Games

Ghost of Yotei's Ranged Combat is Already in for a Huge Upgrade

Published

2 weeks ago

December 7, 2024

One of Ghost of Tsushima‘s greatest strengths was the depth of its combat systems. From the get-go, players had access to Jin Sakai’s trusty family katana, a sword that formed the basis of Ghost of Tsushima‘s combat. During the course of Ghost of Tsushima, players also unlock Sword Stances, letting them tackle different enemy types more efficiently. And then a smaller tanto blade could be used for stealth takedowns. Ghost of Yotei looks to be doubling down on its predecessor’s combat options.

Based on its reveal trailer, Ghost of Yotei is going to give players a wealth of new combat features, such as the ability to dual-wield katanas and unlock new weapons like the Kusarigama. But Ghost of Yote i also seems to be doubling down on ranged combat options, an element that played a prominent role in Ghost of Tsushima‘s gameplay loop.

Ghost of Yotei’s Protagonist May Be Different, But so Must Be Its Narrative

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Based on what has been revealed so far, Ghost of Yotei looks primed to repeat Ghost of Tsushima’s trope, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Ghost of Yotei is Taking Ranged Combat To The Next Level

Ranged Combat Played a Pivotal Role in Ghost of Tsushima

Unlocked just an hour or so into Ghost of Tsushima, the Half-Bow instantly becomes a core part of Jin Sakai’s arsenal. Even without upgrades or the even more lethal fire arrows, the Half-Bow can be a devastating weapon in both stealth and combat due to its high damage, fast rate of fire, and fast reload speeds. And with the Half-Bow being assigned to the controller’s left trigger, players are able to use it quickly in a pinch, making it very useful for avoiding detection.

A bit further into Ghost of Tsushima, players can complete a Mythic Tale side quest that grants them the Longbow. This much larger ranged weapon can kill targets in just a single hit, even those in heavy armor. The Longbow also has greater accuracy than the Half-Bow, and it allows players to zoom in to increase the clarity of their line of sight. However, the Longbow takes much longer to draw and has limited ammunition, offering a nice trade-off and introducing a bit of risk-reward to Ghost of Tsushima‘s ranged combat.

Ranged Combat Is Getting a Big Upgrade in Ghost of Yotei

Having two distinct ranged weapons in Ghost of Tsushima went a long way in deepening its gameplay, adding more options for both stealth and combat. Ghost of Yote i looks like it’s going to deepen this well further, introducing a brand new type of ranged weapon called the Matchlock Rifle.

Also known as a Tanegashima, the Matchlock Rifle first appeared on Japanese shores in the mid-1500s. Set in 1603, Ghost of Yote i is going to let players wield one of these Matchlock Rifles. It’s currently unclear if the Matchlock is replacing Ghost of Tsushima‘s bows, but it seems likely that it’ll be an addition alongside at least one type of bow. This should add an extra layer of player-freedom and strategy to the sequel, with bows likely offering a more accurate and stealthy ranged option, and a Matchlock offering a sort of get-out-of-jail-free-card for combat, letting players take down an armored target in just one shot.

Though the Matchlock is sure to come with its downsides. Depending on how historically-accurate developer Sucker Punch wants to be, Ghost of Yotei‘s Matchlock Rifle might need to be reloaded between each shot, and it might not even be usable in rainy weather due to its open flame design. But rather than hinder the sequel, these limitations could actually help to ground Ghost of Yotei‘s world and combat, and further immerse players in its historical setting.

The sequel to Ghost of Tsushima, Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Yōtei is a PS5 exclusive scheduled to drop at some point in 2025. Taking place in 1603, the story will feature a new protagonist and a new Japanese region that is far removed from Tsushima’s setting.

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