A change to the Mongol camps could make Ghost of Tsushima 2 a knockout


All eyes seem to be on Ghost of Tsushima when it comes to Sony’s major franchises. In fact, while series like God of War and The last of us garner huge amounts of critical acclaim and prestige, Ghost of Tsushima It’s arguably more interesting, as it’s effectively in uncharted waters and exists as a new IP among PlayStation’s roster of iconic properties. As such, Ghost of Tsushima 2 It has a lot of potential, but it also needs to address certain shortcomings of its predecessor.

One of those deficiencies is Ghost of TsushimaThe stealth approach. Many open world missions and activities in Ghost take a similar approach to Assassin’s Creed either Very far, urging the player to reduce the enemy horde through covert means to gain advantage in a frontal approach. Within this framework, Ghost of TsushimaStealth is useful, but it’s never as fun as taking on your opponent with traditional swordplay, as there simply isn’t enough depth to the game’s stealth mechanics to make it consistently fun for long periods of time. This problem is exacerbated by certain narrative elements, which depend on Jin’s use of stealth. Making some key changes in this regard could reduce ludonarrative dissonance and lead to a more elegant and immersive experience overall.

2:34

Related

Ghost of Tsushima 2 haikus could learn from Elden Ring

Players loved writing haikus in Ghost of Tsushima, but Sucker Punch may want to turn to FromSoftware to keep the sequel fresh.

Non-lethal takedowns could be used to great effect in Ghost of Tsushima 2

Stealth in Ghost of Tsushima poses a narrative problem

To combat the Mongol threat, Jin Sakai must adapt his approach to battle, using stealthy methods that are at odds with traditional notions of samurai honor. This causes great conflict between Jin and his uncle and mentor, which forms the emotional conflict of the narrative. However, this conflict leads to a multifaceted issue for Ghost of TsushimaThe connection between the game and the story.

On the one hand, the main story missions in Ghost of Tsushima will often force the player to take a stealthy approach, resulting in an automatic fail if detected by the enemy. This may seem unnatural, as players intuitively understand that they could very well attack head-on without too much difficulty. In essence, Ghost of TsushimaSandbox combat lends itself to flexibility and self-expression, but its narrative requires players to stick to a playstyle, or else the plot will make no sense.

But the narrative still has some problems in this regard, because even if players use stealth as sparingly as possible, NPCs will still treat Jin as a warrior who employs clandestine means. There is no distinction between a version of Jin who exclusively uses stealth and one who only does so occasionally.

Non-lethal takedowns could deepen Ghost of Tsushima 2’s narrative and gameplay

Adding non-lethal stealth could improve Ghost of Tsushima 2The repetition value, opening the door to pacifist games. This could be an exciting challenge for players looking to engage more with the game’s stealth mechanics, but it could also serve as an opportunity to remedy the ludonarrative dissonance of the first game.

Ludonarrative dissonance refers to when a game’s story contradicts its gameplay.

One of the reasons stealth is considered so dishonorable is because it robs the enemy of the opportunity to defend themselves. When two warriors confront each other, it can be argued that they are absolved of the moral responsibility of taking a life, since it is essentially self-defense. Murder does not allow for this level of dignity.

If players could take down enemies without killing them, they would avoid this criticism, and this could be reflected in the game’s story. The public’s perception of Jin could be shaped by how he chooses to confront his enemies, as the non-lethal stealth route is undeniably more honorable than the lethal one. Therefore, a combination of non-lethal options and a more reactive plot could make Ghost of Tsushima 2 better from a narrative and gameplay perspective alike.


Leave a Comment