Ghost of Tsushima is a 2020 action-adventure game developed by Sucker Punch Productions and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It is known for its stunning open world, cinematic storytelling, and fluid combat, paying homage to classic samurai films.
Setting and plot
The game is a work of historical fiction set in 1274 on the real-world Japanese island of Tsushima, during the first Mongol invasion of Japan.
- The story follows Jin Sakai, one of the last surviving samurai after his clan is decimated by the invading Mongol army, led by the ruthless general Khotun Khan.
- Forced to abandon his samurai code of honor, Jin must forge a new path as “The Ghost”. He uses stealth, subterfuge, and guerilla warfare to liberate his homeland and protect its people from a brutal, unconventional enemy.
- The narrative explores the internal conflict between his samurai upbringing and the dishonorable but effective tactics he must employ to win.
Gameplay
Ghost of Tsushima offers a rich blend of exploration and combat.
- Combat is a key feature, allowing players to fight with their katana in close-quarters duels or use stealth tactics for assassinations. Jin learns different “stances” to counter various enemy types, like swordsmen, spearmen, and brutes.
- Standoffs, a cinematic one-on-one duel, allow for quick, skill-based takedowns of multiple enemies.
- The open world is navigated using the “Guiding Wind” instead of traditional waypoints, which directs the player towards objectives through natural environmental cues.
- The game also includes relaxing side activities like composing haikus and finding hot springs for moments of quiet reflection.
Additional content
The game has been expanded since its initial release with new content and features:
- Director’s Cut: An expanded version, available on PlayStation 5 and PC, includes the Iki Island expansion, which introduces a new area to explore and delves deeper into Jin’s past.
- Ghost of Tsushima: Legends: A free multiplayer expansion that adds a supernatural, cooperative element to the game. Players team up to complete story missions, survival waves, and raids as one of four classes: Samurai, Hunter, Ronin, or Assassin.
- “Kurosawa Mode”: A feature that applies a black-and-white, film-grain filter with Japanese audio, in tribute to the acclaimed film director Akira Kurosawa.
