With The Last of Us Part II already out for the summer, you’d think that Sony would’ve calmed down a bit as they transition over to the PlayStation 5. But never count out Sucker Punch, the studio that brought us such favorites as the Infamous series and Sly Cooper. For its latest release, it’s gone back to feudal Japan, where it gives us the opportunity to guide a noble young warrior on a path of redemption – with a few bumps thrown in for good measure. That game is the long-awaited Ghost of Tsushima, a stunning epic that stands toe-to-toe with Naughty Dog’s latest as one of the best PlayStation 4 games out there. It’s quite fitting too, as Sony is prepping to move to PlayStation 5 in just a few short months. What better way to send it off than with a tranquil, stunning adventure that could easily be the developer’s best release to date? (And, yes, that’s including Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus.)
A Troubled Hero Becoming a Legend
The game puts you in control of Jin, a young samurai that isn’t afraid to die with honor. He runs alongside his uncle into a battle with the Mongols, only to come up short – but still survive. After a run-in with the vicious (but surprisingly in-depth) villain Khotun Khan, Jin realizes he’ll need to build an army – and a legend – in order to overcome him and save his land. This leads to a prosperous journey, where he’ll help out others and cut down Mongolian soldiers like bamboo trees.
The depth of Ghost of Tsushima is staggering. As you continue on Jin’s quest, you’ll unlock some neat abilities to help him along. This includes a grappling hook, which serves much greater purpose here than in the previously released Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice when it comes to mobility. But he can also earn a greater reputation as he goes along, while also improving his combat and even opening up a few customization options.
Sucker Punch really went all out to make Ghost of Tsushima play like a dream. Even without a lock-on option, combat feels smooth and unbeatable, especially when it comes to finishing blows on enemies. They’ve also done well with long-range combat, including setting traps for unsuspecting soldiers (like using hornets to your advantage) with the help of a bow and arrow. And you get better with each hour that passes, eventually becoming the warrior that can stand toe-to-toe with Khan.
It’s a mesmerizing open-world experience, and you’re guided by little hints of wind that show you the right way to go. Not to mention that the secondary missions will keep you busy as well, keeping your gameplay well within the 15-20 hour play period. (Maybe even longer, depending on how much time you take.) There’s an incredible amount of stuff to do here; and even when you beat the game, you can jump back in and enjoy everything this world has to offer once more. That’s how you do game design – when it’s so addictive and enjoyable that you can actually go back even if it’s territory you’ve tread before.
One of the Best Looking PS4 Games Yet
The PlayStation 4 is no stranger to quality games, including The Last of Us, Marvel’s Spider-Man and the amazing God of War reboot from 2018. But Ghost of Tsushima stands just as strongly as those titles. Sucker Punch has gone the extra mile to make Japan spring to life. Everything from running through fields, brushing your hand amongst the flowers, to invading a camp at night and watching soldiers go up in flames is remarkable. Granted, we ran the game on a PS4 Pro, so it’s hard to tell just how much of this beauty remains on a regular PS4. Still, it’s probably quite a sight to behold.
The animations are gorgeous, especially with the character details and those helpful little gusts of wind. It’s also neat how loading time was kept to a minimum, despite the world being vast and totally explorable. Usually, you’d have to wait for a long time to jump in. Not the case here. Also, the filters are really cool as well. You can play the game in Kurosawa mode, which pays tribute to the late director’s classic film fare, including Sanjuro and Seven Samurai. Though it might not be everyone’s speed (especially with the lip synching being slightly off), it’s a great feat that fans of the director will enjoy. Sucker Punch even got the blessing of his estate. Now that is impressive. Audio is top notch, too. Whether you prefer English or Japanese dubbing, the acting is excellent for the most part, despite a cheesy performance here and there. (Perhaps that was intended?) The music is also smoothly blended into the game, so that it sounds like a complete experience. And, wow, we could listen to sword slashes and other ambient sound effects all day. Sucker Punch did their homework here – and even earned a little extra credit for good measure.
If This Is Sony’s Swan Song On PS4, It’s As Sweet As It Can Be
Sony could’ve easily ended its PS4 run with The Last of Us Part II and called it good, but I’m glad it chose to give us Ghost of Tsushima as its (supposed) final release for the system. It caps it off with a presentation that’s quite fantastic in almost every single way, along with engrossing gameplay that keeps you drawn in with hours of stuff to improve and customize upon. On top of that, the story is really something, particularly with a villain that’s as good as it gets in a game such as this. Ghost of Tsushima is as sharp as a Japanese blade – and well worth playing around with, especially if you’re a fan of the genre. Don’t miss this nice slice.
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