After the reveal of the Ghost of Yotei gameplay on the occasion of the recent State of Play, the scenario has changed quickly: from a hoped for one of the most loved titles of the PlayStation house to simple “Reskin” of Ghost of Tsushima, at least according to a good slice of the public.
The community, which had turned on enthusiasm to the announcement, now finds itself questioning: is this really what we want from a sequel?
The problem is not the game, but identity. Ghost of Yotei, however well packaged, seems visually and structurally too close to Tsushima (which you find on Amazon).
It is not enough to set the story on a new mountain or introduce some firearms to shake off the feeling of Déjà-Vu.
The combat system appears almost unchanged, the Hud is identical, the exploration follows the same scheme, and even the direction of the cutscene recalls that already seen in the game of 2020.
The point is simple: if the promise was innovation, this is not there. And the public notes it. Of course, Sony is not new to this strategy. Horizon Forbidden West, God of War Ragnarok and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 all opted for the “safe way”: technical improvements, finishes, but few real risks.
Yet when the base is solid, this can also work. The problem arises when, as in this case, a break is expected, a new vision, a courageous leap. Instead, a reflection of the past is received.
However, there is no shortage of supporters. There are those who are simply happy to return to a world inspired by feudal Japan, with its aesthetic charm and sharp gameplay.
And that’s okay. But it remains a feeling of missed opportunity, at least for now. Why if a sequel doesn’t dare, then what really is it for?
The hope is that Ghost of Yotei, in its final version, manages to surprise where the demo has failed. But to conquer hearts, he will have to offer something more than a high definition déjà-vu.
Meanwhile, Sony has revealed the limited editions of PS5 and Dualsense inspired by Ghost of Yotei, in Gold and Black edition: let’s see all the details.