Sucker Punch has been having a strong few years, which is expected to continue with the release ofGhost of Yotei, the long-awaited follow-up toGhost of Tsushima. Though theGhost of Tsushimaseries seems to be Sucker Punch’s primary focusright now, there was once a time when the studio was known for a very different sort of franchise, though one that was no less exciting.
Infamousis tragically overlooked, it would seem, at least by the powers that be in the games industry. The franchise hasn’t seen a proper release sinceInfamous: Second Sonin 2014—an open-world action title that was one of the most underrated showcases of the PS4’s improved power over its predecessor. It followed two other impressive and ambitious games, both centered on unique superhero mechanics and mature storytelling. It would be a shame to let such a robust experience with superpowered gameplay go to waste, and theGhost of Yoteiformula could be a good outlet for it.
The Benefits of Marrying Infamous and Ghost of Yotei
Infamous and the Ghost Games Showcase the Greatest Strengths of Sucker Punch
Ghost of Tsushimaisn’t exactly committed to realism, as it features a number of implausible special abilities and quasi-supernatural elements, but it’s a fairly grounded game overall; the same can probably be expected to be true forGhost of Yotei. This certainly cannot be said forInfamous, which is a series built around bombastic, magical, and sci-fi-influenced concepts, which inform both its narrative and gameplay.
This has drawbacks and benefits, naturally. On the one hand, the more outlandish plot ofInfamousallows for more creative narrative ideas, while the historically grounded premise of theGhostgames is inherently more restrictive. Conversely,Ghost of Tsushimais able to highlight intimate character relationships and the human condition a bit better thanInfamous, as its connection to historical trauma and themes like honor lend itself to more nuanced storytelling.
A similar dynamic can be observed when looking at the gameplay of each franchise.Infamous' traversal and combat mechanics are expressive, flexible, and explosive (sometimes literally), whileGhost of Tsushima’s gameplayis far more conservative, but also focused, making for a tighter and more engaging experience at times. By merging the two franchises, Sucker Punch may be able to extract each of their strengths, mixing them together to create something spectacular.
How the Ghost Games Could Be Combined With Infamous
A literal crossover between these two franchises would be a bit overboard, but a new Sucker Punch IP, years down the road, that recontextualizesthe best aspects of bothInfamousandGhostcould be surprisingly great. This game would lack the urban fantasy elements of the originalInfamousgames, but it could instead leverage real-world mythology or folklore, either directly or in a more ambiguous way, with NPCs assigning the player-character mythical status based on their cultural beliefs, similar to howGhost of Tsushima’s characters christen Jin as the “Ghost” for his exploits.
In terms of gameplay, a number ofInfamous' mechanics and features could play key roles in aGhost-like historical setting, including:
By the same token,Ghost of Tsushima’s satisfying open-world designwould synergize quite well with the gameplay staples ofInfamous. It’s hard to know what the future holds for Sucker Punch, but with the studio’s penchant for compelling storytelling, historical settings, and power-based gameplay, a release that combines these aspects could be genre-defining.
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.
