Summary
Ghost of Tsushima’s successor,Ghost of Yotei, may already look like it’s doing plenty of things differently from its predecessor, as its willingness to leave Jin Sakai and replace him with a new protagonist, Atsu, is enough of a massive change in and of itself. However,Ghost of Yoteiwill most likely still be maintaining some of the core elements ofGhost of Tsushima, with one of its predecessor’s most charming gimmicks, a respect for animal wildlife, being among those elements.
With the wilderness of Ezo offering a wealth of potential,Ghost of Yoteihas plenty of opportunities to reprise its predecessor’s love and respect for animals, with potentially even more animals for players to get to know and bond with. Theannouncement trailer forGhost of Yoteihas already revealed what may be one of Atsu’s companions, but it’s likely the new protagonist will encounter many more on her journey through Ezo around the imposing silhouette of Mount Yotei.
Ghost of Yotei Seems to Be Reprising Tsushima’s Love for Animals
Ghost of Tsushima’s Animals Are a Key Part of Its World
Despite everything else it has going for it,Ghost of Tsushima’s love for animalsis one of its standout features. At first glance, upon entering its world, it might seem like Jin Sakai’s horse is the main thing to write about, especially considering the strong bond the two of them seem to share. However,Ghost of Tsushima’s Tsushima Island is chock-full of wildlife, and Jin shares an intimate closeness with each one of them as well. This is especially realized in the fact that it’s impossible for players to kill creatures that aren’t hostile towards Jin, in order to preserve the game’s themes and cultural reverence for nature.
Aside from Jin’s horse, there aregolden birds inGhost of Tsushima, which act as guides to almost anything and attempt to attract Jin’s attention with their soft coos and gentle tweets.Ghost of Tsushima’s foxes also share the stage as one of the game’s more adorable and heartwarming animals. These cute and nimble creatures will lead Jin to Inari Shrines, and he can even pet them if they stick around long enough for him to have the chance to.
Even fireflies and butterflies help add to the atmosphere inGhost of Tsushima, with the former occasionally guiding Jin to hidden secrets in the environment and the latter simply adding to the game’s overall ambiance.
Ghost of Yotei Already Features a Wolf and Will Likely Feature More
While it hasn’t been outright revealed yet,Ghost of Yoteiwill presumably feature even more animals for Atsu to bond with than the wolf shown in the game’s announcement trailer. The wolf is likely a Hokkaido wolf, a now-extinct subspecies of gray wolf that roamed the forests and grasslands of Ezo during theEdo periodGhost of Yoteiis set in. According to history, the Hokkaido wolf was an apex predator and had a mixed relationship with humans, so it will be interesting to see how Atsu’s relationship evolves with her companion — assuming the two of them share a lasting bond throughout the game.
Despite everything else it has going for it,Ghost of Tsushima’s love for animals is one of its standout features.
Other animalsGhost of Yoteimay feature due to their presence in Ezo during Japan’s Edo period are the Ezo deer, Ezo red fox, sables, Ezo mountain hares, and raccoon dogs, the animal thatMario’s Tanuki outfitderives its name and appearance from. More than likely, both the deer and red foxes will be present inGhost of Yotei, as they were inGhost of Tsushimaas well. However, sables and Ezo mountain hares seem like likely candidates as well, especially if Atsu makes frequent trips into the mountains and forests surrounding Mount Yotei. Finally,Ghost of Yoteiadding tanuki to the game might offer players an opportunity to pet what is potentially one of the game’s fluffiest creatures.
It’s still unclear whetherGhost of Yoteiwill include all of Ezo’s most common animals that roamed the lands during the Edo period, but given Sucker Punch’s track record withGhost of Tsushima, it certainly seems likely. If that’s the case, players should expect to be surrounded by adorableanimals inGhost of Yotei, some of which they may even be able to directly interact with.
Ghost of Yotei
WHERE TO PLAY
Discover a bold, new story of a warrior in Japan who is on a mission of vengeance all her own.Set 300 years after the critically acclaimed Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yōtei is standalone experience set in 1600s rural Japan. The story follows a haunted, lone mercenary named Atsu. Thirsty for revenge, she travels through the beautiful, rugged landscapes of northern Japan, hunting those who killed her family many years earlier.
