Why Ghost of Yōtei Has So Much Climbing — Design, Terrain & Freedom
When the team wants to convey the grandeur and realism of the Hokkaido landscape through exploration!
One of the things that many players may have noticed from the early days of Ghost of Yōtei is the “hill climbing” that is common throughout the map, which seems to be more of an important element of the game than it seems. Recently, Jason Connell, Creative Director of Sucker Punch, explained that the design was not accidental, but the intention of the team to create it. “Simulating the slope and grandeur of Hokkaido’s landscape” in the most realistic way.
Climbing in Ghost of Yōtei is to experience the grandeur of nature in Japan.
Connell explained to GamesRadar+ that the concept of “freedom” was one of the cores of the game’s design. He spoke.
However, the team faced the challenge of creating an open-world game set in the real world because it couldn’t include supernatural travel systems such as “warping” or exaggerated fantasy technology. “Those things would destroy the realism that we’re trying to maintain,” Connell added, noting that the team chose to create non-combat activities that still blend in with the game’s world, such as climbing. Climbing or exploring various steep points.
Hokkaido is also known for its mountainous land. The Sucker Punch development team sees these mountains not as obstacles, but as “opportunities” to create a valuable exploration experience. “We want players to feel the rewards of climbing to the top, not just in terms of visuals, but also in terms of gameplay,” says Connell.
He also revealed that the team has designed a faster and more fun way to descend, such as rappelling from the top of a high shrine or “sliding” down a steep slope, which is one of his favorite features. “We try to make the slopes and steepness of Hokkaido an opportunity, not a big obstacle.”
Also, from the perspective of Sucker Punch, mountain climbing in Ghost of Yōtei isn’t just meant to increase the difficulty or realism, but rather convey the relationship between humans and nature in a way that players should. “Feels” yourself. Climbing to the top of the mountain can offer spectacular views. A peaceful shrine and a small pride from an effortless journey.
The concept of Ghost of Yōtei is not just to explore the world, but to “experience” Hokkaido in a way that is realistic and respectful of nature. Each climb is a lesson of discovery, both in terms of gameplay and in the player’s own mind. This game truly stands out from any adventure in the past.
Ghost of Yōtei was first announced in 2024, and the arrival of the sequel will open up a new experience for fans with new characters, an engaging story, and a new region of Japan to explore to their heart’s content. The story takes place 300 years after the critically acclaimed Ghost of Tsushima game. The game is a standalone experience set in the Japanese countryside in the 1600s. Atsu wants revenge and she travels through the beautiful and difficult landscapes of northern Japan, hunting down the person who killed her family years ago. origin
ORIGIN: gamesradar
