Ghost of Yotei Needs to Borrow This Amazing Feature from AC Shadows!

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Summary

  • Incorporating Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Kuji-Kiri into Ghost of Yotei could enhance meditative gameplay.
  • Kuji-Kiri mini-game in Assassin’s Creed Shadows immerses players in meditative practice, tying gameplay to narrative depth.
  • Adapting Kuji-Kiri in Ghost of Yotei could provide an emotional connection to Atsu’s character arc.

Meditation plays a significant role in many traditional Japanese practices, which is why games like “Ghost of Tsushima” and “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” (both set in feudal Japan) incorporate chances for players to meditate. Since it holds such importance in Japanese culture, it would be fitting to include some form of meditation once more in the upcoming installment of Sucker Punch’s “Ghost” series, “Ghost of Yotei.” To make its implementation even more effective, designers could draw inspiration from one of the most serene meditative mini-games found in “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” when creating their own.

One of the initial mini-games presented in “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” is called Kuji-Kiri, a ritual stemming from Buddhist beliefs that involves performing specific hand movements for mental and spiritual concentration. This mini-game stands out among the best in “Assassin’s Creed Shadows”, as it seamlessly combines gameplay with narrative richness and successfully draws players into the core concept of meditative practice. Consequently, “Ghost of Yotei” might enhance its meditation aspect by incorporating a version of “Assassin’s Creed Shadows”‘ Kuji-Kiri that is tailored to fit its unique world and gameplay mechanics.

Ghost of Yotei Should Adapt Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Kuji-Kiri

AC Shadows’ Kuji-Kiri Mini-Game Blends Gameplay With Narrative Depth

In the game “Assassin’s Creed Shadows,” the Kuji-Kiri mini-game stands out in a remarkable way, not just as a typical mini-game, but as a meditative one. Initially, it seems straightforward, asking players to input a series of commands synchronously with the music playing in the background. However, as time passes, it transforms into an experience that resembles real-life meditation. Traditional Kuji-Kiri involves performing symbolic hand gestures for mental focus. In “Assassin’s Creed Shadows,” this practice is adapted. Over time, the commands and keys players must press gradually vanish, compelling them to remember each action, mirroring the focus required in real-life meditation.

In essence, the Kuji-Kiri mini-game within Assassin’s Creed Shadows can be seen as a form of mindful exercise, similar to its real-world counterpart. It demands player concentration, mirroring the original practice’s intent. Interestingly, these meditative sessions in the game also serve to unveil Naoe’s past through episodic recollections. Thus, the enjoyable and soothing mini-game is interwoven with the storyline itself, as these memories are not merely presented as cutscenes, but rather as quests that players must complete.

In the game “Assassin’s Creed Shadows,” once Naoe’s past is revealed, every subsequent Kuji-Kiri awards the player with a Knowledge Point.

Ghost of Yotei Could Use Kuji-Kiri as an Immersive Storytelling Method

Considering the captivating and interactive nature of the Kuji-Kiri mini-game in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, it might be advantageous for Ghost of Yotei to incorporate a similar mechanic, allowing players to live Atsu’s story directly. Given Atsu’s tragic backstory in Ghost of Yotei, where she seeks vengeance following the destruction of her home and family, this would enable players to forge an emotional bond with Atsu’s character development. This connection could enhance the impact of the overall storyline’s resolution.

If the integration of the Kuji-Kiri mini-game from Assassin’s Creed Shadows into Ghost of Yotei didn’t delve into Atsu’s history, it could still become one of the game’s most engaging mini-games. Many of Ghost of Tsushima’s tranquil mini-games, such as its Haiku mini-game, were largely passive and required minimal player interaction. Adding Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ interpretation of this practice might make discovering a Kuji-Kiri location in Ghost of Yotei more rewarding than the game’s Haikus or Hot Springs ever were.

Considering the captivating and interactive nature of the Kuji-Kiri mini-game in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, it would be advantageous for Ghost of Yotei to incorporate a similar feature.

If the Ghost of Yotei intends to expand upon the meditative aspects established by its predecessor, taking cues from Kuji-Kiri in Assassin’s Creed Shadows might be an effective approach. This would not only enhance the immersive quality and exploration within Ghost of Yotei’s world, but also provide players with a more profound emotional connection to Atsu’s character.

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2025-04-02 23:36