Most gamers would agree that Ghost of Tsushima is a great game, as it excels in several areas. The story is strong, the visuals are stunning, and the music is beautiful. The gameplay is equally appealing, as smart approaches to open world exploration give gamers a reason to keep playing. With so much being done well, the game is deserving of all the praise that it has received. However, no game is truly perfect, and Ghost of Tsushima is no exception.

Fortunately, developer Sucker Punch could have the chance to fix the game’s few problems via Ghost of Ikishima. Likened to Spider-Man: Miles Morales, this rumored game would likely be a smaller experience that bridges the gap between the original and a full-on sequel. A standalone expansion of sorts, players could explore and fight through a smaller island, having just as much fun as they did in the first game. However, if Sucker Punch is careful to improve on a few key areas, Ghost of Ikishima could be even more memorable than its predecessor.

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Ghost of Tsushima takes a Breath of the Wild-like approach to its open world, and it results in an impressive level of freedom. Being able to go anywhere in the world and complete quests at will is a joy, as is the ability to stop and return mid-mission. However, the open world itself can feel a bit samey in Ghost of Tsushima. While it is visually stunning and easy to traverse, it often falls into the trap of feeling empty. This shows most clearly in the barren buildings, as they are essentially all the exact same. While the historical accuracy is admirable, it is a lot less fun to loot and fight through buildings that feel copied-and-pasted throughout the world.

A sequel could give interior structures more life, filling them with more enemies and different layouts. This small change would go a long way to making the world feel more lived in and less abandoned, something that a sequel should strive to do. On top of this, a smaller map could be hugely beneficial, as it would allow Sucker Punch to keep areas tighter and more focused. While the game’s massive fields are a lovely spectacle on the first several viewings, those that have played for long periods of time will likely be less enamored. Beyond serving as great opportunities for fans of Ghost of Tsushima’s photo mode, they add little to the game, so filling some of them with enemy bases or extra side missions would be a plus. While Ghost of Ikishima should absolutely have a few open areas that add to the majesty of the open world, dropping some for a smaller map could help.

While Ghost of Tsushima fans had access to tons of upgrades for Jin Sakai, they had very few chances to truly put them to the test. Unlocking every upgrade and ability for Jin took some work, and while a maxed-out version of the hero was fun to play as, he was absurdly overpowered. Players could cut down high-level generals with ease, ending what is meant to be a challenging duel in seconds. Likewise, entire bases could be cleared in seconds, with no enemies standing a chance against the legendary Ghost.

While there is fun to be had in an overpowered protagonist, having no real challenge is a downside. As such, creating some proper end bosses for Ghost of Ikishima would be a nice gesture. Enemies tougher than Khotun Khan could be presented, with players only standing a chance if they have maxed out their upgrades, armor, and weaponry. These final fights could essentially be treated like the Valkyries from God of War, with players having an optional endgame challenge to take on. While the main story and regular side content should not be overly difficult, having this option would go a long way to making Ghost of Ikishima an improvement.

Another option would be a wave-based mode, as it would give players the chance to replay a base-like experience at will. Players could take on a massive amount of increasingly difficult enemies, putting their skills to the test as they try to beat their previous time. A leaderboard system could make this feature more enjoyable, and it would once again see players having something to do with a maxed-out version of Jin. Finally, Ghost of Tsushima’s Lethal difficulty should be available in the sequel from day one. With this awesome mode making enemies and Jin a lot stronger, it was a fun way to play. Unfortunately, it came a few months after launch, ensuring that many had already beaten and moved on from the game. As such, including it in Ghost of Ikishima from the get-go would be one more way to improve the experience.

Ghost of Tsushima is available now on PS4.

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