Hello and welcome to Project Nitsuj. It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these but welcome to another vs blog. This is where I take two or more animes (in this case games) and see which one is better and boy do I have a big one for you this week. Long ago in the distant land of Japan the Mongols attempted to invade the country to rule over it. They landed on the island of Tsushima where the samurai faced them in a fierce battle. Despite their best efforts the samurais were decimated and the islanders lived in fear as the Mongols tore the island apart. But from the bodies of the dead samurai rose a being who would become something more than the samurai could ever dream to be, hope. He alone would strike fear into the Mongol invaders, inspire the people of Tsushima to fight back, and ultimately succeed where the samurais would fail. This brave being became known as The Ghost of Tsushima. The swan song of the PS4 and one of the most beautiful games I had the pleasure of playing. However, this is but one tale of Japan’s ghosts. In the secluded land of Ezo there is a tale known as the Night of the Burning Tree which sees the Yotei 6, a band of warlords and bandits kill a family to set an example to those who would betray or go against them. As the years went by, the Yotei 6 laid claim to the land of Ezo and its people until one night a ghost of vengeance in the form of a woman arrived who made it her mission to hunt down each member of the Yotei 6 and kill them. To the people of Ezo she was the Onryo, but to people outside of Japan she was known as Ghost of Yotei. The long awaited sequel to Tsushima and the latest exclusive to the PS5. The Ghost of Series has quickly become one of Sucker Punch’s best games out there thanks to its engaging stories, characters, worlds, animation, combat and music. Tsushima was a phenomenal game and Yotei despite the undeserved backlash it’s been getting is a phenomenal game as well. This leads to me asking, which game is better? Just a heads up there might be some spoilers to both games in this blog so read at your own risk. I’m Nitsuj and this is Ghost of Tsushima vs Ghost of Yotei.
Main Character
Let’s start by looking at the most important aspect of the games, the Ghosts. In Tsushima, our main character is Jin Sakai a young lord and samurai who fought against the Mongol invasion when they first arrived and managed to survive thanks to a thief named Yuna. With his uncle captured, the samurai gone, and the Mongols invading, Jin alone is the only one who can protect his home and people. However, as the fight goes on, he sees that the samurai code he clings too isn’t enough to protect his people or home. If he wanted to save everyone he had to become something more than a samurai. He had to become, a Ghost. Under the guise of The Ghost, Jin inspired his people to rise up against the Mongol invaders. He used underhanded tactics and weapons we would come to associate with ninjas/shinobis to strike fear into the Mongols and would ultimately win to save everyone. However, this path alienated Jin from his uncle, the one he loved the most. While the people of Tsushima saw him as a hero and his enemies came to fear him, his uncle saw him as a traitor. A man who turned his back on the samurai code and now has no honor. No different than a common thief that he will be forced to kill someday.
In Yotei, our main character is Atsu, whose story is very different. Born as the daughter of a blacksmith, Atsu and her family didn’t have much but were happy until the Yotei 6 arrived. Her family killed before her very eyes and she was pinned to a burning tree to die only to miraculously escape. Fueled by anger and wanting revenge, Atsu journeyed south to the mainland where she honed her skills in war and as a sword for hire. After 16 years, she returns to Ezo with one goal in mind: find each member of the Yotei 6 and kill them to avenge her family. No matter what she had to sacrifice, Atsu’s goal is vengeance and she’ll do whatever it takes to get it. Whether it’s by poisoning her enemies, sneaking up on them in the dead of night, or fighting them when they’re drunk she’ll do it. Nothing is off limits to her. As long as it helps her get the job done she’ll do it. Because of her reckless and vengeful nature, people called Onryo aka Ghost. She became wanted by the forces of the Yotei 6 and a hope to the people of Ezo who both feared her and saw her as a hero.
Both characters donned the title of Ghost for different reasons. One for survival. The other for vengeance. So which one is better? Well with Jin he has his hesitations on becoming the Ghost. He chooses to fight maintaining his samurai code and honor while incorporating the Ghost tactics here and there in order to save as many lives as possible. That is until he’s finally forced to make a decision. Choose to follow the samurai code which would lead to hundreds if not thousands of lives lost. Or fully embrace the Ghost to save those lives, strike fear into the enemy, and push them back even further. In the end, Jin fully embraces the Ghost and as result turns his back on his uncle and the samurai becoming an outlaw in their eyes. Atsu on the other hand, embraced becoming the Ghost right from the get go because she can use it as a tool to strike fear into the Yotei 6. The more her tale grows the more her fear spreads. Outside of their Ghost personas, both characters do have good personalities. Jin treasures the island and the people. He can inspire people and isn’t afraid to speak up when he feels something is wrong and needs to change. In the end, he has a good heart that cares for others. Atsu despite being filled with vengeance has shown a lighter side throughout her journey. She treasures the memories of her family, she can be quick-witted and funny, and forgiving when it comes to others as long as what they’re doing is for the right reasons. Just like Jin, she has a good heart deep down and I like how for the most part vengeance doesn’t cloud her mind. It’s a close race but if I had to choose it would be Jin. His story of becoming the Ghost is more compelling and done better. We see him struggle with this choice for the first two-thirds of the game and when he finally does fully embrace the Ghost it’s a powerful moment because he finally chose what’s most important to him. Both ghosts are heroes in my eyes but Jin is the better hero. Point goes to Tsushima.
Tsushima: 1 Yotei: 0
But we all know a hero is only as good as the villains they face and both ghosts face some tough villains in their journey. The next category is villains.
Villains
In Tsushima we have the Mongols who are being led by Khotun Khan based off the real-life leader of the Mongols, Kublai Khan, who led the first Mongol invasion. Right from the get go this guy shows just how ruthless he is by lighting a man on fire and stabbing him to death. That first impression of him let’s you know just how dangerous this guy is. As the game goes on we continued to see how ruthless he is. He tortures his enemies by lighting them on fire and making a spectacle of it for everyone to see. He’s great at playing psychological games with people and getting to turn on each other. We see it with Taka where he offers Taka the chance to go free if he kills Jin. When Taka refuses, Khotun manages to turn it around and uses Taka’s death to psychologically torture Jin saying he died because of him and plans to find others to keep on torturing him. It’s ironic, because if he wanted to he could have killed Jin right then and there and be done with it, but he wants to break him. He knows that by breaking Jin and killing in front of everyone he can control the people with ease and complete his invasion. We then have Ryuzo, Khotun’s greatest ploy yet. He succeeded in turning Jin’s oldest friend against not just him but all of Japan and leading to an emotional fight between the two former friends. Outside of these two there’s not that many notable villains in Tsushima. There’s a mid-boss here and there and a few side missions but they’re forgetful in the larger scheme of things.
In Yotei, our main villains are the Yotei 6 led by Saito a lord who lost his title after losing a battle. His tale does have some tragedy to it as he lost his wife and daughter because of his failure and became disowned by the shogun. He then journeys north where his goal is to turn Ezo into his own kingdom separate from the shogun where he rules. Just like Khotun he’s a strategic thinker. While he lacks the psychological game as Khotun he makes up for it by being a skilled warrior who demands results not just from everyone but from himself as well. He fully believes in his vision and will stop at nothing to achieve it. He’s got a silver tongue that draws others to his cause. He’s a very skilled fighter who sensed Atsu coming and easily dodged her assassination attempt. I also like how when we first fight him he doesn’t take Atsu seriously. He sees her as an annoyance to his plans than a threat and treats her like one until the end when he has no choice but to acknowledge the threat she brings and take her down. Outside of him the rest of the Yotei 6 each serves a role and oversees a part of Ezo that they rule. There’s the Oni who rules the plains, the Kitsune who controls the northern snowy lands, the Dragon and Spider who wage war south against the samurais, and the Snake who keeps Ezo’s riffraff in line and serves as a recruiter. Saito controls everything from top to bottom to make sure no one is a threat to his rule and crush any resistance should it arise.
In the end, I do like the villains of Yotei 6 more. While Khotun and Ryuzo are good, I wanted to see more villains within the ranks of the Mongols. More depth to their rankings and characters. Yotei manages to fix that, giving each villain a dangerous personality and making each one a different threat that Atsu has to overcome. I was bummed that the Snake died so early in the game but the others managed to make up for it by giving us compelling stories in each region. We see how the actions of each villain has not only affected Atsu but the people and land they’re ruling over. The Oni literally burns the land and the lives of others. One scene that stuck out to me in the game was when I fought some of the Oni’s men to rescue an NPC. It wasn’t a side mission it was just a random encounter. As the NPC’s house was being burnt down, she runs inside to rescue her brother only to see that he’s already dead. Atsu tells the woman they have to leave but she refuses to go and instead chooses to die by her brother’s side. There’s nothing we can do to save her and there’s no option to forcefully pull her. We leave her to her death and that’s the last we see of her. It’s a sad scene because we’re the main character. We’re the guys who usually arrive onto the scene and save the day. But here we are forced to leave an innocent bystander to their death and continue on our journey of vengeance. The Kitsune kidnaps people and uses them as guinea pigs to test poison on. People live in constant fear of being kidnapped or losing their homes because of the Kitsune. The Dragon and Snake use their firearms to wage war and are Saito’s sons who try desperately to earn the praise of their father. Each character gets their own little story that not only advances the plot but the development of Atsu’s character and leaves a lasting impression on you. None of their stories feel boring or rushed. We see how each one hurt Atsu and still has a hold on her. Even though she’s determined to kill them she’s still afraid of them and they hunt her dreams. Point goes to Yotei.
Tsushima: 1 Yotei: 1
Now that we’ve analyzed the characters let’s analyze their fighting styles next.
Fighting Style
Both games have great combat mechanics but each do something similar and different. In both games we have the option of attacking enemy camps by either a samurai standoff alerting everyone of your arrival and taking them all on at once or sneaking into the camp and assassinating everyone one by one. Both options are great and fun to play. In Yotei, they actually improved on this and would allow your wolf companion to join in from time to time and help you take out bases and enemies. Both characters use swords to fight and have a ghost mode which sees them strike fear into their enemies. However their modes are different from each other. Jin’s ghost mode is more of a rally for others while Atsu’s is a release of all her rage. It’s like a monster letting out a powerful roar before attacking you.
In terms of weaponry, Jin sticks to just using a sword in battle, but makes for it by having different styles to combat enemies who use different weapons and are much bigger than him. Atsu’s lacks the proper training Jin has so she makes up for it by having a variety of weapons at her disposal. A long with a sword she also has a yari, kusarigama, odachi, another sword, a rifle, and a handgun. Each weapon is useful in handling different weapons. Yari for kusarigamas, odachi for big opponents, kusarigama for shield enemies, double swords for yaris, and guns to stun or take out enemies. While you can go through the game just using your sword, they encourage you to use the various weapons at your disposal to make combat easier.
Since Atsu has the bigger arsenal you would think that gives her an advantage over Jin, but no, I honestly like Jin’s fighting style more. Don’t get me wrong, the variety Atsu uses is fun and all, but in the heat of battle it can be though switching weapons and remembering which one is good against which. Jin’s different sword styles are easier to remember and switch between. Not to mention they all have different moves you use to better take down enemies and reward you for mastering them. Also, make no mistake, just because Atsu can use multiple weapons doesn’t mean she’s a master of them. She’s just an all-around good fighter. Good stats all around but excels at nothing. Jin on the other hand excels at using the sword and is the only weapon he needs to beat his opponents. Lastly, I think his ghost mode is better. Point goes to Tsushima.
Tsushima: 2 Yotei: 1
Now that we’re done focusing on the characters let’s focus on how the game looks and sounds. Next up, graphics and music.
Graphics and Music
This one is going to be a short category. Both games are beautiful to look at. They really set the standard for both the PS4 and PS5. Both games do an excellent job capturing the beauty of nature and giving us well designed characters. There were so many times in each game where I would just stop and just take in everything around me. I really did feel like I was transported back in time. So yeah it’s a tie when it comes to graphics so that just leaves music. Once again, both games have a great soundtrack but if I had to choose which one was better I’d go with Yotei. Tsushima’s music is great but plays out like a standard samurai film where as Yotei is a bit more creative. It sounds like the soundtrack to an old western film set in Japan. The use of the shamisen is great and sounds like a guitar being played as our hero rides off into the distance. The game also gives us a Watanabe mode with some great lo-fi music to switch things up and it matches up perfectly with the game. My only complaint is that there’s only five tracks. Even without Watanabe mode I still think the Yotei soundtrack is better and more memorable. Point goes to Yotei.
Tsushima: 2 Yotei: 2
Well we’re once again tied and it all comes down to the last category, story and themes.
Story and Themes
One of the dumbest complaints I’ve heard people have is how Yotei’s story is different from Tsushima. Good! Why would I want to play a game with the same story and theme? Tsushima is a story about honor and survival while Yotei is a story about revenge and purpose. In Jin’s story we see him fight against the Mongols while trying to maintain his honor and help his people survive. But as the fight goes on he sees that his idea of honor is different from his uncle and other samurais. To Jin, honor is using your sword to protect others who can’t protect themselves. Using any means necessary to protect them. To his uncle and other samurais, honor means serving the shogun and upholding the strict traditions of the samurai code without question. Even if that means diving headfirst into death against enemies who don’t share your same code and aren’t afraid to use underhanded tactics to win. This conflict is the central theme between Jin and his uncle. One believes survival is more important while the other believes honor is. Jin said it best: his uncle is a slave to honor. He’s so enthralled in it that he can’t see what’s most important, protecting the people and the land against invaders who don’t share his same views. Once again, Jin said it best: honor died on the beach. From the very beginning the Mongols made it clear that they will not fight with honor and showed Jin that if he continued to fight the same way as his uncle he and many others would have met their death.
Yotei’s story is simpler but still meaningful. It’s a tale of vengeance as Atsu goes around killing the ones who killed her family. We’ve heard the tale a number of times in our lives and have seen where that leaves others. However, there’s another underlying theme, purpose. Throughout the game we see how Atsu hasn’t thought about her life once the Yotei 6 are dead. For the last 16 years all she’s lived for is revenge. It’s the only thing that’s kept her alive all this time. She even said she’s prepared to end her life and join her family once her vengeance is complete. However, the unexpected happens. Not only does she reunite with her brother who survived that night, but she also has a niece and made a new friend that she could trust with her life. For years Atsu was alone and thought she had nothing to lose or tie her to this world after her revenge, but that couldn’t be more untrue. The family that she lost is still alive and has sprung new life. She has a friend she can trust and her own little wolf pack who care about and support her any way they can. Outside of vengeance there is more waiting for her and even though she almost lost it all in the name of her vengeance she was able to see what really mattered in the end and became a better person.
Now, which story is better? The tale of honor and survival or the tale of revenge and purpose? One embraces the ghost in the end. While other leaves it to become human. Well in my opinion, it’s the tale of honor and survival. While there’s nothing wrong with the story and themes of Yotei, I think Tsushima had the more compelling story with better moments that left a more lasting impression than Yotei. Even after all these years, the final battle and choice in Tsushima along with other scenes still sticks with me and other players. I’ve seen people still debate what the better choice was to this day. Yes, I know the developers have said the true ending is Jin sparing his uncle, but I think there’s no right or wrong answer here. It’s just choosing what you think is best for these characters. The point and victory goes to Tsushima.
Tsushima: 3 Yotei: 2
Winner: Tsushima
And there you have it folks, Tsushima in my opinion is the better game. But that doesn’t mean Yotei is a terrible game. I enjoyed my time playing Yotei. The different modes are fun, it has better villains, a great soundtrack, and a good story that keeps your attention. Tsushima on the other hand does have a better main character, combat, and overall story with great themes about what’s important to the characters and what they’re willing to sacrifice to hold on to what’s important. Both games are great and I look forward to seeing what’s next for this series and who the next Ghost will be. My advice to everyone out there, ignore all the bad press and check the games out for yourselves. I think you’ll enjoy them. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time on Project Nitsuj.
Honorable Points
Best mythic tales: Both
Best side characters: Tsushima
Best armor: Tsushima
Best side missions: Tsushima
Best side activities: Yotei
Best animals: Yotei