Summary
Upon its initial July 2020 release,Ghost of Tsushimareceived a pretty great critical reception, but it was largely overshadowed as a PlayStation first-party exclusive due to the monumental release ofThe Last of Us Part 2barely a month before it. But over the last few years, word has seemingly spread about just how great of a gameGhost of Tsushimatruly is. From some incredibly rewarding skill-based combat to a great story and characters to some fun side activities and a wonderfully atmospheric open-world,Ghost of Tsushimais an excellent game that’s deserving of all its praise, both old and new.
It’s only natural, then, that fans want more, and aGhost of Tsushima 2has been one of the most speculated-on games in recent memory, at least when it comes toPlayStation first-party titles. Plenty of rumors and leaks suggest that aGhost of Tsushima 2is on the way, but there’s been no official confirmation from Sucker Punch or PlayStation yet. While fans continue to wait patiently for a sequel they may want to cast their eyes over toThe Spirit of the Samurai, a little indie game set to launch on Steam in 2024.
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The Spirit of the Samurai Looks Like a 2D Ghost of Tsushima
Being developed by Digital Mind Games,The Spirit of the Samuraiis an upcoming 2D “dark” action-adventure game, apparently coming with its fair share ofSoulslike and Metroidvania elements.Spirit of the Samuraisees players take control of the titular warrior, along with two other characters, all of whom need to traverse various Feudal Japan locales, and face off against some dangerous foes.
While it seems unfair to boil it down to its bare essentials,The Spirit of the Samuraiwill definitely conjure up some familiar feelings for fans ofGhost of Tsushima, with some very similar imagery and combat mechanics. Of course,The Spirit of the Samuraiis very much its own game, and it has plenty of its own unique mechanics to set it apart fromSucker Punch’s 2020 samurai adventure. One ofSpirit of the Samurai’s most unique selling points is its stop-motion animation style, which goes hand-in-hand with its 2D camera perspective to give the game an eerie and intense atmosphere. Hopefully,Spirit of the Samuraimight end up being a rare game that offers fans something familiar, but something also completely new and distinct.
Spirit of the Samurai and Trek to Yomi are Both 2D Ghost of Tsushima-Like Games
The Spirit of the Samuraiisn’t the first 2D game that’s reminded fans ofGhost of Tsushima. By far the most well-known example of this is last year’sTrek to Yomi. Developed by Flying Wild Hog, a studio best known for itsShadow Warriorseries,Trek to Yomiwas a 2D side-scrolling action game heavily inspired by the works of Akira Kurosawa, just likeGhost of Tsushimawas.Trek to Yomihad a lot of hype on the build-up to release, especially with it being an Xbox Game Pass day-one title, but its immediate critical reception was a tad disappointing.
WhileTrek to Yomiwas far from a bad game, it wasn’t a great one either, and it’s left a lot of room for improvement for a game likeThe Spirit of the Samurai. One of the biggest areasTrek to Yomifailed in was variety, both in terms of combat and enemy design. Based on what fans have seen so far, it seems likeSpirit of the Samuraimight fare much better in this department, with a total of three playable characters, each apparently coming with unique combat abilities.Spirit of the Samuraiis also a Metroidvania with Soulslike elements, which might resolveTrek to Yomi’s lackluster level design and flashy but often unresponsive combat.
Ghost of Tsushima
WHERE TO PLAY
A storm is coming. Discover the expanded Ghost of Tsushima experience in this Director’s Cut. Uncover the hidden wonders of Tsushima in this open-world action adventure from Sucker Punch Productions and PlayStation Studios, available for PS5 and PS4. Forge a new path and wage an unconventional war for the freedom of Tsushima. Challenge opponents with your katana, master the bow to eliminate distant threats, develop stealth tactics to ambush enemies and explore a new story on Iki Island.
