This article contains spoilers forThe Last of Us Part 2.
Now thatGhost of Yoteihas officially confirmed its release date, the wait for this anticipated follow-up toGhost of Tsushimasuddenly feels a lot shorter. Slated to release this fall,Ghost of Yoteilooks to set itself apart from its predecessor with bold changes that are both thrilling and risky. Set 300 years after the events ofGhost of Tsushima,Yoteiintroduces a brand-new protagonist, Atsu, and her mission is far different from Jin’s.
InGhost of Tsuhsima, Jin’s mission was to save his people from the Mongol invasion, which is in stark contrast to Atsu’s bloody quest for revenge inYotei. In order to avenge the murder of her family,Atsu is headed down a much darker road, and while revenge stories can be gripping, Sony released another game with this type of narrative not too long ago.The Last of Us Part 2lives on as one of the most shocking games of the past decade, and while it provides a strong blueprint for telling a revenge story,Ghost of Yotei’s tale should bring something new to the table.
Ghost of Yotei’s Revenge Plot Shouldn’t Recycle The Last of Us Part 2’s Narrative
Ellie Discovers That Revenge is a Hollow Reward
ThroughoutThe Last of Us Part 2,Ellie is in constant pursuit of Abby, eventually finding her imprisoned at the Rattlers' compound in Santa Barbara. It is there that the two have a desperate showdown, and while it seems as though Abby is bound to meet her end at the hands of Ellie, that is not what ultimately occurs. Instead, a sudden burst of clarity brings Ellie to the realization that getting revenge will only cause more pain. It won’t bring back any of the people she has lost along the way. Abby escapes, and Ellie is left alone, her hunger for revenge driving her remaining allies away. It’s a brutal lesson that still continues to be a divisive subject.
Ghost of Yoteiis set to launch on July 17, 2025 for the PS5.
Atsu’s Revenge Needs a Fresh Angle
IfGhost of Yoteiintends to use revenge as a primary theme, it needs to avoid rehashing the story ofThe Last of Us 2. Instead of depicting revenge as the source of a never-ending cycle of pain, Atsu’s journey inGhost of Yoteicould showcase how revenge can sometimes bring closure.Ghost of Yoteineeds to stand on its own, and Atsu fully embracing a descent into darkness could be a fascinating way to do so.
However, if developer Sucker Punch doesn’t want to venture down such a dark road with its protagonist, there is also room forGhost of Yoteito let Atsu have a happy ending after getting revenge. Ellie’s fate at the end ofThe Last of Us Part 2is bleak. While that approach was powerful,Ghost of Yoteicould allow Atsu to fulfill her mission without ending up alone.
One of the most anticipated changes inGhost of Yoteiis the game’s new arsenal of weapons. Atsu will be able to dual wield katanas and even use matchlock guns.
Ghost of Yoteicould allow Atsu to fulfill her mission without ending up alone.
Between the potential comparisons toThe Last of Us Part 2’s take on revenge andthe high expectations set byGhost of Tsushima,Ghost of Yoteihas found itself in a tough situation. Meeting, or exceeding, the bar set by its predecessor is no easy task, and making a revenge story feel fresh is its own unique challenge.
Regardless,Ghost of Yoteiis an exciting new paththat could bring yet another beautifully violent and harrowing story to life. Atsu’s story may not be as selfless as Jin Sakai’s fight for the island of Tsushima, but that’s ultimately what makes her chapter so intriguing.
