Ghost of Yōtei story is extremely similar to Assassin's Creed Shadows, but already better?

PlayStation has just wrapped up its 20-minute gameplay deep dive into the spiritual successor to Ghost of Tsushima. Sucker Punch, the developer of the title, has shared a thorough look at Ghost of Yōtei, revealing what players can expect when the game releases in October this year.

Ghost of Yōtei will feature a brand new protagonist called Atsu, who is described by Sucker Punch as a "wrathful ghost bent on revenge". Sucker Punch goes on to say that Atsu "doesn't care if she lives or dies" so long as she can take revenge on the Yōtei Six, a gang of ruthless individuals that slaughtered her family when she was younger. Players will be stepping into the shoes of Atsu 16 years after the death of her family as she embarks on a journey to take out each of the members of the Yōtei Six.

Within the first 3 minutes of the gameplay deep dive, we are given the above premise, which is extremely similar to the premise in Assassin's Creed: Shadows. Here's how they are similar. In Assassin's Creed: Shadows, players can play as Naoe, the daughter of Fujibayashi Nagato, the leader of the Iga clan.

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Naoe's story is based on revenge and officially kicks off when Oda Nobunaga, a powerful warlord seeking to unify Japan, orders the invasion of the Iga Province, leading to the massacre of hundreds and ultimately, the death of her father. Fueled with wanting to take revenge on Nobunaga and those responsible, Naoe transforms into a deadly assassin tasked with a kill list comprising 11 of Nobunaga's generals and Nobunaga himself.

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The similarities between Assassin's Creed: Shadows' premise and Ghost of Yōtei's are obvious, but it appears there are key differences. For example, throughout Naoe's journey, she battles with themes such as whether killing will truly bring her peace, while Atsu is described as more hell-bent on disposing of her targets. Players will be able to develop an emotional connection to Atsu by revisiting where she used to live and switch between what she saw as a child and what she sees as an adult at the press of a button. Atsu's revenge also ties into a world mechanic, which is her renown across Ezo, the region.

As Atsu takes out members of the Yōtei Six, she will gain more renown and increase the bounty on her head, resulting in encounters with deadlier enemies. Moving to the combat, Atsu is capable of wielding a katana, spear, kusarigama, odachi, or dual swords, all of which she can switch to mid-combat. This will be entirely necessary for the player, as Atsu will need to use different weapons to overcome different types of enemies. Each weapon type features a unique upgrade path, and Atsu has the ability to use ranged weapons as well, which include throwing bombs, blinding powder, bows, and more.

Ghost of Yōtei Gameplay Deep Dive Fast Facts

🧨 STORY & PROTAGONIST

• New playable character: Atsu, a lone wolf mercenary.
• Seeks revenge against the Yōtei Six who murdered her family.
• Locals believe she's an Onryō (vengeful spirit).
• Dual timeline mechanic: switch between past and present.
• Explore her childhood memories and modern-day quest for vengeance.

⚔️ COMBAT & WEAPONS

• Weapons include:
• Katana
• Spear
• Kusarigama
• Odachi (ideal vs. large enemies)
• Dual swords (effective vs. spears)

• Switch weapons on-the-fly to adapt to enemies.
• Ranged tools: bombs, blinding powder, and more.
• Weapon upgrades and new abilities available.
• Unlock moves like Perfect Parry and Disarm Counter via Altars of Reflection.

🗺️ EXPLORATION & FREEDOM

• Set in Ezo: snowfields, fire-scarred land, golden fields, misty valleys.
• Clue system: interrogate enemies, collect mission cards.
• Spyglass system: mark any point and explore freely.
• Bounty system: gain notoriety, face tougher enemies, take contracts.

🏕️ CAMPING & WORLD DESIGN

• Camps act as portable hubs:
• Cook, rest, play shamisen.
• Manage gear, upgrades, and allies without returning to town.