Ghost of Tsushima: Legends finally has a release date, and fans will get to experience all it has to offer a lot sooner than expected. Come October 16th, players can return to Tsushima, this time taking control of powerful legendary heroes to defend the island from demonic invaders. Eager fans may want to dive back in a little earlier, though, and there are some preparations that players can make in order to be ready for the release of the co-op update. These things should help players kill time while waiting for the 16th and also hone their skills to make them more valuable allies.
Ghost of Tsushima provided fans with an incredible single-player experience that is unparalleled in a lot of aspects. It had thrilling combat, beautiful environments, and a compelling cast of characters with individual motives and goals. Through all of this, one of its main draws was the vast open-world environment fans could explore, finding collectibles to change Jin's appearance or increase his abilities on the way. With all of this already in place, no one expected Sucker Punch to announce a free co-op update in the form of Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, but that surprise will become reality next week.
Platinum Ghost of Tsushima
For those players that haven't yet, the first thing they should do while waiting for Ghost of Tsushima: Legends is get the platinum trophy. Unlike some other games, getting this most prestigious of rewards doesn't require any amazing feats of skill or even 100% completion, but it's well worth the effort. Every second spent with Ghost of Tsushima is a good one, and the player is even rewarded for completing this endeavor with a new dye for the Ghost Armor. On the way to complete the platinum trophy, players will also get to see the full breadth of what Tsushima has to offer.
It should be said that it seems like rewards gained in the base game won't carry over to Ghost of Tsushima: Legends in any way, and this will instead be a completely separate mode. Players don't need the platinum trophy or the fancy dye to enjoy this new co-op expansion, but it's certainly a good way to get better at the game and experience more before the inevitable release of Legends. Some of the trophies even require the player to do specific things in combat, like performing perfect parries, and this could be good training for the combat in Ghost fo Tsushima: Legends.
Pick a Character Class and Practice
Ghost of Tsushima: Legends offers players four character classes to choose from, but players will need to pick one to start with. Along the way, all four will be unlocked eventually, but their starting class will be the one players spend the most time with at first. The Samurai class will enable players to charge headfirst into combat without fear, whereas the Ronin takes more of a support role. The Hunter focuses primarily on archery techniques, while the Assassin is capable of dealing massive damage to opponents in a single, swift strike.
After picking a role, it would help to play through Ghost of Tsushima again, this time focusing on using tactics that apply to that role. For example, if players are interested in using Samurai in Legends, they could do a playthrough in which they avoid stealth wherever possible. Those wanting to specialize as the Hunter would do well to practice their archery skills, perhaps playing through Sensei Ishikawa's quests again. The Assassin will strike from the shadows much like Jin did, so working on stealth builds would be useful there. Finally, the Ronin is unique in that it can summon a spirit dog companion and heal allies, so players interested in that role may have to wait to see what it's like.
Replay the Mythic Tales
It's not confirmed, but it seems likely that the characters in Ghost of Tsushima: Legends will correspond in some way with the mythic tales available to Jin in the main story. Replaying through these quests will give players more perspective on the characters if that does end up being the case, and will immerse them in the stylized folk lore of Tsushima as well.
The Hunter class has access to an ability called Eye of Uchitsune, allowing her to fire multiple arrows at opponents heads in an instant. This ability's name is a reference to Uchitsune, the original owner of Jin's Longbow. In the quest The Cures of Uchitsune, players are tasked with seeking out the cursed bow of the legendary archer. It is said to drive the wielder mad, making them percieve unarmed civilians as evil demons. This didn't happen to Jin, but he does have to duel a Tengu demon in order to get it. It's unclear whether Hunter is meant to be the actual Uchitsune from the story or if she's connected in some other way, but having this context will be nice.
Gather the Squad
Of course, playing Ghost of Tsushima: Legends will require a group of friends that have the game. When getting together a squad, it's important to note that Ghost of Tsushima: Legends will launch with two game modes. The first is a two-player story mode in which players will progress through a series of predetermined missions, and the second is a survival mode, pitting up to four players against wave after wave of increasingly challenging enemies.
In the weeks following the release of Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, a raid will also be revealed. This is said to be a three part adventure that will require a team of four coordinated, skilled, and well equipped players to overcome. With that in mind, it may be wise to team up with friends that are already experienced with Ghost of Tsushima, as it will take everything players have in order to overcome this raid if Sucker Punch is to be believed.
Ghost of Tsushima: Legends releases October 16th for PS4.