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Summary
After what has felt like an eternity of waiting,Ghost of Tsushima’s long-rumored sequelhas finally been revealed, but it may not be what some fans expected. Rather than continuing the story of Jin Sakai from the first game,Ghost of Yoteifeatures a brand-new protagonist named Atsu and is set three centuries after the events ofGhost of Tsushima, at the end ofthe Sengoku periodand the beginning of the Edo period. What’s more is that it will take players “beyond the edge of Japan” to Ezo, in the lands surrounding Mount Yotei, for an original story that may or may not be directly connected to Jin’s.
Though it might come as a disappointment and a shock to some that the beloved Jin Sakai will not be reprising his role asGhost of Yotei’s protagonist, this anthological structure the franchise seems to be headed in is arguably exactly whatGhost of Tsushima’s sequel needed. In the end, it opens up what may now be referred to as Sucker Punch’s “Ghost” franchise to a variety of opportunities it might not have had otherwise.
Ghost of Yotei Establishes an Anthological Structure for the Franchise
Something a Jin Sequel Couldn’t Have Done
While it might have been nice to see Jin donthe mask of the Ghostonce again,Ghost of Yoteiopens up the franchise much more than a directGhost of Tsushimasequel ever could have. Were the franchise to merely continue with a sequel toGhost of Tsushima, it might have permanently walled off its overarching narrative, preventing it from exploring anything beyond Jin’s personal story and the lives of those his actions directly influence. Going in this direction could have worked for the franchise, but its future would have been presumably severely limited.
WithGhost of Yoteikickstarting this somewhat unexpected direction for the franchise, Sucker Punch’sGhostseries could potentially become something more akin to Ubisoft’sAssassin’s Creedseries.Assassin’s Creedhas always given players the opportunity to explore time periods that are centuries apart from one another and yet weaved together by the overarching concept of a shared bloodline of Assassins, which, in turn, has allowed players to experience most of the series' entries in the shoes of a different protagonist. This has also extended the life oftheAssassin’s Creedseries, as there is seemingly no end to fascinating historical time periods, original stories to tell, and unique characters to lead them.
Sucker Punch’s Ghost Series Can Now Feature Multiple Protagonists, Time Periods, and a Much Larger World
With this newanthological structurenow firmly set in place byGhost of Yotei, much like theAssassin’s Creedseries, Sucker Punch’sGhostfranchise can feature multiple protagonists, different time periods, and a much larger universe overall.In an interview with the New York Times, creative director Nate Fox stated:
“When we started working on a sequel, the first question we asked ourselves was, ‘What is the DNA of aGhostgame? It’s about transporting the player to the romance and beauty of feudal Japan.'”
Ghost of Yoteibears witness to this with a new protagonist and a fresh open world to explore, setting in stone the franchise’s aim to transport players to a place rather than a person.
It’s currently unclear where theGhostseries might go from here in terms of characters, locations, and time periods, butSucker Punch reportedly already has plans for multiple spin-offs. It will be interesting to see if and how each of these titles connects with the rest, and whether Jin Sakai ever makes a return in some form or fashion.
Ghost of Yotei
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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.
