Summary
- Atsu’s quest for vengeance in Ghost of Yotei implies visceral, emotionally intense combat scenes in contrast to Jin Sakai’s honor and precision.
- Atsu may be more terrifying than Jin due to her relentless pursuit of revenge, potentially surpassing Jin’s Ghost Stance terror.
- Ghost of Yotei promises a daring evolution with new protagonist Atsu, suggesting a shift to raw, improvisational combat and a darker storyline.
There are obviously a lot of changes Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Yotei is introducing to the Ghost of Tsushima formula, with its shift to a brand-new protagonist arguably being the clearest sign of these changes. While the developer has confirmed various elements of Ghost of Yotei that will differ from Ghost of Tsushima, like its open-world approach and its increased emphasis on player agency, the introduction of a brand-new protagonist to the franchise is still perhaps its biggest leap, as this more than likely means an entirely different personal narrative for the lead character and potentially even a considerable evolution of Tsushima‘s gameplay.
While the full extent of Atsu’s story in Ghost of Yotei has yet to be disclosed, Sucker Punch has indicated that her quest will be one of “underdog vengeance.” If she truly is the ronin that she appears to be, this alone makes her an underdog, as ronins were so named on account of being a masterless samurai and therefore an isolated warrior. Undoubtedly, this will play into the narrative of her personal journey, perhaps even making her a more complex protagonist than Jin was in Ghost of Tsushima. However, Atsu’s quest for vengeance in Ghost of Yotei implies that the gameplay introduced by Ghost of Tsushima will be considerably affected as well.
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What Atsu’s Quest for Vengeance in Ghost of Yotei Suggests About Her Fighting Style
Vengeance-Fueled Combat Implies Raw, Emotional Intensity
There’s still no clarity on why Atsu has traveled to Ezo (modern-day Hokkaido) in search of revenge, but the fact that her story is, apparently, fueled by vengeance suggests her fighting style will differ greatly from Jin’s in Ghost of Tsushima. Although there was an element of brutality to Jin’s combat in Tsushima, his attacks and movements were still very precise and calculated. Atsu, on the other hand, may fight with more emotional intensity than Jin ever did, simply on account of her desire for vengeance.
It could be that Atsu is seeking revenge for a fallen family member, which would potentially fuel her drive even more and produce a more relentless protagonist than Jin was in Ghost of Tsushima.
More often than not, vengeance-fueled combat implies a raw, emotional intensity akin to something like Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) in Taken, who is willing to compromise any morals he has left in order to save his daughter. As such, Atsu’s fighting style in Ghost of Yotei might be less about honor and precision and more about overwhelming her enemies with relentless attacks. Furthermore, as an underdog ronin, Atsu might be more willing to use more unconventional, improvisational techniques in combat than Jin was comfortable performing in Ghost of Tsushima. Ultimately, Atsu’s pursuit of vengeance could result in some ferocious and gruesome combat scenes that look more like something out of a John Wick film.
Atsu May Be Even More Terrifying Than Jin Ever Was
One of the standout features of Ghost of Tsushima was Jin’s ability to terrify his enemies when players initiated his Ghost Stance. Upon activation of Ghost Stance, the screen would turn black and white and dramatic music would begin playing, all while Jin’s enemies attempted to flee in terror before being mercilessly cut down. However, there is massive potential for Atsu to be even more merciless than Jin ever was, simply on account of her quest for vengeance. While she might not end up having her own Ghost Stance, she may very well have something similar, and it could make her far more terrifying than Jin ever hoped to be.
Ultimately, Atsu’s pursuit of vengeance could result in some ferocious and gruesome combat scenes that look more like something out of a John Wick film.
In the end, Ghost of Yotei may be a more daring evolution for the Ghost of Tsushima formula than can even be seen currently, with a new protagonist, a fresh narrative focus, and potentially groundbreaking gameplay innovations that are the result of Atsu’s quest for vengeance. It could be that Ghost of Yotei shifts to a more raw, improvisational combat style with Atsu, a protagonist whose story fueled by the desire for revenge suggests a darker and possibly bloodier experience overall.
The sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Yōtei is a PS5 exclusive scheduled to drop at some point in 2025. Taking place in 1603, the story will feature a new protagonist and a new Japanese region that is far removed from Tsushima’s setting.
Action
Adventure
Open-World
- Released
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2025
- Publisher(s)
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Sony Interactive Entertainment