Ways Ghost Of Yotei Is Better Than Ghost Of Tsushima

Ghost of Tsushima was a major exclusive title for the PS4, released in 2020 shortly before the PS5 came out. Although it wasn’t the first game to let players experience life as a samurai in an open world, it introduced many innovative features, and players loved it. Since then, the development team at Sucker Punch has been working hard on the follow-up, Ghost of Yotei, and after five years, it’s now available.

So, Ghost of Yotei is set way after the first game, like hundreds of years later, which means we can pretty much forget about seeing Jin Sakai show up. It’s not a massive overhaul, but there are definitely some things this sequel does better than Ghost of Tsushima, and I’m excited to dive into them, so let’s get started.

The Weapon Variety

More Ways To Kill

In Ghost of Tsushima, Jin learned archery and became skilled with the katana – exactly what players hoped for in an open-world samurai adventure. In the next game, Ghost of Yotei, Atsu will be able to use many more types of close-combat weapons. For example, early in the game, he can learn to fight with Dual Katanas, which are particularly effective against opponents wielding spears.

Several new weapons have been added, and finding each one is a pleasant surprise best left undiscovered. How well each weapon works against others is also better than before, encouraging players to think more strategically during fights instead of simply spamming attacks or just countering everything. It makes combat more about thoughtful tactics than just button-mashing.

Weapon Throwing

An Improvisational Samurai

In addition to the new weapons Atsu can use, enemies will now drop their weapons when defeated. Players can grab these dropped weapons – such as katanas or spears – and throw them at their opponents. You can also find weapons on racks within enemy bases, allowing for more dramatic stealth takedowns as an alternative to using a bow.

It’s really satisfying to be able to throw weapons in Ghost of Yotei, and it’s something many open-world games don’t get quite right when it comes to fighting. Players often wonder why they can’t grab weapons from defeated enemies and use them themselves. While it would feel more realistic to let players temporarily use any weapon they find in Ghost of Yotei, similar to how it works in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the ability to throw weapons is still a great feature.

Reflecting On Memories

Getting Deeper Into The Hero’s Past

Ghost of Tsushima included a limited number of flashbacks that showed Jin’s relationships with his family. However, Ghost of Yotei offers a greater number of flashbacks for players to discover, and many of these are entirely optional. Players who are interested in learning more about Atsu’s history can do so if they choose.

Most of this will take place at Atsu’s home, where players can press and hold the trackpad to control a young Atsu and complete small side quests. You’ll also find some of these experiences elsewhere in the world of Ghost of Yotei, such as helping her father find horses.

A Flexible Main Mission Structure

Going After The Yotei Six

Following a short introduction, the game world becomes readily accessible. Players are free to explore Ghost of Yotei, improve their character’s abilities – such as health – complete optional side quests, or focus on the main storyline. While players can’t immediately defeat all members of the Yotei Six, they do get to decide which ones to confront first.

Offering players choices within the main story missions is a significant step forward compared to Ghost of Tsushima, despite the fact that the first game also included some branching paths. When it comes to open-world games, the more options players have to shape their own experience, the more engaging it becomes.

More Platforming Sections

An Opportunity To Drink In The Environments

In Ghost of Yotei, getting to upgrade spots – such as the Altars of Reflection where you learn new skills – usually requires a little effort. This often involves navigating challenging areas with platforming, like jumping from branch to branch, scaling walls, or using Atsu’s grappling hook to swing across gaps.

The original game also featured platforming segments, but Ghost of Yotei includes even more. These sections are frequently more enjoyable and engaging than the fighting, and they offer a welcome diversion for players who are looking for a different kind of challenge and a respite from the violence.

Your Wolf Companion

Becoming A Beast Master

In Ghost of Tsushima, players could track foxes and birds to discover interesting places, but these animals didn’t help Jin fight. Ghost of Yotei changes this – Atsu has a wolf companion who assists him.

At first, this wolf won’t always stay close to players, but completing more wolf-related quests will improve its abilities and make it more consistently follow you. For instance, initiating a Standoff with the wolf is a neat gameplay addition. It’s just another feature that adds to the immersive combat experience of this samurai game sequel.

The Rapid Fast Travel

An Astounding Achievement On PS5

Okay, so the PS5 is way more powerful than the PS4, which is where I first played Ghost of Tsushima. The first game *did* get an upgrade when it came to the PS5, mostly with faster loading, but Ghost of Yotei is a different beast. They built it for the PS5 from the start! Seriously, the load times are almost nonexistent, and saving is super quick and easy. It makes a huge difference in the experience.

A great feature is the incredibly quick fast travel system. Players can fast travel from almost any location – whether it’s a town or an Altar of Reflection. Other open-world games could definitely take notes from Ghost of Yotei on how to do fast travel well.

2025-10-05 20:17