Ghost of Yotei’s Daring Take on Repetition Carries Unexpected Risks

Open-world games are designed to let players explore with almost limitless creativity, offering a vast range of actions to try out. Yet, despite developers’ best efforts to meet these high expectations, there are still some challenges that can dampen the diverse experiences that make open worlds so intriguing. Sucker Punch, the studio behind the admired Ghost of Tsushima, has faced its own share of critiques. While the game was highly successful for its portrayal of feudal Japan, common feedback pointed to its repetitive elements. As the new installment, Ghost of Yotei, approaches its release this year, the developers seem to be refining these aspects. Still, they should balance any changes carefully to maintain what made the original game appealing.

The old saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” is relevant when considering how Sucker Punch might introduce new elements to Ghost of Yotei. While it’s tempting to focus on the flaws found in Ghost of Tsushima—few as they were—the sequel must retain much of what made the first game a hit. However, it’s crucial that Ghost of Yotei addresses the areas where the first game fell short, particularly in the depth and variety of side quests, combat, and exploration. Improving these elements could greatly enhance their 17th-century Japanese setting.

When it comes to Ghost of Tsushima’s combat, while it’s generally considered a highlight with its smooth and engaging battles, the enemy variety left something to be desired. For Ghost of Yotei to improve upon its predecessor, introducing a wider array of enemy types and scaling back on the frequent, random encounters may provide a fresh challenge. Though these confrontations tested combat skills, they could become a tad monotonous when players were just trying to traverse the map.

The side quests in Ghost of Tsushima also faced criticism. They played an essential role in exploring the island but often followed a similar structure—rescue missions against bandits or Mongols that ended with unavoidable cutscenes. Players seeking a refreshing narrative separate from the main storyline found this repetitiveness disappointing, thus fueling the critique.

To combat this, many games introduce environmental diversity in side quests—just look at Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, where quests took players from rugged mountains to lively sea battles. Ghost of Tsushima traditionally had less variety in its settings, a flaw it struggled to overcome.

While repetition persists across most RPGs as players grow stronger, add to their gear, and face tougher challenges, it’s all part of the journey to better character development. This expected pattern should remain in Ghost of Yotei, so long as it doesn’t overcorrect in an attempt to diversify its content. Altering too much could undermine the quest for authenticity in depicting 17th-century Japan. For instance, the presence of certain adversaries was integral to Ghost of Tsushima. Similarly, Ghost of Yotei may find its own themes that are repeated throughout, and that’s acceptable. Some repetition serves as a benchmark for progress, highlighting how far players and their characters have come. Adjusting side quests and the variety of environments might be welcome changes, but they should be balanced with essential repetitive elements that contribute to the overall experience.