Yotei's Ghost Promises Less Repetition Than Tsushima

Sucker Punch, the developer behind the critically acclaimed Ghost of Tsushima, is set to address one of the main critiques of the 2020 action-adventure game with its sequel, Ghost of Yotei. In a recent interview with the New York Times, the team promised to tackle the "repetitive nature" of the original's open-world gameplay.

Ghost of Yotei Promises Players The “Freedom to Explore”

Ghost of Tsushima Fans Heavily Criticize The Title for Being Repetitive

Sony and Sucker Punch have unveiled exciting details about Ghost of Yotei, which follows the journey of the new protagonist, Atsu. Creative director Jason Connell emphasized their commitment to reducing the repetitive elements in the open-world experience. "One challenge that comes with making an open-world game is the repetitive nature of doing the same thing over and over," Connell explained. "We wanted to balance against that and find unique experiences." Additionally, Ghost of Yotei will introduce the ability for players to master firearms alongside traditional melee weapons like the katana.

Despite Ghost of Tsushima earning an impressive 83/100 on Metacritic, it faced criticism for its gameplay. Some reviewers felt it was a "competent but shallow and overfamiliar attempt to replicate Assassin’s Creed style open world adventure in the world of 13th century samurai," suggesting that a more focused or linear structure might have enhanced the experience.

Fan feedback has echoed these sentiments, with many citing the game's stunning visuals but criticizing its repetitive gameplay. "Ghost of Tsushima is beautiful, but insanely repetitive and dull," one player commented. "The problem is that it all gets repetitive very quickly. There are only 5 enemies the entire game. There's sword guy, sword and shield guy, spear guy, big guy and archer."

Sucker Punch is determined to avoid these pitfalls with Ghost of Yotei, focusing on enhancing the cinematic flair and visual splendor that define the series. "When we started working on a sequel, the first question we asked ourselves is ‘What is the DNA of a Ghost game?’" said creative director Nate Fox. "It is about transporting the player to the romance and beauty of feudal Japan."

Announced at the State of Play in September 2024, Ghost of Yotei is slated for release in 2025 on the PS5. The game aims to offer players the "freedom to explore" the scenic beauty of Mount Yotei at their "own pace," according to Sucker Punch Sr Communications Manager Andrew Goldfarb in a recent PlayStation blog post.