While Sucker Punch has officially announcedGhost of Yoteias the follow-up to its critically-acclaimed 2020 title,Ghost of Tsushima, many of the details surrounding the title are still unknown. The initial reveal introduced players to the protagonist, Atsu, and the game’s setting in 1603 Ezo around the base of Mt. Yotei. However, with such a time jump betweenGhost of TsushimaandGhost of Yotei, it’s unlikely that the game will feature the same villains as its predecessor.
Although Jin Sakai’s quest to liberate the island of Tsushima from the invading Mongol army captivatedGhost of Tsushimaplayers, it seems Sucker Punch wants to tell a different story with its follow-up. While a narrative involving theSecond Mongol Invasion of Japan could have made for a direct sequel toGhost of Tsushima, going with a setting centuries in the future allowsGhost of Yoteito tell a completely separate story. However, ifGhost of Yoteifollows the real-world history of its setting like its predecessor, there is an obvious candidate for the game’s overarching villain.
The Matsumae Clan’s Real-World History Makes Them the Likely Villains of Ghost of Yotei
Ghost of Yotei Could Explore the Conflict Between the Matsumae Clan and the Ainu
Prior to the Meiji Restoration of 1868, Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido was largely separate from the rest of the country, being governed by the native Ainu people under the name of Ezo. The location of Mt. Yotei within Ezo and the game’s 1603 setting means players will likely see heavyAinu influences withinGhost of Yotei’s world and character design. However, 1603 was also a tumultuous time for the region, as Japan’s Matsumae Clan claimed dominion over Ezo against the will of the Ainu people.
In 1590, daimyo Toyotomi Hideyoshi granted the Matsumae Clan the region of Ezo with the stipulation that the clan “defend” the land, as well as the rest of Japan, from what he perceived as the barbaric Ainu tribe. With this land claim formalized in 1604 with Tokugawa Ieyasu granting the clan exclusive rights to trade with the Ainu, the timeline of this Matsumae invasion of Ezo lines up perfectly with thesetting forGhost of Yotei. With the clashing of cultures between mainland Japan and Ezo sparking regional conflict,Ghost of Yoteicould throw players into the thick of this tension.
The Matsumae Clan’s Invasion of Ezo Could Mirror the Mongol Invasion of Tsushima
From what has been detailed aboutGhost of Yotei’s protagonist Atsu, it’s likely players will see her journey for revenge follow some of the same narrative beats as Jin’s inGhost of Tsushima. The parallels between the Mongol invasion of Tsushima and the Matsumae Clan’s invasion of Ezo create the foundation for a similar narrative about defending one’s home from outside forces. However, Atsu’s story could potentially be more personal as the fight to retain the Ainu culture in the face of mounting invaders was a decades-long struggle for the people of Ezo.
The leader of the Matsumae Clan who became the first daimyo of Ezo, Matsumae Yoshihiro makes the most sense as the primary antagonist ofGhost of Yotei, but the Matsumae Clan as a whole could appear as enemies throughout the game. Although there was conflict between the Ainu and the Matsumae, there was also a strong trade relationship between the two groups. As such, the nature of the relationship between the two inGhost of Yoteicould be far more complex than that ofJin Sakai and the Mongolsin the previous game, potentially opening the door for players to have greater influence over the game’s story, as Sucker Punch has previously teased.
Ghost of Yotei
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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.
