Upcoming PlayStation 5 exclusiveGhost of Yoteiis set to feature the largest open-world map ever created by developer Sucker Punch Productions, and players will be able to explore it in any direction they choose thanks to a non-linear main story. The successor to 2020’sGhost of Tsushimatakes place more than 300 years later and transports players to early 17th century Hokkaido, Japan, where protagonist Atsu is on a quest for revenge, as detailed inYotei’s recent release date trailer.
Ghost of Yotei’s co-creative directors, Nate Fox and Jason Cornell, participated in an interview withFamitsu(published in Japanese; viaVGC), and Fox shed light on the size of the game’s map:“In terms of an open-world adventure, Ghost of Yotei has the greatest freedom and biggest map of any open-world game we have ever made.“They also touched on the main narrative, tellingFamitsuthat the Yotei Six – the game’s main antagonists and targets of Atsu’s revenge quest – can be hunted down in any order.
Ghost Of Yotei’s Map Will Be Bigger Than Ghost Of Tsushima’s
Also Bigger Than Every InFamous Game
According to Sucker Punch,Ghost of Yotei’s map will be larger thanGhost of Tsushima’s, which was quite large, but not necessarily massive when compared to other open-world games. This also makes it larger than past Sucker Punch open worlds, like those found in the threeInFamousgames.Tsushimais celebrated for its open world’s visuals and the Guiding Wind mechanic that steers you toward objectives, but did receive some criticism for the repetition in the open world’s side content.
Very little has been showcased regardingGhost of Yotei’s gameplay, thoughVGCdoes note that"the game will also introduce new close combat weaponry,“so it remains to be seen if the open-world design ethos at Sucker Punch has changed to address said critiques. For those that enjoyedGhost of Tsushima’s exploration,Ghost of Yoteiappears to be more of the same, with striking colors and varied landscapes comprising the larger open world.
Ghost Of Yotei’s Non-Linear Campaign Is A Huge Departure From Tsushima
Atsu’s quest for revengeis motivated by childhood trauma, and she’ll travel all over Hokkaido to eliminate the Yotei Six. Being able to hunt down the Yotei Six in any order lends to the freedom Fox referenced when discussing the game’s open world.This is a significant change fromGhost of Tsushima, which had a fairly traditional, linear main story. In fact, large sections ofTsushima’s game world are locked behind narrative progression, with the three regions of the island corresponding to the story’s three acts.
Ghost of Tsushima’sIki Islandexpansion is similarly unavailable until you start Act Two.
If Atsu’s six targets can be found in any order, presumably all or most of Hokkaido will be open to players from the start. It’s an interesting change that may give players a lot of agency in determining how Atsu’s story plays out. Interestingly,Ghost of Yoteiis inspired by “both Japanese cinema and Western dramas,” which tracks from its predecessor, which countsRed Dead Redemption 2among its inspirations, alongside the films of Akira Kurosawa and the comic seriesUsagi Yojimbo.Ghost of Yotei’s non-linear narrative may help separate it fromGhost of Tsushima, even if the simlarities are abundant.
Source:Famitsu(viaVGC)
Ghost of Yotei
Set in 1603 around Mount Yōtei in Hokkaido, players control Atsu, a wandering female warrior who takes on the mantle of “The Ghost.” As she navigates the snowy tundras and dangerous wilderness, Atsu seeks to restore her family’s honor, while confronting enemies and forging her own path through difficult choices.
