Between petting foxes, chasing golden birds, and galloping alongside deer, Ghost of Tsushima's protagonist, Jin Sakai, has a powerful connection with the wildlife of his island home. But a rarely-occurring idle animation takes things to the next level, showcasing an affinity for nature to rival Snow White.
Sucker Punch Productions balanced Ghost of Tsushima's bloody combat with moments of quiet contemplation and literal poetry, as befitting classic samurai tropes and traditions. The game's opportunities to interact with animals seems to particularly resonate with players, as the Sucker Punch has revealed players have pet the helpful, Inari Shrine foxes millions of times. Most of these interactions stem from specific mechanics, as one would expect, but one moment must be triggered by genuine patience.
After standing still for half-a-minute to ninety-seconds, Jin has a rare chance of holding his hand out to receive an orange golden bird in the palm of his hand. Twitter user @catsandbolts produced a quartet of screenshots showing off the moment of zen, and Sucker Punch's character and cinematic supervisor, Billy Harper, chimed in to confirm that this is a "super rare" animation. Ghost of Tsushima hosts a number of characterful animations including a "chiburi" gesture—the quick, wrist-flick flourish samurai perform to flick blood from their blades before sheathing them.
The vibrant bird that lands on Jin's palm appears to be a different breed than the golden birds that guide players to points of interest. The small bird's model bears a strong resemblance to a scarlet tanager, though that species is not indigenous to Japan, and it is unclear if it was the basis for Jin's friend, a contributing inspiration, or merely a coincidence.
Sucker Punch packed a staggering number of Easter eggs into Ghost, but the game wears most of these homages on its sleeves, such as the Sly Cooper-themed samurai armor for Jin, or the origami shrine that nods at Ratchet & Clank, Death Stranding, and God of War. The fact that players are still discovering subtle flourishes like the idle animation over half a month after the PS4 exclusive's release leads one to wonder how many more secrets Tsushima has yet to share.
Another cool detail that players are likely to overlook or discover by accident is that Jin will harmonize with other musicians while playing his flute. An even subtler touch is that water will wash away mud from Jin's costume, and washed-off blood will follow the flow of rivers and streams. Given the sheer amount of acreage, attention to detail, and varied mechanics on offer, it is likely that players will be discovering hidden touches like this for months to come.
Ghost of Tsushima is available now on the PlayStation 4.