In the past few years, the PS4 console has received a lot of great Samurai-themed games. A few years ago, games namely Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, have gained a lot of rave reviews. However, last year’s Ghost of Tsushima has created an interesting legacy for itself. It is not only a fantastic game, but it is also considered one of the last great games of the PS4 era, and it does not disappoint. However what makes the Ghost of Tsushima so unique? What makes it so memorable? Here is a thorough look at The Ghost of Tsushima.
Great Storyline
According to well-known game developers Sucker Punch, the story in Ghost of Tsushima is based on real events. Namely, the Mongol invasion of Japan. According to historical records, the Island of Tsushima is one of the first Islands in Japan to be attacked and subjugated.
The story revolves around the young Samurai lord Jin Sakai. Hailing from the powerful Sakai clan, he joins his uncle lord Shimura, to fight off the invaders. However, the Mongols are craftier than expected, and Lord Shimura is captured. Now it is up to Jin to rescue his uncle and free Tsushima from Mongol control.
The story of Ghost of Tsushima is based on the Mongol invasion, however, Sucker Punch did not base the characters on real-life historical figures, because they feared it might be considered insensitive. Historically accurate or not though, the storyline is a truly unique amalgamation of history and fantasy.
Incredibly Efficient Game System
One of the best things about Ghost of Tsushima is the incredibly efficient gameplay system. Although the game has some elements of RPG, it lacks the clunky aspects of RPGs. You still need to get resources from your environment, however. you don’t need to stop and pick up items. You just need to press a set button, and your player could get it, even if he is just passing by the item. The same goes for how you manage your inventory. When you use an item, you don’t need to worry about the size of your inventory. There is also no need to arrange your items so that they could fit your inventory.
Beautiful Graphics and Visuals
Aside from the incredibly smooth gameplay, yet another highlight of the game is the incredible graphics and visuals. Although there is a standard color filter that you could use for a majority of the game, you are also given multiple filters that will make the game so much more multifaceted.
One of the most unique color filters that you could use is the Kurosawa mode. This filter is designed to emulate the Legendary Director Akira Kurosawa’s Black and White films, such as The Seven Samurai, and Rashomon. It is this attention to detail and homage to samurai pop culture, that sets it apart from other samurai-themed games. There is a certain charm to riding your mount through the Tsushima countryside and having the villagers bow to you in gratitude because you saved them from the Mongol invaders. Combine this with Kurosawa mode, and you really feel like a hero in a 60’s samurai film.
While Kurosawa mode is a great way to add a certain edginess to your gameplay, you should not limit yourself to just this filter. The graphics and overall color palettes are too beautiful to ignore. To be honest, if you want to enjoy the graphics in all their glory, you should really invest in led flexible display panels, or a high-quality monitor at the least. This is the only way you could fully appreciate the sheer beauty of the game’s graphics.
Innovative Combat System
Like any kind of samurai-themed game, the combat system is important. However, the game’s combat system is one of the most unique ever designed. In this game, you just can’t charge into a horde of enemies, and hack-and-slash your way to victory. The game is designed to punish you if you make a mistake. The combat system is like a combination of Assassin’s Creed and God of War. You could still use your skills and weapons to defeat an enemy, however, there will also be times where you will have to use stealth in order to accomplish a mission.
If you choose a more head-on approach, you are following the path of samurai. This gives you 4 stances, that allow you to fight against enemies, wielding different weapons. If you choose to use stealth in your missions, then you could use ninja weapons such as kunai and smoke bombs to destroy enemies from the shadows. It is this multi-faceted approach to combat that really sets it apart from other samurai games.
Open World Features
If you’ve ever dreamed of traveling through Feudal Japan, and challenging enemy swordsmen, then Ghost of Tsushima’s open-world features are perfect for you. As Jin Sakai, you could travel throughout the island of Tsushima, protect your people, and repel the Mongol invaders.
A Myriad of Main Quests and Side Quests
When you purchase a game, you will always want to get the most out of your money. You don’t want to spend 50 dollars on a game that you could finish in a week. Luckily, Ghost of Tsushima has a lot of main quests and side quests. While you could follow the main quest, and finish it within a week or two, the additional side quests can prolong the experience even longer.
Conclusion
The Ghost of Tsushima is a Samurai-themed game that was nominated for 2020’s game of the year. It is also one of the last games that were released for the PS4 console. So if you are looking for a legacy-level game that has incredible graphics and an innovative combat system, then Ghost of Tsushima is the game for you.
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