The Last of Us Part 2 Fans Will Get a Kick Out of This Ghost of Yotei Feature

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Spoilers ahead for Ghost of Yotei and The Last of Us Part 2Ghost of Yotei tells a powerful story centered around revenge and violence, which feels quite reminiscent of another PlayStation game: The Last of Us Part 2. Atsu and Ellie share many similarities – their strong feelings for those they’ve lost lead them both down a dangerous and destructive road. While Ghost of Yotei isn’t quite as grim as The Last of Us Part 2, its story will likely appeal to fans of the latter.

However, that’s not the sole reason why so many The Last of Us Part 2 players might find Ghost of Yotei appealing. Besides the parallels between Atsu and Ellie, both games share a delightful element: their main characters enjoy relaxing by playing string instruments. This adds a surprising bit of fun to The Last of Us Part 2, and Ghost of Yotei includes it as well.

Gamers Who Enjoyed The Last of Us Part 2’s Guitar Moments Will Love Ghost of Yotei’s Shamisen

Peaceful Breaks From the Violence

  • Ghost of Yotei‘s instrument of choice is the shamisen.
  • The Last of Us Part 2 makes the guitar a significant symbol in its story.

Throughout Atsu’s travels, the shamisen is more than just a musical instrument; it constantly reminds her of the reason for her quest. Her mother showed her how to play, and now that the Yotei Six have taken her life, the shamisen is one of the few precious memories Atsu has left. This situation echoes the relationship between Ellie and Joel. He taught her how to play, and after he was gone, her ability to play the instrument became one of the primary ways she kept his memory alive.

I think this is a really cool example of how lessons from our parents or mentors stick with us and keep their memory alive, you know? But beyond that, both the shamisen and the guitar just let you chill out and breathe for a minute, which is awesome when the world is totally crazy and violent. Seeing Atsu play the shamisen really shows a different side of her. Instead of just fighting her way through the Yotei Six, she uses these moments to collect herself and recharge.

Ghost of Yotei’s Shamisen Plays Very Differently Than TLOU Part 2’s Guitar

Both games feature string instruments, but The Last of Us Part 2 takes this element much further. While learning the shamisen does involve using the DualSense touchpad to play specific notes, generally Atsu learns songs as he goes. This is different from needing to manually play notes and chords like in the other game.

With The Last of Us Part 2, players can play almost any song they know the chords to, turning guitar playing into a fun side activity. However, for those hoping for a similar experience in Ghost of Yotei, it doesn’t quite reach that level. While Atsu’s story is emotionally connected to the shamisen, that connection isn’t as strong or central as it is in The Last of Us Part 2.

There are eight shamisen songs Atsu can learn.

Ghost of Yotei Can Help Fill the Hole Left by TLOU Part 2

Since The Last of Us Part 2 came out in 2020, many fans (including myself) have been hoping for another game like it, and Ghost of Yotei might be just what we’ve been waiting for. The use of both shamisen and guitar is just one of the things these two games have in common, but it’s a great place to start noticing the similarities. Ghost of Yotei builds on what made its previous game good in several ways, and the story of Atsu will likely feel comfortably familiar to those who enjoyed The Last of Us Part 2.

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2025-10-03 23:06