Now that Ghost of Yotei is finally here, the comparisons between this sequel and Ghost of Tsushima are bound to be a big point of discussion among fans of the first entry. Ghost of Tsushima was one of the biggest games of 2020, so its follow-up has the difficult task of setting itself apart while also honoring the original’s foundation. Thankfully, Ghost of Yotei nails this balance.
In a lot of ways, Ghost of Yotei‘s improvements mostly come from evolving and refining Ghost of Tsushima‘s features, which helps it share the same spirit. From elevated combat to a more diverse map, Ghost of Yotei kicks everything up a notch. However, there are also plenty of ways that Ghost of Yotei does things completely differently than its predecessor, and one of the biggest changes is the game’s embrace of wolf symbolism.
Ghost of Yotei's Wolf Imagery is More Than a Metaphor; It Makes Ezo Feel Less Lonely
Introducing Atsu's Four-Legged Companion
For the most part, Jin’s journey in Ghost of Tsushima is fought alone, and it creates a deep sense of isolation. Of course, this is used as a way to further drive home the loneliness of his narrative, but Ghost of Yotei switches its storytelling up in a fascinating way. Leading up to Ghost of Yotei, it seemed as though Atsu was bound to be even more isolated than Jin, but this isn’t the case, thanks to the assistance of the Wolf. Ghost of Yotei really dives deep into wolf imagery. Between painting Atsu as a lone wolf figure to showcasing her murdered family as her lost pack, wolves are constantly used as a storytelling device.
Beyond the more metaphorical uses of wolf imagery and language, this animal is an incredibly useful combat companion, too. At first, the Wolf will sometimes assist Atsu by pouncing on enemy NPCs and biting their arms, leaving them open for players to offer a devastating attack, but this can be expanded with side quests. Ghost of Yotei‘s Wolf takes time to unlock and upgrade, but it’s well worth the effort if players want a companion to make Atsu’s journey easier.
In order to upgrade the Wolf, players have to find Wolf Dens, which are unique side activities. With each Wolf Den that’s completed, Atsu gains a skill point that is used specifically for the Wolf, and it adds a special extra dose of complexity to Ghost of Yotei‘s combat.
To summon the Wolf as a more consistent companion, players will have to complete four Wolf Dens, which will allow Atsu to learn the Song of the Wolf on the Shamisen.
Ghost of Yotei‘s Wofl takes time to unlock and upgrade, but it’s well worth the effort if players want a companion to make Atsu’s journey easier.
Growing Atsu's Wolf Pack
Even outside the actual Wolf, Ghost of Yotei‘s wolf symbolism doesn’t stop there. On Atsu’s journey, she meets a variety of NPCs who also share a disdain for Lord Saito and his Yotei Six. This is Atsu literally growing her Wolf Pack, and while Jin had his fair share of companions, like Lady Masako and Yuna, the combination of the Wolf and Atsu’s allies create a larger network to lean on.
There are 10 Wolf Dens in total.
Ghost of Yotei presents new challenges that test Atsu’s limits, but the help she receives along the way takes some of the burden off her shoulders. Sucker Punch could have made Atsu’s story a deeply isolated tale, but the Wolf and her Wolf Pack are great ways to show that even though she is still dealing with grief over the loss of her family, the world around her still has plenty to offer.