The open world of Ghost of Yotei will introduce Zelda: Ocarina of Time-inspired mechanics, but here’s the twist: its map isn’t any bigger than Tsushima’s. The developers were determined to pack more content into the same space, delivering a world that values depth over sheer size.
When a game manages to bottle the spirit of an era and the breathtaking beauty of its setting, the appetite for a sequel is guaranteed. That’s the situation with Ghost of Yotei, Sucker Punch’s highly anticipated follow-up to Ghost of Tsushima. Just over two months from now, we’ll be slicing our way across Japan in a fresh samurai epic—but even before launch, some of the open-world details are coming to light.
Fans are buzzing about the map, which promises a unique twist: according to Gamesradar, exploration will feature a musical mechanic reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Creative director Jason Connell has confirmed that protagonist Atsu will wield a shamisen—just as Link used an ocarina—to discover secrets and treasures.
This instrument isn’t just for show. It’ll “guide you” through the open world toward all sorts of hidden goodies. In a way similar to the Traveler’s Garb in Tsushima, Atsu’s shamisen acts as a “navigation tool”: you’ll collect new songs on your journey, with each melody “pointing you toward specific types of things”—like the ‘Song of Vanity,’ which leads to cosmetic unlocks.
The Ghost of Yotei Map
But the innovation doesn’t stop with music. Connell and his team have refused to fall into the “bigger is better” trap. Instead, they’ve confirmed the world is “roughly the same size as Ghost of Tsushima’s” but with much more density. Rather than stretching the map and stuffing it with filler, they’ve focused on “improving quality and variety.” The result: an open world that’s far less repetitive—a direct answer to complaints about the previous game.
“I’d say it’s pretty much on par [in size] with Ghost of Tsushima. In terms of the size and volume of the game, we don’t think ‘bigger’ or ‘more’ is inherently better. While the map is roughly the same size, Hokkaido is obviously much larger than Tsushima in real life, so we focused our efforts on making the world feel larger than it actually is. You’ll see vast plains and massive mountain ranges rising up in the background,” Connell explains (via Automaton).
Source: 3djuegos
