Now that Sucker Punch has spilled the beans onGhost of Yotei, the long-awaited sequel to its 2020 open-world hitGhost of Tsushima, many fans are immensely excited to learn which direction the studio takes with its new protagonist, Atsu. Instead ofcontinuing the story of Jin Sakai,Ghost of Tsushima’s protagonist, Sucker Punch will shift the focus to Atsu to tell an original story forGhost of Yotei. It seems the studio doesn’t want fans to harbor any expectations of Jin having a major role inGhost of Yoteieither, as the sequel is set on the Japanese island of Hokkaido and takes place 300 years after the events ofGhost of Tsushima.
Clearly, then, Sucker Punch wants to aim thespotlight at Atsu inGhost of Yotei. However, the studio has been rather tight-lipped about what players can expect from her story and character. Initial details from Sucker Punch confirmed that Atsu would go through an “underdog vengeance” story arc inGhost of Yotei, and that’s basically it so far. However, this seemingly small detail may allude toGhost of Yoteipotentially being a more isolated experience compared toGhost of Tsushimain one intriguing way.
Atsu Being a Lone Wolf in Ghost of Yotei is the Antithesis of Jin Sakai’s Allies in Ghost of Tsushima
Jin Enlists the Help of Numerous Allies in Ghost of Tsushima
Over the course ofGhost of Tsushima’s narrative, Jin Sakai comes across an assortment of allies, namely Yuna, Taka, Sensei Ishikawa, Lady Masako, Norio, Kenji, Yuriko, and Ryuzo. Most of this group bands together to help Jin free his uncle from Khotun Khan,Ghost of Tsushima’s main villain, and thenliberate Tsushima island from the Mongol invasion. Jin’s allies bring diverse talents to the table as well, with Yuna being a thief, Taka a blacksmith, Lady Masako a skilled samurai, Sensei Ishikawa an eagle-eyed archer, Norio a warrior monk, Ryuzo a straw-hat ronin, and Kenji a humorous but deft sake seller.
Ryuzo starts off as an ally to Jin, but ultimately betrays him.
In addition to their skills and battle prowess, many of these allies had their own questlines and character arcs inGhost of Tsushima, some of which were especially compelling to play through.Helping Lady Masako pursue the murderers of her familyis a riveting journey that offers a deep exploration of her character, and Yuriko’s quests open up a window to Jin’s childhood, ultimately ending on a very emotional note. Sensei Ishikawa’s hunt for his gifted student, Tomoe, explores the limits of tough mentorship, and Ryuzo is driven by the simple desire to feed his clan of starving straw-hat ronin and ensure their survival.
Ghost of Yotei May Place a Greater Emphasis on Atsu
Thanks to the superb storytelling of these side quests, many fans consider them to be just as essential to theGhost of Tsushimaexperience as the main story. However, if thecurrent information aroundGhost of Yoteiis any indication, Atsu’s journey may not feature as many allies as Jin’s. There are two key considerations behind this line of reasoning, with the first one being Sucker Punch’s “underdog vengeance” narrative tease for Atsu. Combined with dialogue in the trailer confirming she’s “hunting,” it seems Atsu may head down a more solitary path inGhost of Yoteiand not be as reliant on supporting characters as Jin was inGhost of Tsushima.
The second consideration isGhost of Yotei’s Hokkaido setting. ThePlayStation Blog announcement forGhost of Yoteiinterestingly remarks that Hokkaido in 1603 was a “far cry from the organized samurai clans who lived in Tsushima,” and even the trailer mentions that the island is on the “edge of Japan.” This hints at Hokkaido having a rather scarce population compared to Tsushima, and the few inhabitants whom Atsu could encounter may not be very friendly, limiting the possible roster of allies she could enlist throughout her journey. Only time will tell whetherGhost of Yoteiis lighter on side quests and supporting characters, but if Atsu’s character is compelling enough, then it may not be a big concern.
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.
