Actress Erika Ishii, known for voicing Atsu in Ghost of Yotei, has shared her reaction after it was confirmed that the Ghost series will follow an anthology format. This means she will not reprise her role in future games. Ishii expresses a mix of sadness at leaving her character behind and admiration for Sucker Punch's decision, which she considers a valuable bet on renewing the narrative with different stories and protagonists in each installment.
The anthology design and its impact on development 🛠️
The choice of an anthology structure represents a significant technical and creative shift. It allows the studio to reset core elements with each game, such as the narrative engine, character design, and historical setting, without the constraints of a fixed continuity. This approach can foster experimentation, but it also requires building believable worlds from scratch in each project, increasing pre-production and system design work.
Goodbye to the character, hello to total mystery 🎭
The situation has its comedic side. Ishii goes from being an integral part of a franchise to being in the same position as any fan: speculating without clues. Her statement of trust in Sucker Punch is genuine, but it's also the only comfort when she doesn't even know if the next game will be about samurai, Vikings, or perhaps cowboys in space. Her role now is that of a privileged spectator, with the added bonus of being able to say I was there when they announce something no one expects.