When Ghostwire: Tokyo was first revealed, it looked like it could be a major new player in the horror space. Ghostwire: Tokyo is the work of Shinji Mikami, who has had a major influence on Resident Evil and The Evil Within, so it was no surprise that his latest project looked so frightening. As more details have emerged, it's become clear that Ghostwire: Tokyo still has very frightening elements, but it's not quite the horror game that some might have expected. It's more of an action-adventure title, letting players roam the Visitor-filled Tokyo freely and blast menacing spirits with Akito and KK's magical powers.
Since Mikami and his team are stepping back from horror in Ghostwire: Tokyo, the game needs to establish a different tone. It's clear that Tango Gameworks intends for the game to be a thrilling experience, but it seems more and more like Tango wants players to have a nuanced journey through the supernatural, rather than an endless thrill ride. For instance, Tango Gameworks has recently revealed some delightful cat and dog NPCs that add a whimsical touch to Ghostwire: Tokyo. These cute and funny animal interactions go a long way in establishing a complicated world of spirits that could help Ghostwire: Tokyo kick off a franchise.
Ghostwire: Tokyo's Animal Interactions
In Ghostwire: Tokyo, nearly all humans have disappeared from Tokyo as spirits called Visitors filled the city; it seems that Akito is the only human left, forcing him to search for his loved ones among the dangerous Visitors. Akito can still find strangers to interact with, however. For instance, some of Tokyo's bodegas and convenience stores have new proprietors in the form of floating cat-like spirits called nekomata yokai. These yokai will sell Akito items, but aside from that mechanical utility, they're already valuable as cute, friendly faces in a sea of terrifying Visitors. The nekomata yokai are a funny twist on the idea of bodega cats, and their charm makes them seem very helpful in providing a break in Ghostwire: Tokyo's tension.
Aside from nekomata yokai, Ghostwire: Tokyo also features dogs that players can come across. Not only can players pet the dogs in Ghostwire: Tokyo, but Akito can apparently find dog food in various parts of the city, then give treats to the dogs he comes across. Akito can seemingly understand the dogs that he pets and feeds this way, and if he gives them enough food, then they might help Akito find hidden money and items. Hanging out with Ghostwire: Tokyo's dogs seems like the perfect way to relax after a stressful confrontation with some Visitors.
Establishing Ghostwire: Tokyo's Tone
Ghostwire: Tokyo's supernatural cat and dog interactions are valuable because they make the game's world more interesting than it would be as a purely thrilling experience. If Ghostwire: Tokyo was a true horror game, there simply wouldn't be room for these animal interactions. They have an element of joy and silliness that would feel out of place in a horror game. Because Ghostwire: Tokyo is more of a thriller, however, there's room for more variation in the game's tone. As a purely thrilling but not quite scary game, Ghostwire: Tokyo might have felt a little muddled in its tone, but these animal-themed moments of whimsy add more layers to Ghostwire: Tokyo's world and story.
There's certainly a little cause for disappointment in the fact that Ghostwire: Tokyo isn't all-in on horror. Mikami is a horror legend thanks to Resident Evil and his other works, so it would be nice to see him flex his horror skills in this game. Still, Tango Gameworks makes up for that loss by introducing a broad variety of experiences and tones to the game. The contrast between Ghostwire Tokyo's most frightening Visitors and its helpful yokai gives the world more nuance, which in turn gives fans more reason to keep playing and learn about the world, as well as creating more potential storylines for a sequel. Ultimately, Ghostwire: Tokyo's furry friends make it a much more interesting game than it otherwise might be.
Ghostwire: Tokyo releases March 25, 2022 for PC and PS5.