Summary
Final Fantasy 7 RebirthandGhost of Tsushima 2are two separate games and differ greatly in terms of gameplay, but they do share some common elements. AlthoughRebirthand the originalGhost of Tsushimawere released four years apart, both games offer rich, vibrant worlds, immersive gameplay elements, and strategic depth in their combat systems. The recent release ofFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthhas been quite successful, and there is a certain reward mechanic in it that a potentialGhost of Tsushimasequelcould borrow.
Having a rich, open-world is one thing, butFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthencourages exploring that world more than most games. This is because of the protorelic content present in the game, which consists of secret items, called protorelics, scattered around the game’s map and guarded by tough enemies or unique activities. Among other open-world games that could benefit from this same mechanic,Ghost of Tsushima 2stands out as the one with the most potential.
What Protorelics Could Look Like in Ghost of Tsushima 2
IfGhost of Tsushima 2is anything like the first entry in the series, it’ll have a vibrant world filled with side activities that are begging to be explored. A protorelic-like system could be introduced to provide more motivation for players to roam around and look for secrets. For instance, these secrets could include collectible weapons and tools that are both appropriate to the game’s theme and lore, including legendary samurai weapons, bombs, or other throwable items. Collecting these could lead a player toward unlocking a new arena or an exclusive battle that is otherwise not available, just likeRebirthdoes with Gilgamesh. Upon completing these special side quests, the devs could put together a payoff akin to that ofGhost of Tsushima’sduels.
Expanding Upon an Existing Ghost of Tsushima Mechanic Could Make For a Protorelic-Like Experience
Ghost of Tsushimahas previously already incorporated a system that, to some extent, resembles Protorelics. The first game featured a ton of duels scattered across the map against tough opponents in the game’s lore who have ties toTsushima Island, and Jin Sakai, the main protagonist. In the first installment, there are eleven duels throughout the map not tied to the main story, side quests, or enemy bases, and all of them have cinematic battles. In some of these duels, the player is rewarded with a special ability if they are victorious. These battles can return in the sequel, perhaps just with better loot and legendary gear hiding behind the challenge. However, to better resemble the Protorelic system, the sequel’s special side questline should offer more gameplay diversity.
How Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Benefits From Protorelics
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthhas found a lot of success by incorporating protorelics, as the benefits go beyond just encouraging exploration.Rebirthuses the protorelic system to introduce special activities in each location, with the protorelic quest chain spanning seven questlines (comprised of fourphenomenon intel nodesin each region of the game’s map). These ulitmately reward the player with some of the best gear in the game upon completion, but they also contain story payoffs for certain side characters and would be fun to play through even if no rewards were attached.
Jin Sakai, or whichever protagonist the sequel decides to focus on, can have an optional (but high quality) side quest line to obtain the best gear scattered around the map. However, like Protorelics, there should be other gameplay types used beyond combat when gathering this gear, and once it has all been collected, a special endgame fight should be unlocked. If the content is on par with the Protorelic missions, exploringGhost of Tsushima 2’s open-world could be significantly more memorable.
Ghost of Tsushima
WHERE TO PLAY
A storm is coming. Discover the expanded Ghost of Tsushima experience in this Director’s Cut. Uncover the hidden wonders of Tsushima in this open-world action adventure from Sucker Punch Productions and PlayStation Studios, available for PS5 and PS4. Forge a new path and wage an unconventional war for the freedom of Tsushima. Challenge opponents with your katana, master the bow to eliminate distant threats, develop stealth tactics to ambush enemies and explore a new story on Iki Island.
