Summary
- Atsu's shamisen in Ghost of Yotei could mimic Jin's flute from Ghost of Tsushima.
- Jin's flute changes the weather, but Atsu's shamisen should arguably have expanded capabilities.
- Using the shamisen to change time in Ghost of Yotei could enhance stealth gameplay.
Ghost of Yotei is making some bold leaps as the sequel to Sucker Punch's 2020 hit, Ghost of Tsushima. With a new protagonist and an entirely different setting and time period, Ghost of Yotei appears to be defying expectations in many ways. That being said, Ghost of Yotei isn't leaving all of Ghost of Tsushima behind, as it seems to carry on a fun tradition from its predecessor.
While it has yet to be outright confirmed by Sucker Punch, the shamisen that Atsu can be seen carrying in Ghost of Yotei's reveal trailer seems to emulate Ghost of Tsushima's flute. If that turns out to be the case, Ghost of Yotei could see players using the shamisen in the same way that they could use the flute in Ghost of Tsushima.
Ghost of Yotei's Shamisen Seems to Emulate Ghost of Tsushima's Flute
Players Could Use Jin's Flute to Change the Weather in Ghost of Tsushima
Aside from Jin's horse in Ghost of Tsushima, his flute (otherwise known as a shakuhachi) could be considered one of his sidekicks as well. Jin's flute is available to play at any time, and his repertoire of songs can even grow as players collect singing crickets scattered throughout Tsushima Island. Upon playing one of these songs, the weather will change within just a few seconds, allowing players to adjust the environment as they see fit.
- "The Sun's Warm Embrace" - Changes the weather to Sunny
- "Lament of the Storm" - Changes the weather to Thunder
- "Shadows in the Fog" - Changes the weather to Fog
- "A Chorus of Raindrops" - Changes the weather to Rain/Snow
There are four songs in Ghost of Tsushima, each of which will change the weather according to what its name indicates. The "Lament of the Storm," for example, causes thunder-producing storm clouds to appear, whereas "The Sun's Warm Embrace" will bring out the sun again.
Players May Be Able to Use Atsu's Shamisen Similarly in Ghost of Yotei
Just as they could with Jin's flute in Ghost of Tsushima, it seems Ghost of Yotei may allow players to play Atsu's shamisen. If the shamisen is indeed playable, it will presumably observe similar mechanics in that players can use it to adjust the weather and learn new songs by collecting a specific item. However, Ghost of Yotei's new setting and protagonist may be enough of an excuse to see Atsu's instrument affecting more than just the game's environments and visuals.
One of the major downsides to Jin's flute in Ghost of Tsushima is that it only affects the weather. Ultimately, this means the flute only serves the purpose of customizing the atmosphere in Ghost of Tsushima, as the weather has no effect on gameplay. In light of that, perhaps Ghost of Yotei could evolve its musical instrument to impact more than just the game's environment and visuals. For example, the opportunity to change the time of day using the shamisen in Ghost of Yotei would be a welcome change of pace, in a way similar to how Link could with the Sun's Song in Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Being able to change the time of day in Ghost of Yotei could enhance its stealth gameplay, assuming Atsu will play like Jin in Ghost of Tsushima.
Again, it hasn't been confirmed whether players will be able to actually play the shamisen or if it will even affect the game, as Jin's flute did in Ghost of Tsushima. However, it can nonetheless be safely assumed, simply due to the instrument's prominence in Ghost of Yotei's announcement trailer. If the shamisen is playable in the game, Ghost of Yotei might consider adding some unique gameplay elements to it that Ghost of Tsushima neglected to implement. Even if it doesn't serve any gameplay purposes, though, at least players will have something fun and relaxing to do when they're not making headway in Atsu's quest for revenge.
Ghost of Yotei
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- October 2, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World
