Upon its release in 2020, Ghost of Tsushima was met with critical acclaim, as evidenced by its high review scores, as well as the numerous nominations and awards it received. As one of Sony's top hits from last year, it's no surprise that the award-winning title is set to be reissued for the company's latest console, the PlayStation 5, as Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut.
So far, the Director's Cut looks to be a fairly content-rich re-release, in large part thanks to the addition of Iki Island—a whole new area to explore that distinguishes itself from the base game's setting in a few key ways. From what's been shown, the DLC seems like it aims to expand on some of the core tenets that define Ghost of Tsushima in both gameplay and story.
Iki Island: A New Story
Upon reaching Act 2 of the game, players will be able to depart the titular island of Tsushima to visit Iki Island. With the new location comes a new story with a familiar premise: Jin has to stop a group of Mongols who pose a threat to his home. While Jin's goal may be fairly straightforward, the moral reckoning he's likely to endure is anything but. PlayStation has stated that Jin Sakai—who has visited the island once before—will have to "face old fears" and confront "buried traumas" head-on, while simultaneously coming to terms with his family's shadowy, presumably bloody past.
The battle between change and tradition is Ghost of Tsushima's core conflict, but whereas the base game explored that struggle in regard to how to defend one's homeland, the upcoming DLC seems to be more a matter of family. The expansion looks poised to zero in on how one reconciles their own values they hold to be true with the warped, antiquated ones of their ancestors, which has the potential to be an incredibly compelling tale.
More "Wild" and "Lawless" than Tsushima Island
Another element of Director's Cut's Iki Island that PlayStation has been keen to highlight is its chaotic state of affairs. Unlike Tsushima, which was only recently thrown into disarray right around the beginning of the game, Iki hasn't had a governing authority in several decades; it's a lawless land, something players will likely notice while exploring it.
Besides the aforementioned Mongols, outlaws like pirates, raiders, and smugglers are also confirmed to populate the island alongside more outlandish enemies such as the Mad Monks. Suffice to say, there seems to be more variety in the enemies Jin will encounter than there was in the original game, and luckily, he'll have a few more tricks up his sleeve while taking them on. New legends and techniques are included with Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut, which should add even more depth to the game's engaging, lethal combat.
More Animals to Pet on Iki Island
Ghost of Tsushima is a fairly dark game. It's bloody, characters die in violent, gruesome ways, and the story is pretty light on levity. However, there are some brief moments of relief to be found throughout the game. One might take pleasure in the beautiful, wide-open landscapes, relaxing in the hot springs, or composing haiku. But many agree that some of the game's most joyous, adorable moments come from getting to pet the various foxes running around Tsushima island; seeing them react to Jin's affection is cute enough, but watching how they jump and yip in glee before setting off into the wilderness is among the most enchanting things to be seen in the game.
Thankfully, Iki Island will boast more animals ready for some pets when the expansion releases. But unlike the foxes, players will have to calm them first by playing Jin's flute before giving them some love. So far, Sucker Punch has confirmed that cats, deer, and monkeys will inhabit Iki. It remains to be seen if any other wildlife will pop up, but it's refreshing to know that more docile creatures will be roaming the land, given that much of Tsushima Island's fauna is largely hostile.
Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut is hitting store shelves in just under a month boasting myriad improvements like enhanced visuals, DualSense functionality, and proper lip-syncing for the Japanese dub of the game. But if there's one thing fans should be excited for in this next-gen re-release, it's Iki Island. The DLC looks to be largely built around what made the original game so special, which is perhaps the best approach an expansion like this can take.
Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut launches August 20, 2021 for PS4 and PS5.