Ghost of Tsushima's sequel, Ghost of Yotei, aims to address a common criticism leveled at its predecessor: repetitive gameplay. Developer Sucker Punch promises a more balanced experience, mitigating the repetitive nature of the open world.
Ghost of Yotei: Embracing Freedom of Exploration
Repetitive Gameplay: A Key Criticism of Ghost of Tsushima
In a recent New York Times interview, Sony and Sucker Punch shed light on Ghost of Yotei, focusing on the journey of its new protagonist, Atsu. A key element will be a less repetitive open-world experience. Creative director Jason Connell explained, "One challenge with open-world games is repetitive gameplay. We aimed to counter this, creating unique experiences." He also confirmed players will master both firearms and melee weapons like the katana, a departure from the original.
While Ghost of Tsushima boasts an 83/100 Metacritic score, criticism regarding repetitive gameplay is prevalent. Reviews describe it as "a competent but shallow and overfamiliar attempt to replicate Assassin’s Creed style open-world adventure," highlighting that a smaller scope or more linear structure could have improved the experience.
Player feedback echoes these sentiments. Many praise the game's visuals but cite repetitive enemy encounters and gameplay loops. One player noted, "Ghost of Tsushima is beautiful, but insanely repetitive and dull. The problem is the limited enemy variety."
Sucker Punch aims to avoid this pitfall in Ghost of Yotei. They plan to retain the series' signature cinematic flair and visuals while addressing the repetitiveness. Creative director Nate Fox stated, "When developing the sequel, we asked, ‘What defines a Ghost game?’ It’s about immersing players in the beauty of feudal Japan."
Revealed at the September 2024 State of Play, Ghost of Yotei launches in 2025 for PS5. It promises players the "freedom to explore" Mount Yotei at their own pace, as stated by Sucker Punch Sr. Communications Manager Andrew Goldfarb in a PlayStation blog post.
