Summary
Ghost of Tsushimacontinues to be one of the most enigmatic flagship PlayStation titles of late. It’s now been over four years sinceGhost of Tsushimalaunched and without any awareness of what Sucker Punch is even working on there’s a lot to speculate about a potential sequel to its island-faring Japanese epic. Plus, with so much time presumably in development already, it would seem that aGhost of Tsushima 2would now be incredibly large in scope.
Otherwise, it’s possible that a secondGhost of Tsushimacould decide to alter its scope rather than enlarge it.Ghost of Tsushima’s gameplay revolves around the choice players have to either engage enemy encampments in stealth assassinations, offensive combat, or a hybrid of both, for instance, with quite a few diverse mechanics. Stealth was a narratively dishonorable method whether the game actually punished players or not for reveling in it, andif Jin Sakai has fully embraced his role as a disgraceful Ghosthe may be prepared to shed his roots as a samurai and not engage in the same traditional stance-based combat any longer.
The Ghost of Tsushima Should Truly Forgo His Samurai Origins
Ghost of Tsushima’s canon ending has Jin spare his uncle, Lord Shimura, after a heartrending duel. In doing so, Jin has chosen his side and embraced the dishonorable persona that avenged Tsushima.
It would be interesting to see how this decision takes shape in a sequel and if Jin is willing to shed who he used to be that could include shedding the samurai traditions he has upheld since childhood. Of course, regular combat with a katana and stances was so intrinsically interwoven intoGhost of Tsushima’s gameplay that it would be difficult to imagine a sequel not reprising it at all.
Making the leap from a stealth/combat hybrid to full stealth would be alarming since combat was arguably a more exciting way to play, especially because so much ofwhat makesGhost of Tsushima’s combat thrilling is tense 1v1 duelsstructured around an intimate camera.
Moreover, being able to approach an overwhelmingly massive encampment and boldly challenge several Mongols outright is exhilarating when players must wait patiently for their moment to strike and cut each soldier down swiftly. So, stripping that away in a sequel would likely be an impossible pill to swallow, even if it made sense narratively with Jin electing to devote himself wholly to the Ghost figure.
Ghost of Tsushima’s Sequel Could Embellish Stealth Exclusively
However,aGhost of Tsushimasequelthat only features stealth could be remarkably enriching in both narrative and gameplay. Only having stealth would ensure that a preferred playstyle doesn’t contradict what choices are made by the protagonist in cutscenes that aren’t dictated by the player, for example, and allow Sucker Punch to focus its efforts on making stealth gameplay as all-encompassing and elaborate as possible.
It wouldn’t make sense for Jin to have suddenly lost the ability to handle himself in a fight, but having him part with heavier armor and a katana could render him less viable in an ambush and eliminate the validity of sword-clashing duels despite how integral they are to the genetic essence ofGhost of Tsushima. Instead, strategic planning could ensure that Jin never needs to confront enemies as he used to if he’s able to drop smoke pellets and flee to a vantage point.
Anew slate of devices or dart toxinswould be sufficient while perhaps new tanto abilities can be unlocked; either way, this would help illustrate Jin’s transition to dishonorable arts as a direct consequence of his actions in the original game. If ordinary offensive combat is reprised in a sequel, it could undermine those actions and fail to represent Jin as a man with conviction.
Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut
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In the late 13th century, the Mongol empire has laid waste to entire nations along their campaign to conquer the East. Tsushima Island is all that stands between mainland Japan and a massive Mongol invasion fleet led by the ruthless and cunning general, Khotun Khan.As the island burns in the wake of the first wave of the Mongol assault, courageous samurai warrior Jin Sakai stands resolute. As one of the last surviving members of his clan, Jin is resolved to do whatever it takes, at any cost, to protect his people and reclaim his home. He must set aside the traditions that have shaped him as a warrior to forge a new path, the path of the Ghost, and wage an unconventional war for the freedom of Tsushima.
