After years in development, Ghost of Tsushima is finally releasing next week and will be one of the biggest games to launch on the PlayStation 4 as the console nears the end of its lifecycle. Set in the late thirteenth century Tsushima Island, the game takes players into ancient Japan and allows them to experience the iconic Samurai culture. Ghost of Tsushima appears to be the Samurai game that players have been waiting for with immersive combat and a vast open-world environment for players to explore.
Of course, given that the game is merely a few days from release, many are looking forward to all the amazing features and gameplay mechanics that developer Sucker Punch has been teasing for the past several months. Here is a breakdown of some of the game's features that have been revealed so far, and why players should get excited to delve into the exciting world of Ghost of Tsushima.
Amazing Combat
Given that it's is a Samurai game, Sucker Punch has poured a lot of effort into developing Ghost of Tsushima's combat system that would somewhat accurately represent the Samurai culture. During Sony's State of Play presentation last May, players witnessed gameplay footage of protagonist Jin's combat skills, while wielding a plethora of exciting weapons such as a katana or bow.
Once the player engages in battle with an enemy, the game transitions to a cinematic look and adjusts the screen's ratio to make it look like a movie. An amazing musical score will begin to play, adding a tense atmosphere making each encounter a cinematic experience. As from what was seen in the footage, it appears there's an option for every combat sequence to be like a classic Samurai film, and with Kurosawa mode on, there's a grainy black and white filter for added atmosphere, while also having the option to have all dialogue in Japanese to complete the effect.
Exploring The Vast Open World of Tsushima
Another notable feature that players should be excited about in Ghost of Tsushima is its open-world environment that is just full of exploration opportunities. In the State of Play Presentation, it was mentioned that players "can't have exploration without curiosity," and it appears that Ghost of Tsushima's depiction of ancient Japan offers so many things that would make players curious and explore on their own.
Joana Wang, the Environment Art Lead at Sucker Punch, revealed that the team visited Tsushima multiple times to get a real-life inspiration while crafting the game's open-world environment. However, Wang noted that Tsushima in the game would not be 1:1 recreation of its real-life counterpart. Instead, the team took the most essential elements of the island that served as a foundation of their version that players can explore soon in the game.
However, unlike most open-world games, Ghost of Tsushima's open-world environment will not be filled with waypoints, but instead, the island itself will guide players on their journey. Throughout the game, wind and animals will show players points of interest, and they would have to be observant during exploration parts as must be on the lookout for elements such as smoke that could indicate a village that has been invaded by the Mongolians.
In-Depth Customization
Another exciting feature in Ghost of Tsushima is the wide plethora of customization options that would allow players to make their characters look their own. As seen in previews, there are two major elements when it comes to customization and these are form and function. To begin with, players can dye any armor to their preferred color by finding plants that would allow them to craft the look they want.
Additionally, customization also affects the way the armor protects the character and will play a major part with the game style Ghost players prefer. Those who prefer to engage with the game's stealth mechanics have certain gear and armor that would provide players with advantages when taking enemies out in the shadows. However, for those who prefer the honorable warrior, upgrades are needed to improve certain attributes.
Choices Affect Interactions With Other Characters
There are two ways to approach combat in Ghost of Tsushima, and players can either be a stealth master or an honorable warrior. However, it is worth noting that the playstyle the players choose will have an impact on the way other characters perceive the player. Depending on how other characters take the player's choices, they can either choose to follow the player, abandon them, or become an enemy.
In past previews of the game, players were introduced to the protagonist's uncle, Shimura. He serves as the character's mentor and teaches them the way of the Samurai. However, if the player decides to turn their back on the knowledge imparted by Shimura, it will have a negative effect on their relationship. While Sucker Punch is hesitant to give everything away, it appears that the player's choices would have an impact on the game's overall story.
Ghosting Enemies to Death
During the State of Play Presentation trailer, Sucker Punch revealed that Ghost of Tsushima will allow players to approach combat using the ways of The Ghost. What this means is that players will have more ways to distract an enemy and may use weapons such as a kunai to perform a quick stealth kill.
Another weapon that players can utilize while using the less respected stealth option is fear. During combat where players are faced with multiple enemies, they can take out foes one by one that will leave those who are still alive to cower in fear. Once the player reveals themselves, enemies can either engage them in combat or run away. During the gameplay trailer, it was shown how one Mongolian dropped out of fear, surrendering himself to the player.
Of course, these are just some of the exciting features that players can expect in Ghost of Tsushima once it releases to the PS4 next week. While no one can accurately judge the game before it is released, it appears that Ghost of Tsushima will serve as the Samurai game that players have been waiting for.
Ghost of Tsushima releases July 17, 2020, exclusively on PlayStation 4.