Now that the wait for Ghost of Yotei is finally over, many fans of its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima, are curious to find out exactly how it set itself apart as a sequel. In many ways, Ghost of Yotei simply improves and refines the base that Ghost of Tsushima introduced, but there are several features that are much larger changes.
This time around, developer Sucker Punch brings a more diverse arsenal of weapons to players, making Ghost of Yotei a fun-filled combat experience. Ghost of Yotei‘s combat is truly a shining point in an all-around solid game, and one addition left me speechless when I first encountered it, and it’s likely to take a lot of other players by surprise, too: disarming.
Ghost of Yotei's Disarming Mechanic Kicks the Danger Up a Notch
How Does Ghost of Yotei's Disarm Work?
This time around, enemy NPCs can disarm Atsu. The way Ghost of Yotei introduces this mechanic is incredibly quick, requiring players to act fast. The first time I was disarmed in combat, I was completely taken by surprise, and unfortunately, this drove Atsu to an early end, since I didn’t react quick enough. Ghost of Yotei‘s differences to Ghost of Tsushima are felt all throughout the game, and being disarmed for the first time is a bold reminder from Sucker Punch that the overall experience is meant to feel like a big step forward.
The good news is that, once that first moment of being disarmed happens, it’s fairly easy to bounce back in future encounters. Before enemies perform a disarming attack, they will signal with a yellow cue, warning players ahead of time. Unless you make a slip-up, it’s pretty simple to navigate, but when it first happened during my playthrough, I was caught completely off guard. It’s a small addition, but it further showcases how much Ghost of Yotei has improved upon Ghost of Tsushima‘s formula.
Disarming can go both ways, too. Unlocking Onryo’s Strike in the Onryo skill tree gives Atsu the ability to disarm her opponents.
Keeping Players On Their Toes Makes Ghost of Yotei Feel Fresh
When disarmed, it forces players to strategize fast. If you haven’t expanded Atsu’s arsenal, managing being disarmed can be far more challenging. So, not only does disarming make fights more sweat-inducing, it also requires players to become familiar with each weapon Atsu has, because there are bound to be moments where one is forced to use a weapon they are less skilled with.
It’s an incredibly effective way to take combat to greater heights, which is no easy task when looking back at Ghost of Tsushima. Sucker Punch crafted a wonderful base with its first chapter in the series, so Ghost of Yotei surpassing its predecessor’s fighting mechanics is an impressive achievement.
Being disarmed for the first time is a bold reminder from Sucker Punch that the overall experience is meant to feel like a big step forward.
Throughout Atsu’s journey, bounty-hunting Ronin will be in pursuit of her, requiring players to be wary of NPCs encountered along the way.
Atsu is the Perfect Character to Takw Up Jin's Mantle
Don’t get me wrong, I still love Jin as a protagonist dearly, but Atsu is a wonderful change of pace. Between the base version of Ghost of Tsushima and its Iki Island DLC, it’s refreshing to have a new lead character step into the spotlight, especially one who is different from Jin in a lot of significant ways. Atsu’s different personality opens the door for a new take on combat, and Ghost of Yotei demonstrates this in a fantastic way. Being disarmed by enemy NPCs isn’t a groundbreaking concept, but it’s an effective leap into more dynamic mechanics that proves how Ghost of Yotei improves upon almost every facet of Ghost of Tsushima.