Jin is the protagonist of Ghost of Tsushima, and he belongs to a noble samurai house. The game begins with the people of Tsushima fighting back against the Mongols and losing, thus sending Jin on a journey of revenge. It’s a story that’s been told before, but it’s a good one, as players get to decide what’s more important: victory or honor.
Atsu is the protagonist of Ghost of Yotei, a female samurai on a similar quest for revenge. Her’s is a bit different, as she didn’t lose anyone to a group of invaders; she lost her family to a group of samurai thugs who later took over the island of Ezo. Besides being female, is there anything Atsu can do that Jin can’t? Let’s dig into it. P.S., there are no spoilers up ahead to worry about.
Play The Shamisen
Strings Vs Flutes
Jin has the better theme song of the two characters, which incorporates his instrument of choice, the flute, into the composition. However, Atsu’s gifted technique with the Shamisen is a more engaging gameplay option.
Players can use it like they would use their Ocarina in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time as a guiding tool. Different tunes can lead players to new things in Ghost of Yotei, like Hot Springs, and learning each song is typically attached to an engaging quest.
A Master Of The Blades
Going Beyond The Katana
Ghost of Tsushima was a compelling samurai game because the combat was so bloody and visceral. Jin could use a bow, his katana, and various other tools to combat his enemies. However, Atsu is easily a more gifted weapons master than Jin, as she learns to wield various weapons beyond the katana on her journey of revenge.
For example, deep in Ghost of Yotei’s Owl Mountain, she can learn to use the Kusarigama, which is a sickle and chain combo. She can also learn to equip a Yari, dual katanas, and an even bigger sword called an Odachi.
Improvisational Combat
Disarming And Weapon Throwing
Beyond being able to wield more weapons, Atsu also has more improvisational skills in combat. She can disarm her opponents through normal means, by hacking and slashing away at them, or there are skills she can learn in Ghost of Yotei to improve her disarming abilities. Once an enemy’s weapon is lost, players can throw that weapon back at an enemy for near-lethal damage.
Beyond that, Atsu’s toolkit is comparable to Jin’s, from various trick bombs to throwing kunai. Miraculously, Atsu can carry all of that gear while remaining stealthy in the field, but it’s best not to think about what does and does not make sense about Ghost of Yotei.
Wolf Training
If Only There Were Co-Op
Jin had a gentle way with animals, between his close relationship with his horse and following wild creatures like foxes. However, he was not able to train any of the foxes he met to be companions. While the wolf is not fully under Atsu’s control, players can make it appear more regularly through wolf-based side quests in Ghost of Yotei.
Once maxed out, Atsu will become a fully-fledged wolf whisperer who can summon a wolf with a strum of her Shamisen. It would have been cool if Sucker Punch also added co-op for the wolf parts, but maybe that is something they can consider for their next game. Either way, Atsu’s wolf skills are unmatched.
A Zeni Hajiki Player
A Master Of Coin
Money, or Mon, is important in virtually all shops in Ghost of Yotei, whether players want to buy things or upgrade Atsu’s gear. It’s easy to rack up money through bounty quests, and both Jin and Atsu are skilled at getting what they’ve earned. However, there’s another feature to coins in Ghost of Yotei through a mini-game called Zeni Hajiki.
Taught to her by her mother, Atsu knows her way around this coin flicking game. If players aren’t careful, they may become addicted to it. While Jin learned plenty of mini-games in Ghost of Tsushima, this was not one of them.
A Born Camper
Just Missing Marshmallows
Players could take a rest with their horse in Ghost of Tsushima to pass the time (literally), and it was always fun to see Jin wake up relaxed next to his steed. It was an improvisational way to make a “camp,” but Ghost of Yotei adds a literal mechanic for players to camp almost anywhere in the game. Atsu knows how to start a fire and does a decent job of grilling fish and mushrooms, which can boost her stats temporarily.
Beyond that, random members of Atsu’s Wolf Pack can join her at camp to start a conversation, or they can be entertained by the Shamisen. Sleep is also an option, which is the only thing Jin was capable of at his camp in Ghost of Tsushima.
Meditate Into The Past
But It's Not Quite Time Travel
There were sections in Ghost of Tsushima that showed Jin as a younger child learning the ropes of being a samurai under the watch of his uncle. They added some nice backstory for Jin, and while there are guided moments that take Atsu into her past as well, there’s now a feature that lets players go back to Atsu’s childhood manually. Mostly at her homestead, players can take Atsu through several quests in Ghost of Yotei at the touch of a button, involving things like horses or a bow-based mini-game.
Technically, this is more of a gameplay mechanic than something Atsu has over Jin. It’s not like Atsu can literally time-travel, but it might be fair to say she has a clearer mind than Jin. With her training, Atsu learned how to meditate on the past to improve herself in the present.