With "Ghost of Yōtei" Sucker Punch is stepping it up a notch. The new trailer leaves no doubt: Atsu's journey through the harsh Ezo, today's Hokkaido, will be bloodier, wilder and more versatile than anything "Ghost of Tsushima" has ever been. Kusarigama, Yari, Odachi and firearms - the variety of weapons is impressive and, according to co-creative director Jason Connell, "completely new to the gameplay experience". And yet: at its core, everything remains the same as the katana. So why this upgrade?
"Japan again?" - When open world becomes routine
The timing almost seems like a liberating blow - or a challenge to "Assassin's Creed Shadows", which is also set in feudal Japan and will be released just six months later. Ubisoft delivers with "Assassin's Creed Shadows" a dual-protagonist experience with sneaking and samurai gameplay. Does that sound familiar? Yes - "Ghost of Tsushima" sent its regards - just alone on the road. Now "Ghost of Yōtei" responds with more weapons, more wilderness and more open world. The question remains: Do we really need this again - and so quickly?
The similarities between the two titles are striking. Both are open-world games set in historical Japan, both rely on realistic settings and personal stories of revenge. The only difference is that Ubisoft takes two very different paths with Naoe and Yasuke - shadow slayer meets warrior - while "Ghost of Yōtei" tells a lone wolf story with Atsu. It also follows a clear path: Family lost, mark targets, eliminate in order. The fact that the players themselves decide who to kill first is nice, but hardly revolutionary.
The fact that the developers advertise with "the most open game we've ever made" sounds like a promise - or like a phrase we've seen in every other PR leaflet by now. Yes, Ezo sounds appealing with its wild biomes, majestic locations and a loyal wolf at your side. But is a natural backdrop enough of a differentiator when "Assassin's Creed Shadows" beckons right next to it with a historically accurate recreation of Kyoto and international fame?
Exclusive, epic, overwhelming - but perhaps too much of a good thing
Of course, "Ghost of Yōtei" will have its own raison d'être. The attachment to the weapon, the search for masters, the samurai cinema flair à la Yojimbo - These are all culturally charged elements that Sucker Punch will undoubtedly stage in style. But you can't help but get the impression that speed and reaction to market trends reign supreme here. "Ghost of Yōtei" seems almost too purposefully tailored to a gap that "Assassin's Creed Shadows" is only just opening up - before it can even exist.
And that raises a bigger question: Did the samurai hype after "Ghost of Tsushima" and "Assassin's Creed Shadows" not already reached its saturation point? Or is feudal Japan just degenerating into a new off-the-peg open-world backdrop - interchangeable, polished, marketable? Despite all justified doubts: "Ghost of Yōtei" has the potential to become a real masterpiece - especially technically. If Sucker Punch has proven one thing, it's that they can push the PS5 and PS5 Pro to the very last teraflop. Already the latest trailer shows razor-sharp images, smooth animations and a world that seems more alive than many of the recent open worlds. And let's not forget: "Ghost of Yōtei" is being released exclusively for PlayStation - which in itself brings with it a certain guarantee of quality. No compromises for other platforms, no subsequent downgrades - just full power for clearly defined hardware. This is a luxury that many games today no longer offer.
Bad timing is a big problem
But - and this is my very personal problem: after what "Assassin's Creed Shadows" is currently offering, with its two game modes, its historical claim and the eternally long scope (where I honestly still don't see an end), I find it hard to feel like playing the next big open world straight afterward. It almost feels like déjà vu. As good as "Ghost of Yōtei" looks, I'm not sure I have the mental space to immediately swing a sword again, fight my way through endless regions and relive an epic drama.
If "Ghost of Yōtei" really wants to be more than just the next game with Katana, then it will have to be measured against "Ghost of Tsushima" - and not against Ubisoft. A second shadow rarely casts its own light.
"Ghost of Yōtei" will be released on October 02, while "Assassin's Creed Shadows" will be released by then. with further content.
What do you think? Let us know your opinion in the comments.
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