Since its unveiling this fall Spirit of Yotei has landed at the top of many gamers' lists of most anticipated releases of 2025, surpassed only by the likes of GTA 6. That means, Spirit of Yotei makes some significant changes compared to its predecessor, offers a new setting and protagonist and therefore completely different narrative circumstances and is strangely reminiscent of other AAA hits like Red Dead Redemptionwho have taken similarly risky steps.
Spirit of Yotei surprised audiences upon its reveal when Sucker Punch revealed that Jin Sakai would not be the protagonist of this long-awaited sequel. In fact, Jin won't be in the game at all, as it's set hundreds of years after the events of the first game and in a completely different region of Japan. While some see this radical change as a welcome experiment and subversion, others are less convinced and disappointed that Jin will not return. This feeling is reflected in the public reception Red Dead Redemption 2 Before release, it was revealed that there would be a playable character other than the legendary John Marston from the first game. As most would now agree, this was a great decision by Rockstar; Maybe Sucker Punch made a similarly good decision here.
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Ghost of Yotei shouldn't trade repetition for linearity
Since Sucker Punch repeats the Ghost of Tsushima formula with Ghost of Yotei, care should be taken to find a good balance with its open world.
Ghost of Yoteis Atsu could be the “Arthur Morgan” of the franchise
Arthur Morgan exceeded expectations and so did Atsu
The gaming audience was more than skeptical that John would be replaced by Arthur, but now Red Dead Redemption The fan base widely considers Arthur to be the superior character, with many even crowning him the best video game protagonist of all time. This is obviously a pretty lofty title to aim for, and while Atsu may not quite be able to reach the same heights, she could potentially replace Jin in the hearts of fans Yotei which makes her the definitive heroine of the series.
Honestly, that wouldn't be particularly difficult. Jin Sakai is by no means a bad character and his struggle between upholding his samurai code and driving out the Mongols by any means necessary is compelling enough, but it's also a little dull. His walk between tradition and reality was good for the final game, and perhaps his legacy will live on somehow Spirit of Yoteibut his character doesn't have enough substance to justify his appearance in a full sequel. Atsu, on the other hand, can compensate for Jin's shortcomings.
How Atsu could become better than Jin, the Red Dead way
There are a number of reasons why Arthur Morgan is generally considered a more interesting character than John Marston, but more to the point: he's more complex. John spends the first Red Dead Redemption He's running from his complicated past and trying to build a new life for himself, while Arthur is knee-deep in a life that doesn't serve him, but he knows nothing else. RDR2 takes the same major themes of the first game and expands on them through Arthur's story and Spirit of Yotei could do the same.
The struggle between honor and survival has narrative potential, but is never presented in a multifaceted and nuanced way Ghost of Tsushima. When players are meant to question Jin's actions, the game fails to elicit such a reaction, as he can either proceed stealthily or watch his country being slaughtered; The choice seems easy. But Spirit of Yotei could muddy the waters even further and put Atsu at the center of a much messier internal conflict, allowing her to reveal her character in more crucial and intriguing ways than Jin ever had to.
The sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, Sucker Punch's Ghost of Yōtei, is a PS5 exclusive scheduled for release sometime in 2025. The story is set in 1603 and will feature a new protagonist and a new Japanese region far removed from Tsushima's setting.
action
adventure
Open world
- Released
- 2025
- Publisher)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
