Summary
Ghost of Tsushimawas released in 2020 and immediately became a classic among PlayStation fans. The story of Jin Sakai’s struggle to help his family and homeland while having the limits of his honor pushed by a fearsome enemy is compelling, and it is set in a stunning world. SinceGhost of Tsushima’s launch, fans have eagerly awaited news of the franchise’s future. The title is receiving a film adaptation, but the game’s developer, Sucker Punch Productions, has remained mostly silent. Releasing a half-sequel for the game could be the perfect way to keep fans content while the studio works on a full-fledged sequel.
Half-sequels have grown in popularity in recent years, in no small part due to the development time and cost behind wholly new titles.Spider-Man: Miles Moralesis one of the most notable ones. It bridged the gap betweenSpider-Manand its sequel while using largely the same game map as its predecessor. It also gave fans of the series time to get to knowMiles Morales with a deeper player connection, with him sharing the mantle of protagonist inSpider-Man 2. Insomniac’s half-sequel gave fans something to do while waiting five years between mainline entries, and it gave the developers a place to test new ideas for future games.Ghost of Tsushimacould benefit from a similar approach.
Tsushima Island Deserves a Second Appearance
Ghost of Tsushimawas released roughly six years after Sucker Punch’s last major title,Infamous Second Son. Given thatGhost of Tsushima’s endinghints that Jin’s future adventures may take him away from his homeland, it wouldn’t be surprising for the full-sized follow-up to take just as long for the team to develop. In spite of this, there is plenty of interest in a new game and plenty of room for both sequels and prequels. Between the legacy of Jin’s family, an excellent extended cast of characters, and the beauty of both Tsushima and Iki Island, Sucker Punch could easily re-use the setting and some characters with no complaints from fans.
Ghost of Tsushima has an Obvious Prequel
Jin Sakai’s story picks up at the start of the Mongol invasion in 1274. Despite the game being centered around these events, there is plenty of world-building that expands the history of the island and its inhabitants. This world-building provides a lot of room for aGhost of Tsushimaprequel. The Yarikawa Rebellion is often discussed in-game and could be a great setting for a game, further exploring the morality of Jin’s uncle and father. Alternatively, a smaller-scale entry could be set during more peaceful times and revolve around Yuna or another member of the original game’s cast, fleshing out their backstory some more.
A Ghost of Tsushima Half-Sequel is Good for Everyone
A half-sequel toGhost of Tsushimawould be good for both the fans and the developers.Spider-Man: Miles Moralesgave fans a new game while allowing for Insomniac to develop the mechanics around a whole new protagonist, which aided in craftingSpider-Man 2.Ghost of Tsushima 2could similarly benefit from this approach. A half-sequel could allow for Sucker Punch to test the waters with new mechanics while recycling much of the original’s setting. Fans would get a new game, and the studio could use it as a chance to get feedback on new features and more. IfGhost of Tsushima 2’s settingis indeed different, a half-sequel could also be a great farewell to the island of Tsushima.
AGhost of Tsushimahalf-sequel would give fans a game to play while giving Sucker Punch a testing ground for new features and ideas ahead of a fully-fledged sequel. WithGhost of Tsushima 2still potentially years away, a half-sequel would help to keep the series fresh in the minds of players. With the amount of hype still around the original game, Sucker Punch will be giving up the chance to strike while the iron is still hot if it doesn’t release a follow-up soon. For now, however, fans of the series can look forward to the release of theGhost of Tsushimamovie.
