Ghost of Yotei has a novel function that permits gamers to press a button to journey again in time to see what principal character Atsu was doing a few years prior. That is obtainable at particular locations within the sport world, however the authentic plan at Sucker Punch was to permit gamers to do that wherever, any time.
Inventive director Jason Connell stated in a dialog with Breaking Unhealthy creator Vince Gilligan that this function was one thing he was “very enthusiastic about” when it was initially pitched years in the past. He stated the attraction was that gamers could possibly be at one second experiencing Atsu’s story in the principle timeline when issues are darkish and bleak and she or he’s on her lone wolf quest, and the following they may journey again in time and really feel the “heat of her previous” and perceive what she’s preventing for.
“It began off as, ‘Let’s try this as many locations we are able to, possibly in every single place,'” Connell stated. “Like, can we do that as like a, like a stake-in-the-ground sport function?”
Nevertheless, after a few 12 months of engaged on this, and with the understanding that it will require double the artwork, Sucker Punch needed to scale it again and solely have this function obtainable in sure areas of the sport. “So whereas it is this wonderful function, it saddened me the day that I needed to to kill that and slender it. But ultimately, it was the appropriate selection,” he stated.
Connell stated the choice to slender the function got here after suggestions from testers and in discussions with colleagues. Whereas Connell stated he feels assured it was the appropriate name, it was nonetheless “laborious” for him.
He added that, had the function been obtainable throughout the whole lot of the sport, it ran the chance of feeling like a “gimmick” if Sucker Punch could not again it up with sufficient “meat” to make it worthwhile, narratively talking.
Gilligan, for his half, stated the scenario could possibly be like the fragile stability of salt on french fries.
“It is like salt in your french fries. There’s nothing higher than simply the correct quantity of salt in your french fries. After which once you overdo it, you are like, ‘Ugh, these are too rattling salty,'” he stated.
GameSpot’s Ghost of Yotei assessment praised the sport total, and particularly the time-travel mechanic. “By visiting her house and particular areas round Ezo, you possibly can step into the previous and revisit fond reminiscences from her childhood, comparable to training sword preventing along with her brother and dealing along with her weaponsmith father within the household’s forge,” reviewer Richard Wakeling stated.
“These home windows into the previous create additional empathy for a personality who finally goes on to inflict brutal violence. You possibly can really feel the burden of her loss in every second, and this persists all through the sport as you discover an increasing number of of Ezo.”
Ghost of Yotei launched in early October and has exceeded 3 million gross sales to date.