The recently unveiledGhost of Yoteiwill be grasping for the same success as its 2020 predecessorGhost of Tsushima, and it seems to be following the route that many have predicted for it.Ghost of Yoteiwill likely mark the series’ transition to a loose anthology format, with a new protagonist and setting. This adoption of the anthology structure opens many creative avenues for Sucker Punch.
For one thing, there’s now no need to justify the continuation of Jin Sakai’s story, which is wrapped up nicely by the end of the first game. Additionally, and perhaps more importantly from a gameplay standpoint, the shift to a different part of Japan inGhost of Yoteimeans an entirely new map to explore, avoiding the potential hurdle of making the original land of Tsushima interesting once again for returning players. It’s not clear how long theGhost of Tsushimaseries (or whatever it will be called as a whole) will continue moving forward, but this decisive pivot could allow it to thrive for a long time, perhaps in virtual perpetuity.
Ghost of Yotei Lets Sucker Punch Dodge God of War’s Current Franchise Debacle
God of War Needs to Move On from Kratos, Ghost of Yotei No Longer Needs to Move On from Jin
Jin Sakai is a solid video game protagonist, andthe undeniable face ofGhost of Tsushima, much in the same way that Kratos is the driving force behindGod of War. But no character’s story can last forever, and whileGod of Warhas managed to continually put Kratos in interesting narrative positions, it seems like his time in the spotlight has reached its natural conclusion.
LettingAtreus take over as theGod of Warprotagonistmight be the right decision, but that doesn’t mean that the transition will be perfectly seamless. Over the course of its long history,God of Warhas revolved around Kratos, making him the connective tissue between entries, and putting him on the back burner could feel weird after so many years of him defining the franchise. In other words, Kratos is the heart ofGod of War, and heart transplants aren’t easy.
Ghost of Tsushimacould have been put in a similar position if Jin Sakai took center stage across several entries; his story could have been dragged out over several games, backing Sucker Punch into a narrative corner and making it hard to smoothly transition to a new lead, which would have to happen if the developer wanted to makeGhostits own staple franchise. But by firmly establishing theGhost of Tsushimaseries as an anthologywith its second entry, players can more easily move on from Jin’s story, letting it end with dignity and grace.
Ghost of Yotei Could Find Itself In a Different Sort of Conundrum
Though studios may unintentionally limit themselves by sticking to one protagonist across several entries, this decision comes with a host of benefits as well. One needs to look no further than theGod of Warseries itself to see them:keeping Kratos in the protagonist roleover several entries allowed Santa Monica Studios to develop his story over an extended period of time, introducing fresh internal conflicts, relationships, and challenges to overcome, thereby forming an interesting story that keeps audiences engaged for several years.
Ghost of Yoteican’t enjoy such a benefit, as its mythology has less in common with what came before it. By introducing a new hero every game, or even every few games, theGhost of Tsushimafranchise sacrifices its ability to build a long-running historywith a consistent hero at its core. This could make future games, includingGhost of Yotei, more exciting and innovative, but it also means truncating the scope of Sucker Punch’s narrative vision.
Ghost of Yotei
WHERE TO PLAY
Discover a bold, new story of a warrior in Japan who is on a mission of vengeance all her own.Set 300 years after the critically acclaimed Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yōtei is standalone experience set in 1600s rural Japan. The story follows a haunted, lone mercenary named Atsu. Thirsty for revenge, she travels through the beautiful, rugged landscapes of northern Japan, hunting those who killed her family many years earlier.
