The following contains spoilers forGhost of Tsushima.
A sequel to Sucker Punch’s 2020 hitGhost of Tsushimahas yet to be officially confirmed, but there are more than enough rumors and leaks implying it is in development, even some which suggest it could be announced very soon. After all, Sucker Punch would be leaving money on the table by not delivering a sequel to one of the best games of the last five years.Ghost of Tsushimawas a bit of a surprise on just about all accounts, but primarily in the arguably flawless execution of its open world and its engaging combat. However, if a sequel is indeed in development and on the brink of release, it may find itself needing to change some things about the first game for narrative continuity.
Ghost of Tsushimais all about Jin Sakai, a skilled samurai warrior who has been pushed to the point of needing to change his ways to save those around him. This ultimately means Jin abandons the honorable ways of the samurai to become the Ghost of Tsushima, a stealthy assassin that some in his clan would view as a disgrace. By the end ofGhost of Tsushima, Jin has lost his place in Clan Sakai, making him a nomad who may very well be leaving Tsushima Island and traveling to mainland Japan in a subsequent installment. Based onGhost of Tsushima’s story and where Jin may be headed next, it’s safe to assume some changes to the first game’s combat are in order, assuming a sequel will eventually be released. Thankfully, the first game’s narrative may be enough to back up any changes to combat that may be made.
How Ghost of Tsushima 2’s Story Could Justify Changes to Combat
In Ghost of Tsushima, Jin Was Skilled in the Ways of the Samurai
From the beginning ofGhost of Tsushima, it is clear that Jin is already skilled in the ways of the samurai. Even so, his skills still evolve as players unlock various combat stances for him to use against different foes.Each combat stance inGhost of Tsushimais effective against a certain type of foe, so unlocking them all and knowing when to swap between them is key to success.
The four stances inGhost of Tsushimaare:
DespiteGhost of Tsushima’s emphasis on stealth, each of these combat stances is useful when players engage in direct combat with their foes. However, being that Jin has now fully accepted his fate and role as the Ghost, these stances may no longer be necessary inGhost of Tsushima 2and could be replaced by some more stealth-oriented skills.
In Ghost of Tsushima 2, Jin May Be a Full-Fledged Assassin
The ending ofGhost of Tsushimasees Jin embracing his identity as the Ghost, so it may not make sense for him to continue using his combat stances in the second installment. Instead,Ghost of Tsushima 2could take advantage of the series' continued narrative and provide Jin with an even greater arsenal of stealth skills and abilities that serve to enhance its stealth gameplay. There are already plenty of stealth skills available inGhost of Tsushima, but perhapsGhost of Tsushima 2could make it possible to take different approaches to stealth, just as his combat stances in the first game allow him to take different approaches to direct combat.
AssumingGhost of Tsushima 2is in developmentand will soon be released, it could spice up the first game’s combat mechanics by picking up right where it left off. Specifically, rather than being balanced between stealth and direct combat to show Jin’s inner conflict,Ghost of Tsushima 2could lean more fully into stealth gameplay to freshen up its combat and even drastically alter the base playstyle.
Ghost of Tsushima
WHERE TO PLAY
A storm is coming. Discover the expanded Ghost of Tsushima experience in this Director’s Cut. Uncover the hidden wonders of Tsushima in this open-world action adventure from Sucker Punch Productions and PlayStation Studios, available for PS5 and PS4. Forge a new path and wage an unconventional war for the freedom of Tsushima. Challenge opponents with your katana, master the bow to eliminate distant threats, develop stealth tactics to ambush enemies and explore a new story on Iki Island.
