Roaming Ezo, now known as Hokkaido in Japan, and hunting her family’s killers is quite the task for Ghost of Yōtei’s protagonist, Atsu. While she has some familiar tools like the grappling hook and katana, the latest trailer for the open-world sequel to Ghost of Tsushima showcased more new weapons.
There’s the kusarigama, though we didn’t see its chain in action, and the spear, known as the yari, for long-rang stabbing. This is in addition to dual-wielding swords, the odachi and firearms. And while co-creative director Nate Fox says they have the “benefit of gunpowder being part of the combat mix,” the katana is still the focus.
“While the Katana is still the most valuable weapon, having some more opportunities to blow things up is never a bad addition for a video game,” he told Variety in a new interview.
Co-creative director Jason Connell added, “We’ve teased the kusarigama, and obviously, she’s got two swords, so there’s a cool dual-wielding element there. In this trailer, there’s a frame towards the end where you get to see a spear, which is called a yari. Being able to play with such a different variety of weapons is so new for the game’s feel. Each one of them has their own benefits.”
Of course, they exist for more than just gameplay variety. Fox noted how “Mastering a weapon is part of the feeling of samurai cinema. Becoming a master of that blade is integral to it. But we wanted to give players an even bigger connection to the weapons and the land.
“So inside of Ezo, you can find teachers who will teach you how to use that weapon in a very organic way that you might see inside these films. So you get to experience what it’s like to grow as a martial artist along with Atsu.” When asked if any particular piece of samurai cinema influenced the title, Fox pointed to Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo.
“‘Yojimbo‘ by Akira Kurosawa is very, very big in both of our minds as being this tonal jumping-off point for what it’s like to be a wandering sellsword, which Atsu is.”
Launching on October 2nd, Ghost of Yōtei will be available for PS5 at $69.99. Head here to learn more about the world design, which Sucker Punch refers to as its “most open” ever.
