REVIEW: Ghost of Tsushima

The next generation of the PlayStation will soon replace the PlayStation 4. We've been given a treasure trove of PlayStation exclusives during this beloved era. These range from The Last of Us Remastered to The Last of Us Part II with all manner of quality content in-between. The final PS4 exclusive title is here, a Sucker Punch Productions original IP. Ghost of Tsushima is an open-world game that allows us to live our ultimate samurai fantasies. __S.4__

You play the role of Lord Jin Sakai, a samurai who survives the first battle of a Mongol invasion of Tsushima, led by Khotun Khan (descendant of the infamous Genghis). Ghost from Tsushimafollows Jin on his quest to vengeance against Khan for wiping down Tsushima’s entire samurai armies. Jin also captures Lord Shimura, Jin's uncle, and Jin's attempt to stop Khan's Mongol army's reign of terror on the island. Jin discovers that he must give up the honorable Way of the Samurai to use more guerrilla tactics in order to defeat the Mongol army once for all.

Sucker Punch was created to fulfill our samurai fantasies. The team spent time perfecting the unique samurai fighting style. Since the release of Assassin's Creed Shadow of Mordor, we've seen games where sword fighting is the main mode of combat. Tsushima's combat has been compared to these games so the pressure was on to make Tsushima's stand out. This combat system is unique from the first mission. You will be playing the Mongol invasion which saw Jin's uncle capture.

Ghost Of Tsushimahas an easy-to-learn combat system. It uses a parry, dodge and attack system with quick, heavy attacks. The game is a brilliant game that develops your skills and gradually increases the difficulty as you progress. The Stances are the most distinctive element of Tsushima’scombat. Although they may seem a bit confusing at first, once you get the rhythm down you will be amazed at how simple and fluid combat is.

There are four types of enemy on the island: spearmen, shieldmen and spearmen. These enemies are introduced gradually by the game. You start with swordsmen, then slowly add the others until you encounter every enemy type. This forces you to modify your Stances every now and again. Each stance (Stone, Wind and Water, Moon) introduces Jin to a different fighting style to properly counter each enemy type. For example, the Wind stance introduces moves to overpower a shield while Moon focuses more on heavy attacks to knock brutes off their balance for a quicker takedown. You will learn the mechanics the more you play. You will soon be able to quickly switch between stances using a simple R2+ button combination. It's a great way to quickly switch stances and execute a parry to instantly open up your foe for a takedown. This is just 50 hours in the game.

One of the best aspects of the game is Jin's ability to encounter enemies while he walks the streets. Jin will confidently call for his best warrior group to confront him. It's a battle between wits in which you face off against each other. Hold the triangle button and wait for your opponent's strike before you release it at the right time. The AI cleverly incorporates feints into each Stand Off. Sometimes it strikes immediately, but other times it feints 3 or more times to lure you out. These moments are among the best in the game. It's an indication of how enjoyable the combat is that every StandOff will be initiated by you smashing down on the D-Pad.

Ghost Of Tsushimahas an obvious difficulty curve as you move through the story, making small adjustments to encounters or enemies. Mongols get better armour, brutes get shields, and enemies learn new moves. The parry windows shrink, which encourages you to improve your skills along the way. My concerns were that my character would become too powerful after Act I. However, I have since lost more than I won and had to fight back from a false beginning. This is a great example of the game's replayability even after the main story has ended.

Tsushimaexcels in combat but it encourages you use a stealthier approach to missions. As you begin to assume the title Ghost, you will sneak through Mongol encampments across the island. It is fun to stealth-gaming and there are some satisfying moments throughout the campaign. For instance, Jin had to sneak through a camp in order assassinate three targets. This was a refreshing change of pace. However, the stealth aspect of the game could have been improved.

The movement around towns and camps is where stealth play falls short. You lack the skill required to move around towns and camps like Assassin's Creed. This game puts stealth first in its combat design. It's not as easy as it should to hop onto a tight rope and move between buildings. Many of these simple hops led to an accidental fall, either to my death or into a Mongol pack. It's also frustrating because climbing mechanics allow you to scale cliffs and swing from tree-to-tree with your Iron Hook. They feel simple and fun, so scaling buildings and running across rooftops should be easier than it is.

As you advance, you will be able to unlock new gadgets and weapons to help your Ghostly ways. However, I often wondered why I was trying to stealthily complete missions when I knew that I could easily navigate the camp without any problems. Even though some missions require you to use stealth, the experience is still enjoyable enough that it doesn't detract. Some of the gadgets that you unlock will be familiar to you: a wind chime to get enemies out of your path, a smoke bomb to escape quickly, and a poison dart for silently taking out enemies from a distance. These gadgets can be used in isolation. I discovered that I enjoyed experimenting with them and I was able to use all of them in stealth as well as open combat.

Ghost from Tsushima'smain mission is one I found fascinating, often exciting, and incredibly emotional. It is a very close relationship that you form with Jin Sakai, which results in truly amazing moments that leave my jaw dropping. These moments included the explosive action sequences that usually closed each game's third act, but it was the unexpected character moments (from foreshadowed betrayals and surprise deaths) that left the most lasting impression.

The three acts are separated by the three regions of the island: Izuhara and Toyotama. However, the campaign will take you farther north than you expect. You will still be sent there, there and everywhere. Act I is the longest act in the campaign. It's designed to introduce characters, game mechanics and the island. The creative team behind the scenes, Nate Fox and Jason Connell, as well as writers Ian Ryan and Liz Albl and Patrick Downs, knew how to increase the action so that you will remember the memorable moments. Ghost of Tsushima takes the action to a new level, with the epic run through the Mongols at Castle Kaneda at Act I and the sequences using hwacha (Japanese Siege Weapons) at Act II. The inevitable confrontation with Khotun Khan is at Act III.

Act II's "Ghost of Yarikawa" subplot is where one of the most memorable missions takes place. Jin arrives at the scene to defend the fort against Mongols and receives the Ghost Stance as his reward. YouTube is flooded with reactions videos to this sequence, making it a fan favorite. It is, for lack of a better word, the most hyped shit. It felt like something straight from an anime. The combination of the sheer surprise and the subsequent devastation was overwhelming. This sequence is the most satisfying in the game, and it's the highest point of a game filled with massive high points.

The hero of the game is Lord Jin Sakai. After his father's death at the young age, he assumes the title of de facto leader of Sakai Clan. However, he is forced to make difficult decisions and Lord Shimura calls into question his honour. Jin's story manages to blend his mission of saving his island with his desire to make Khan look bad. It also contains powerful emotional moments. His journey to becoming the Ghost reveals his mind and makes him question his motives. Tsushima's residents have given him the Ghost identity. This moniker clouds his judgment and can lead to disaster for his people.

In a game full of them, the most complex connection is between Jin and Shimura. Jin and Shimura aren't easy to see, considering Shimura took Jin in after his father's passing. Jin claims he is only doing what is necessary to save his island. Shimura, however, refuses to accept this view and considers Jin a traitor both to the samurai code as well as to his dying wish, which was for Jin the best Sakai Clan leader that he could be. It is a tribute to Jin and Shimura’s actors, Eric Steinberg and Daisuke Tuji, that they so clearly convey their characters' dilemmas.

Jin's journey is filled with memorable characters who are just as well-written as our main characters. From the angry and vengeful Lady Masako, to the wise Sensei Ishikawa, to the hard-shell-soft-interior Yuna, you'll be pleased to cross paths with these characters throughout Jin's campaign and across the island in the game's vast number of side quests.

Tales of Tsushima allow you to work at your own pace with the side characters. Each side story is as well-written as the main quest. Lauren Tom's Lady Masako is a brilliantly played character. She is on a revenge mission to find her family's killer and is also home to one of the many emotional gut punches that the game offers. The brutal surprise will leave you stunned. Francois Chau's brilliant performance as Sensei Ishikawa is another exciting game. He must find his former student who has gone rogue while also taking Jin under his wing to become his student.

As enjoyable as the sibling relationship between Yuna, Taka, and Norio's quest for the salvation of Tsushima's temples are, is Yuna and Taka? These stories are an integral part of the grand design of the game. Each story contributes to Jin's reasoning for becoming Ghost.

The game's Mythic Quests are worth mentioning, in addition to the side quests. There are many myths that can be found across the island that will enhance Jin's abilities. These were the places where you could find the most memorable moments of the game, especially those that resulted in stunningly designed, challenging duels.

Tsushima, an island with a lively open world, is worth exploring. It was so much fun to ride around the map on your customisable horse - mine was a white beauty named Sora - that even though fast travel is an option, I chose to ride to my destination. Agro in Shadow of the Colossus, Shadowfax in Red Dead Redemption 2 and the Arabian horse Shadowfax are also video game horses that rank high. __S.72__

Tsushima has a surprising number of interesting places and things that you can discover, for many reasons. Each activity helps Jin develop his abilities, whether you are following a fox from shrine to scaling a cliff face or playing the bamboo strike mini-games.

All of these activities contribute to the impressive customization of your equipment, especially your armour sets. You can upgrade each armour set both statistically and visually to gain an advantage on the battlefield or in Photo Mode. You can choose to have more health, stealth, combat boosts or other perks. All armour sets are customizable to your specific needs. Although I prefer Ghost armour (which isn't available until later on in the game), I have used other types of armour depending on the mission. Hilariously, armour sets can be switched on the fly. I can only imagine how confused the Mongols would be as they switch effortlessly from lightweight stealth armour with an enormous helmet to heavy, powerful samurai armor.

The problem with many of these side-activities is their repetitive nature. You can't follow all foxes if you only have one. Are there really 40 foxes I have to follow (not an exaggeration). These repetitive problems extend to the many one-off missions that you will be given by NPCs in Tsushima. You will often be asked by the residents to find a lost friend or family member. Repeat the process. It's a good thing that Sucker Punch has mastered so many important gameplay mechanics. If the game were less enjoyable to play, I wouldn’t be as eager to finish these endless activities. Although I've started my quest to earn the Platinum trophy, the repetitiveness is what frustrates me the most.

When it comes to overall game design, I don't just doff my cap at Sucker Punch. Every cap that is possible must also be doff. Tsushima is an amazing place to explore, with beautiful graphics at every corner. It's amazing how the weather changes constantly, from harsh rain to shining sunlight to falling snow. Daybreak was my favorite time of the day. It was the perfect time to ride through the forest, with the sun shining between the trees. Despite this, the graphics of the cutscenes often looked worse than what you see while you are traveling around the land.

It sounds amazing when combined with the stunning visuals. Every slap of the shield or clang of the katana sounds powerful, and the katana leaves a satisfying ring in your ears after each slain foe. Even when you are not actively exploring a forest, the leaves rustle and branches snap under your feet, making it a world that is both visually appealing and aurally captivating. Brilliantly, the music is also used. The sound designers know when to increase the excitement by dropping heavy violins on our hearts to tug at the heartstrings. They even incorporate the famous drums of samurai cinema as your enemy draws their sword out of its sheath.

This map encourages free roaming, despite the lack of waypoints. Sucker Punch uses in-world signals instead to encourage exploration. Whether it's a tower of smoke indicating someone has set up camp near you, a mysterious collection or fireflies that are hiding on the otherwise beautiful horizon, these signals encourage exploration. These in-world signals give Ghost from Tsushima, a natural feel. However, sometimes having no waypoints due to a guiding winds that blows the environment in the direction it wishes you to travel can be frustrating. For example, finding a swordsmith to repair a broken sword in a new place is difficult.

In the weeks following the release of the game, the much-discussed Photo Mode will have been a dominant feature on your Twitter timeline. Sucker Punch has created one of our most detailed photo modes, and it is the longest time I've spent taking screenshots. It's only surpassed by Marvel's Spider-Man. __S.105__

Ghost of Tsushimais an epic, sprawling adventure. There are some flaws but they don't diminish the overall power of this game. The story is powerful and emotional. There is a central character with complex emotions and brilliantly written side characters. A brilliant combat system is also included that is easy to learn and fun to use. You can explore the vast open countryside on horseback and find something for everyone. It can be overwhelming to try and complete everything on Tsushima. The mission types can feel repetitive, but the game is so fun, I didn't care.

This game has a lot of highs. The story builds steadily through each act, resulting in thrilling sequences and surprising character moments in both the main storyline and side quests. Ghost of Tsushima, if not for The Last of Us Part II would have been my Game of the Year. It's worth having, and Lord Jin Sakai is a great addition to the PS4's extensive collection of exclusives. Ghost from Tsushima says goodbye to the PS4 in elegant style.