Way of the Samurai: Ghost of Tsushima

The Ghost of Tsushima combines Assassin’s Creed with Red Dead Redemption. The game shows a huge open world that allows for exploration with beautiful scenery that has a traditional Japanese Samurai feel to it. The styling and the cut scenes take inspiration from the great Samurai director Akira Kurosawa.

Video: Ghost of Tsushima Trailer

Story

The Ghost of Tsushima tells the story of a fictional tale based on the real invasion of Japan by the Mongol Empire in 1274 that began on the island of Tsushima. You play Samurai Jin, a survivor of a terrible battle with the invading Mongols. He discovers that his uncle, Lord Shimura, has been captured by the invading Mongols. Throughout the story, you will meet other Japanese warriors who you recruit to join in the fight against the Mongols and to free his uncle.

Gameplay

Ghost of Tsushima offers great sword gameplay that requires you to deflect your opponents with perfect timing. There is the essence of stealth in the game, however, it is not as exciting as having a standoff with your enemy or slicing through hordes of Mongols. You will find yourself being a samurai staying calm in conflict. As you work your way through the story you gain more moves and abilities. There are different stances to master during the game, different stances help you deal with different opponents from basic swords to heavily armoured soldiers. There are small devices that will help you in the fight such as a bow, smoke bombs, and firecrackers. The fighting gameplay is about perfectly timing your blocks to gain the upper hand and learning which stance is most effective against which opponent. To upgrade your equipment and weapons you have to source resources and supplies to build weapons. You can gain resources by completing missions or sourcing them yourselves in the open environment.

Video: 18 Minutes of Ghost Tsushima Gamplay by IGN

Graphics

The graphics in Ghost of Tsushima are excellent; the wind sweeping through the environment is similar to traditional samurai movies. The small details such as unique blood splatters for different sword swipes or riding through open flower meadows. You will find yourself playing with the in-game photo mode. The photo mode allows you to control the camera focal lengths, weather, time of day, wind direction, wind speed, and facial expressions. The open-world in Ghost of Tsushima is stunning and beautiful. The developer's Sucker Punch has done excellent work in the graphics department.

Summary

Ghost of Tsushima is a beautiful game that brings samurai to life in an expansive open world. The fighting system suits the way of the samurai with patience and timing is key. The storytelling in the game is brilliant and has the essence of traditional Japanese samurai films. With tons of customisation, you will find yourself playing the game for hours trying to clear the island of Tsushima of Mongols invaders. If you are into role-playing games, then Ghost of Tsushima is down your alley.