One ofGhost of Tsushima’s greatest strengths was the depth of its combat systems. From the get-go, players had access to Jin Sakai’s trusty family katana, a sword that formed the basis ofGhost of Tsushima’s combat. During the course ofGhost of Tsushima, players alsounlock Sword Stances, letting them tackle different enemy types more efficiently. And then a smaller tanto blade could be used for stealth takedowns.Ghost of Yoteilooks to be doubling down on its predecessor’s combat options.
Based on its reveal trailer,Ghost of Yoteiis going to give players a wealth of new combat features, such as the ability to dual-wield katanas and unlock new weapons like the Kusarigama. ButGhost of Yoteialso seems to be doubling down on ranged combat options, an element that played a prominent role inGhost of Tsushima’s gameplay loop.
Ghost of Yotei is Taking Ranged Combat To The Next Level
Ranged Combat Played a Pivotal Role in Ghost of Tsushima
Unlocked just an hour or so intoGhost of Tsushima, the Half-Bow instantly becomes a core part of Jin Sakai’s arsenal. Even without upgrades or the even more lethal fire arrows,the Half-Bowcan be a devastating weapon in both stealth and combat due to its high damage, fast rate of fire, and fast reload speeds. And with the Half-Bow being assigned to the controller’s left trigger, players are able to use it quickly in a pinch, making it very useful for avoiding detection.
A bit further intoGhost of Tsushima, players can completea Mythic Tale side questthat grants them the Longbow. This much larger ranged weapon can kill targets in just a single hit, even those in heavy armor. The Longbow also has greater accuracy than the Half-Bow, and it allows players to zoom in to increase the clarity of their line of sight. However, the Longbow takes much longer to draw and has limited ammunition, offering a nice trade-off and introducing a bit of risk-reward toGhost of Tsushima’s ranged combat.
Ranged Combat Is Getting a Big Upgrade in Ghost of Yotei
Having two distinct ranged weapons inGhost of Tsushimawent a long way in deepening its gameplay, adding more options for both stealth and combat.Ghost of Yoteilooks like it’s going to deepen this well further, introducing a brand new type of ranged weapon calledthe Matchlock Rifle.
Also known as a Tanegashima, the Matchlock Rifle first appeared on Japanese shores in the mid-1500s. Set in 1603,Ghost of Yoteiis going to let players wield one of these Matchlock Rifles. It’s currently unclear if the Matchlock is replacingGhost of Tsushima’s bows, but it seems likely that it’ll be an addition alongside at least one type of bow. This should add an extra layer of player-freedom and strategy to the sequel, with bows likely offering a more accurate and stealthy ranged option, and a Matchlock offering a sort of get-out-of-jail-free-card for combat, letting players take down an armored target in just one shot.
Though the Matchlock is sure to come with its downsides. Depending on how historically-accurate developer Sucker Punch wants to be,Ghost of Yotei’s Matchlock Riflemight need to be reloaded between each shot, and it might not even be usable in rainy weather due to its open flame design. But rather than hinder the sequel, these limitations could actually help to groundGhost of Yotei’s world and combat, and further immerse players in its historical setting.
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.
