Sucker Punch has delivered another exceptional game, Ghost of Yotei, a sequel of sorts, to critically acclaimed Ghost of Tsushima. Although there are loose (very loose) themes that tie the games together, it is not a direct sequent and features two different characters and time periods. With some similarities and stark differences, one can only ask themselves: which Ghost game did it better?

Ghost of Tsushima released in 2020. It is an action-adventure game that takes place in 1274 in a fictional island in Japan, Tsushima. You play as a samurai named Jin Sakai who witnesses the various clans decimated by the Mongols that invade his island. Jin’s uncle, Lord Shimura, was taken prisoner. When all hope seems lost, a woman named Yuna nurses him back to health. As you adventure throughout the game, your character struggles between the honor that is the Samurai code and the guerilla warfare that could turn the tides of war. In order to stand a chance to defeat to Mongols and save Tsushima, Jin must “break” this sacred code, something that in the culture would bring disgrace and dishonor.

In Ghost of Yotei, a young girl survives a horrific massacre of her family at the hands of the Yotei Six. This game takes place in Ezo, a fictional land in the north, in 1603. She grows up, dedicating her life to exact her revenge. She scours Ezo for information about the Yotei Six while running into potential allies. She is known in the land as onryō, a vengeful ghost.

Gameplay for both titles overlap. Both involve real-time action, with an emphasis on swords, bows, and throwable weapons. You are able to do a standoff with enemies to perform a single-strike execution. While Jin Sakai’s combat surrounds different stances that depend on enemy-type, Atsu has a weapon-counter system. In other words, there are certain weapon approaches depending on enemy-type. Similar but different. In Ghost of Yotei, Sucker Punch also added another layer of challenge where enemies could possibly disarm you. To me, the differences weren’t substantial to the point where I found Ghost of Yotei new and gripping.

Side quests and discoverables also tread very closely to one another. Both games include the discovery of shrines, hot springs, and animal dens (wolf/fox), and bamboo strikes. The variations between the two titles felt minor and more of the same (don’t get me wrong—I love this aspect of the games). Side quests are also of a similar ilk, whether it’s looking into some sort of myth or legend, finding or rescuing someone, or locating an object.

When it comes to the massive, open worlds, Ghost of Tsushima feels a touch more linear in approach, especially compared to Ghost of Yotei where you can tackle (most) of the Yotei Six in any order. Also, I felt that map population is a bit less direct in Yotei if you prefer a minimally guided experience. As far as graphics and sound design are concerned, both a cream of the crop. I still cannot get the images from various vistas in Ghost of Tsushima out of my mind, but Ghost of Yotei is also gorgeous in its own right.

In the end, both games are excellence in a bottle. Sucker Punch delivered quality experiences for anyone that’s a fan of Japanese culture and/or action-adventure games. In my personal opinion, I believe Ghost of Tsushima edges Ghost of Yotei out by a hair. To preface, I thoroughly have been enjoying Ghost of Yotei and find little flawed about it. With that said, Ghost of Yotei carries the burden as a sequel/follow-up in a growing franchise. Games like this fall into either camp: worse than the original, better than the original, or different than the original. In my review of both games, Ghost of Yotei is certainly not “worse”, but I also didn’t find it neither better or significantly different to stand in another pillar on its own.

Everyone likes a good revenge story; however, as relatable as wanting revenge may be (well, maybe not to the extreme as Atsu’s case…), I found Jin Sakai’s story arc more intriguing. Even a westerner, who may not understand the severity of dishonoring your family or clan, can still understand the pressures of what society demands of you versus what you feel is right. Jin must fight external and internal adversaries equally. His identity is challenged, and the heart wrenching confrontation with hic uncle is one that I will never forget.

I felt that Ghost of Yotei‘s changes weren’t significant enough for me to go, “wow, now that sets it apart”. The combat has the same premise, just with different weapons versus stances. In Ghost of Yotei, you can now strum your shamisen, manually start a campfire, and cook your meals, but these well-intended bits of immersion were great the first few times, then it just got repetitive. So, Ghost of Tsushima still tops Ghost of Yotei. Forgive me, Atsu.

Which game do you think is better? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.

Boss Rush Podcast – A Podcast about Video Games

The Boss Rush Podcast – A Podcast about Video Games – is the flagship show of the Boss Rush Network and Boss Rush Media. Each week, hosts⁠ Corey Dirrig and LeRon Dawkins⁠ are joined by friends, fellow creators, indie developers, and industry veterans to discuss the latest in the world of video games, including news, rumors, new releases, and what they’ve been playing. They also answer listener questions, debate important industry topics and Boss Rush Banter discussion points, and feature a rotating weekly segment. New episodes post every Monday.

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