Summary
Ghost of Tsushima, Sucker Punch Production’s 2020 Kurosawa-flavored samurai title, was a breakout PlayStation hit at the tail end of the previous console generation. Through its tale of outcast samurai Jin Sakai and his quest to protect his home island from the invasion of the Mongols in the 13th century,Ghost of Tsushimawowed many players and critics with its breathtaking visuals, narrative, and crunchy combat.
With mounting speculation and hints of a full followup or half-sequel blowing in the wind, there is a related discussion aboutwhat fans may want to see inGhost of Tsushima 2. Though nothing has been officially stated at this time, there are a variety of options the studio could take to deliver another excellent experience and improve aspects from the original. However, in its search to do so, Sucker Punch would do well to ensure that it doesn’t stray too far from the core elements that created the solid foundationGhost of Tsushimawas built on.
Ghost of Tsuhimais confirmed to be getting a film adaptation helmed byJohn Wickdirector/producer, Chad Stahelski.
Ghost of Tsushima 2 Should Smartly Stay True to its Roots
Ghost of Tsushima 2 Needs to Double Down on What Made the First Great
Initial impressions of the first title’s reveal brought comparisons to theAssassin’s Creedseries, but upon release,Ghost of Tsushimaproved it was much more than an “ACclone.” In fact, it technically beat Ubisoft to the punch with its feudal Japan setting, one that many fans were requesting forACpreviously.Tsushimacontained many fine design decisions and nuances, such as theGuiding Wind navigation toolthat assisted in carving out its own identity in the AAA third-person action/adventure genre. Its use of flashy and fluid samurai stances as well as the dueling mechanic coupled with its rich story and characters all went a long way to immersing players in the world and feel of feudal Japan and providing a satisfying gameplay loop.
Given this, it seems a naturally prudent move to keep most of these elements intact, and focus on streamlining and introducing quality of life changes throughout. This isn’t to say it shouldn’t attempt any innovation or experimentation, as there is always room for improvement and refinement. There are certainly outside ideas Sucker Punch might take inspiration from. As one example,Ghost of Tsushima 2could take a cue from Soulslike design philosophy, and impose a steeper penalty for death or mission failures.
Ghost of Tsushima 2 Should Avoid the ‘Kitchen Sink’ Approach
It can be tempting for developers to chase recent popular trends that have arisen and adapt similar features to keep pace. However, this opens up the risk of including items that seem like a good idea on paper but end up bloating or homogenizing the experience in an undesirable manner. ThenextGhost of Tsushimahas a number of possible paths it could take, but it has to be careful not to muddy its own identity in the process, and risk letting go of what made the first game stand out from the pack.
One of the items praised in the first title was the approach towards optional side content and collectibles. While it did contain these like many of its peers, it also reined them in. This was a welcome choice, and mitigated player exhaustion and burnout. Sucker Punch should be mindful of the effectiveness of this, and continue in that vein.
Some other interesting considerations would be forGhost of Tsushima 2to integrate more direct player agencyin its narrative and dialogue, letting fans choose a certain tone in interactions or even branching storylines that still create a coherent and enjoyable whole. Though it will be exciting to see if, and how, Sucker Punch can top the first title, it has the talent and resources on hand to achieve it, so long as it stays true to the original’s overall vision.
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.
