There were a lot of exciting announcements at the recent State of Play, butGhost of Yoteidefinitely stole the show. News of a sequel toGhost of Tsushimahas been long-awaited, butGhost of Yoteitook many by surprise. Not only is the game set over 300 years after the events of its predecessor, but it’s introducing a brand-new protagonist.
Atsu, a female Ronin, takes the stageasGhost of Yotei’s lead. It was both a shocking and thrilling revelation, but there has also been sadness in regard to Jin Sakai being taken out of the picture. Much of the speculation surrounding a sequel predicted that a follow-up would revolve around the second Mongol invasion of Japan that happened only a few years after the first. Sucker Punch making the bold decision to make theGhost of Tsushimafranchise more of an anthology is ultimately a stronger move, but that doesn’t mean Jin Sakai is completely gone as a character.
Ghost of Yotei Still Leaves Room For Jin Sakai’s Presence
Bringing a New Meaning to the Ghost of Tsushima Name
WithGhost of Yoteitaking place 300 years after its predecessor, Jin is clearly dead. However, this doesn’t mean he can’t live on in some capacity. Jin’s story andthe events ofGhost of Tsushimahave likely become legends that are passed down from generation to generation, making Jin a folk hero. He can still live on through stories, and this presents plenty of opportunities for the character to be mentioned and hinted at during various points inGhost of Yotei’s story.
Whether it be through interactions with descendants or writings found throughout the game, Jin can still be an important presence, even if he is not physically there. Showcasinga new region and era of Japanis an intriguing change, and it could be fascinating to see how Jin’s story has evolved through word-of-mouth storytelling. Despite many decades passing sinceGhost of Tsushima, Jin’s efforts to push back the Mongols wouldn’t be forgotten. There is even the possibility that Atsu could potentially be a descendant of Jin. Since the announcement of the sequel is fresh, there is barely anything known about the character, but being part of Jin’s lineage isn’t off the table.
Ghost of Yoteitakes place in the Ezo region in 1603. At the time, this was an area outside of Japan’s rule.
It would also be a beautiful way to pay homage to the franchise’s “ghost” title if Jin were to subtly haunt the story in some small way. A Sucker Punch dev has hinted thatGhost of Yoteimay be the first of many spin-off stories. Creating a chain reaction of each preceding protagonist touching the story in an unexpected way may be a smart way to make the games feel connected while also standing on their own.
Ghost of Yotei is a Bold and Promising Choice
Sucker Punch Taking Chances
Ghost of TshusimaandGhost of Yoteisetting the stage for a new ongoing PlayStation franchise shows that Sucker Punch isn’t afraid to take risks, and that’s exciting. The developer could have easily gone the expected route and featured the second Mongol invasion, but it chose fresh storytelling over the clear path forward. AlthoughGhost of Yotei’s appearancematches its predecessor, it’s clear that the game also aims to be its own special stand-alone story.
Despitecontroversy surroundingGhost of Yotei’s new protagonist, Atsu and her story are promising another beautiful and violent adventure on the horizon. Sucker Punch has shocked many with this change of direction, and it could pay off in spades if the story is on par, or even better, than its predecessor. Jin may be physically long gone, but his spirit will likely still be present.
