt.
8. Previous Participation
Whereas the flashbacks to Jin’s previous have been a really essential a part of Jin’s character arc in Ghost of Tsushima, they typically got here at moments that interrupted vital moments within the current. Sucker Punch appears to have taken word of that oddity and has launched a intelligent new manner for its gamers to witness Atsu’s personal tragic origins.
In what we see as a really immersive twist, gamers can now flit between her previous and current at key areas within the sport, witnessing extra of the life she left behind courtesy of the Yotei Six, and maybe gaining perception into her motivations as a personality. It’s a really cool wrinkle to the franchise’s components, and will probably be a good way to introduce a little bit of exposition within the sport’s narrative.
7. A New, Extra Keen Ghost
Jin’s reluctant transformation from honorable samurai to the ruthless Ghost was a key a part of the unique sport’s emotional heft. Nevertheless, as a mercenary hell-bent on revenge, Atsu’s willingness to do what’s vital goes to set her aside as a protagonist. Sucker Punch’s enthusiasm about her taking over the function of a demon, or Onryo, is bound to shine by within the narrative.
How a lot goes to stay of Atsu as soon as she has her revenge in opposition to the Yotei Six? How far will the Onryo be prepared to go in her quest to finish their tyranny? Such as you, we are able to’t wait to seek out out!
6. Completely different Warriors, Completely different Minds
Whereas Jin composed haiku and performed his flute as a somber technique to put together his thoughts for battle, Atsu takes an identical but completely different strategy to an identical aim.
In tune with the franchise’s emphasis on nature, Atsu undertakes the artwork of Sumi-e as a technique to unwind, a parallel to Murderer’s Creed Shadows that’s positive to attract just a few comparisons.
She replaces the flute with a Shamisen that’s set to be greater than only a musical instrument – it’s a manner for gamers to inform the sport the place they want to go subsequent! Unlocking completely different songs to play helps you to tailor exploration primarily based in your wants. That’s a cool technique to make your music give you the results you want if there ever was one.
5. Revamped Fight
Jin’s skill to modify stances on the fly, due to his years of coaching with the Sakai household’s katana, makes manner for Atsu’s experience with quite a lot of weapons, due to her function as a mercenary.
You recognize change weapons as you tackle various opponents, with every moveset being extra appropriate to counter the actual assaults of an enemy’s weapon kind. However Sucker Punch hasn’t been content material with its ingenious switch-up, and added the potential for Atsu shedding her weapon within the warmth of battle.
You can end up compelled to tackle one other enemy who wields the weapon you want and disarm them as a way to cope with the one who did the identical to you. It’s a change that might make every battle fairly unpredictable in Yotei, and is a really welcome one for that very purpose.
4. Firearms
Contemplating that Ghost of Yotei takes place round 300 years after the occasions within the earlier sport, it is smart that firearms are actually part of generally used weaponry. And Atsu actually is aware of easy methods to deal with a gun!
A trailer showcasing her proficiency with firearms signifies that gunplay might very properly be a viable path to victory for these of you with regular set off fingers. We simply hope that it makes good use of the DualSense 5’s superior haptics to make the expertise really feel all of the extra genuine consequently.
3. A part of a Pack
Whereas Jin primarily fought alone until he was aided by one other of Tsushima’s residents, Atsu appears extra in contact with nature, even managing to get a wolf to battle at her aspect. Whereas Sucker Punch has been cagey about what her new companion is able to, the gameplay showcase for Ghost of Yotei did have her wolf buddy taking a chew out of some unlucky opponents who have been foolhardy sufficient to take the duo on.
For our half, we’re hoping for just a few expertise that permit our loyal companion have a extra energetic function within the combating that’s coming our manner.
2. Select Your Legendary Director
Akira Kurosawa’s affect on the primary sport is almost as legendary because the director himself. However Ghost of Yotei is poised to usher in the cinematic expertise of different notable names within the samurai movie style.
Two further modes that mirror the methods of Takashi Miike and Shinichiro Watanabe are going to make an look within the new title. These standoffs are going to get an entire lot flashier.
1. A New Perspective
There was a little bit of resistance to Atsu taking on the reins from Jin when Ghost of Yotei was first revealed to the world. Contemplating the time interval that the sport is about in, Atsu’s place in society is arguably one through which she is positioned among the many outcasts of a feudal setup that didn’t worth a girl of her stature, contemplating all of the losses she faces earlier than she decides to do one thing about it. That’s a story wrinkle that could possibly be the best a part of her journey, putting her in stark distinction to Jin.
As an honorable samurai and the nephew of Tsushima’s Jito, Jin’s encounters with the denizens of his dwelling have been underlined with a way of respect and belief. Ezo could do Atsu no such favors, requiring that she earn the belief, and maybe fearful respect, of these she encounters. The gameplay showcase touched upon thi,s however maybe Sucker Punch is saving the most important ace up its sleeve for when the sport releases.
And that wraps up our record of the most important modifications from Ghost of Tsushima to Ghost of Yotei. We’d love to listen to what you’re most enthusiastic about, and maybe even discover some new views from you! Simply tell us within the feedback, and be a part of us as we wait with bated breath for a title that’s going to check our expertise and tug at our heartstrings.
