The natural world played a pivotal role inGhost of Tsushima. The wind led players to their objective, birds flew high in the skies above, whales filled the shores surrounding the island, oxen pulled carts, and bears and boars roamed the wilderness. This abundance of nature helped to makeGhost of Tsushima’s worldfeel like a living and breathing place, andGhost of Yoteilooks to be carrying forward that same strength.
Ghost of Yotei’s reveal trailer showcased a variety of natural wildlife, with the wind returning to point the way, horses galloping freely in fields, and leaves blowing gently across the screen.Ghost of Yotei’s trailer then ended with protagonist Atsu seemingly befriending a wolf, which some fans have theorized could join Atsu as a sort of companion during her quest in Ezo/Hokkaido. If that’s true, thenGhost of Yotei’s wolf would probably feel like a natural progression ofGhost of Tsushima’s animal mechanics.
Ghost of Yotei’s Wolf Companion Could Be a Natural Extension of Ghost of Tsushima’s Mechanics
Ghost of Yotei’s Wolf Could Feel Like a Progression of Tsushima’s Canine Recruitment Charm
Only available inGhost of Tsushima’s Legends multiplayer mode, players can purchase a Utility Charm called the “Charm of Canine Recruitment.” This Charm allows players to sneak up to Mongol dogs and pet them. Doing so will recruit the dog to become the player’s temporary ally, allowing it to sneak around with them and attack enemy targets once stealth is broken.
IfGhost of Yoteigives players a wolf companion, then it would make sense for it to follow the same template asGhost ofTsushima’s Charm of Canine Recruitment, allowing the wolf to follow Atsu during stealth sequences and aid her in combat.Ghost of Yoteicould even improve on this mechanic by allowing players to issue commands to their wolf companion, granting more opportunities to be strategic in both stealth and open combat.
Another easy way to evolve this mechanic and give it more depth would be to dedicate a section ofGhost of Yotei’s skill tree to Atsu’s wolf companion. Players could unlock various abilities for their wolf, making it more useful during combat or stealth. This would in turn naturally grow the player’s bond with their wolf companion, which could lead to some impactful narrative moments duringGhost of Yotei’s main story.
At a bare minimum,Ghost of Yoteineeds to allow players to be able to pet the wolf.
Ghost of Yotei’s Wolf Could Have a Similar Function to Tsushima’s Foxes and Birds
Ghost of Tsushima’s open-world was teeming with life, and that included a variety of animals, some of which would aid the player during exploration. Discovering a Fox Den inGhost of Tsushimawould trigger a fox to appear. Following the fox wouldlead players to an Inari Shrine, which would in turn increase the number of Charm slots the player could use. Golden Songbirds played a similar role, leading players to undiscovered nearby locations.
Ghost of Yotei’s possible wolf companion could act as a natural progression of theseGhost of Tsushimaanimals as well, leading Atsu to various open-world collectibles and activities during exploration.
Ghost of Yotei
WHERE TO PLAY
Discover a bold, new story of a warrior in Japan who is on a mission of vengeance all her own.Set 300 years after the critically acclaimed Ghost of Tsushima, Ghost of Yōtei is standalone experience set in 1600s rural Japan. The story follows a haunted, lone mercenary named Atsu. Thirsty for revenge, she travels through the beautiful, rugged landscapes of northern Japan, hunting those who killed her family many years earlier.
