4 years after its release, Ghost of Tsushima has garnered a legacy from some as the quintessential samurai game, and from others, the worst game there is. Who is right?

Edited by Playstayshaun
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If you were familiar with Sucker Punch before 2020, then you knew them for making games about a silly raccoon that pulled off grand heists, and then for making games about a bald guy who controls electricity, but given the visuals of their previous entries steeped in fanciful worlds, nobody could have predicted that THIS would be the next entry in Sucker Punch’s portfolio. Ghost of Tsushima is the story of Jin Sakai, one of the only samurai to survive the massacre of Komoda beach during the Mongol invasion of Tsushima in 1274. In order to push back the Mongols and have any chance of saving his home, Jin must sacrifice his honour for the island and shed his former life, moving forward as the ghost of a samurai who died on Komoda beach. Ghost of Tsushima is at times otherworldly, yet maintains a realistic foundation, though not in the traditional sense. When we think about realism, we typically imagine the dirt. Grime and grunge was at the forefront of 7th generation `realism”, perhaps because we associate realism with the things we don’t want to talk about. An idyllic world is a bright one. Simple, clean, sterilised, tranquil. It’s a world many are not familiar with, so we’re forced to identify realism with the former, uglier reality. Serenity is not synonymous with dirt, rain, or bloodshed, and yet, Ghost of Tsushima is one of the most peaceful games I have ever played. For every sliced throat is a luscious reed flowing in your fathers guidance, and for every dishonourable takedown is a spirits anger, manifesting in a thunderstorm. Every peaceful spirit, balanced by a vengeful spectre. SuckerPunch, previously known for their excellence in realism, have created a game that, despite being more lifelike, is the antithesis of their last decade of effort.

Yet, Ghost of Tsushima is much more than a constant stream of potential wallpapers. It’s gameplay whether an original idea or one borrowed and refined from others is executed well, and the stories told throughout Tsushima strike a balance that allows them to deconstruct legends without invalidating them, and challenge a characters' morals with hopes of redeeming them. Tsushima is a game and a land unlike any other, and its success is much the same. After 3 years, a Playstation 5 remaster, and a free content update, there is plenty to discuss regarding this game. Feelings on both sides present the idea that this game is either THE Samurai game, or exceptionally ordinary. Sandwiched between plenty of other games that took the world by storm, talking about the game now that the storm has passed could expose its true beauty, or a more hideous hindsight. Ghost of Tsushima has an army of fans, but its clan of critics, while a minority, is far too vocal to ignore. For every review calling Ghost of Tsushima a masterpiece there is one calling it mediocre, preaching that they just don’t get it, primarily concerning the gameplay.

Tsushima may not offer the most original stories, as like its inspirations it aims to deconstruct the samurai code, and parade its hypocrisies, but it offers something far more unique to the video game medium…peace. Many games these days, while being cinematic, are doing so at the players' detriment. You’ll never want to be more than a single stroke away from satisfying a feedback loop, even if that means bunny hopping across a map, souring immersion.

Ghost of Tsuhsima is one of the most special games I have ever played. Ghost of Tsuhsima - 4 Years Later is attempt to make a Ghost of Tsushima critique, Ghost of Tsushima analysis, and perhaps a Ghost of Tsushima review, if a bit longwinded. The Ghost of Tsushima ending will be spoiled as this functions like a Ghost of Tsushima walkthrough. All footage of this was gathered on the Ghost of Tsushima Directors Cut or Ghost of Tsushima PS5. The Ghost of Tsushima DLC, like Ghost of Tsushima Legends and the Ghost of Tsushima Iki Island expansion, will be covered here too. I hope we get a Ghost of Tsushima PC port, but for now the PS5 Ghost of Tsushima gameplay will suffice for this Ghost of Tsushima retrospective.


- Chapter -
Introduction: 0:00
Chp. 1: Tsushima: 4:46
Chp. 2: Ghosts & Samurai: 18:56
Chp. 3: Tales and Tribulations: 35:26
Chp. 4: Jin's Journey: 58:58
Chp. 5: Legends: 1:24:55
Chp. 6: Iki Island: 1:36:51
Chp. 7: Reflection: 1:50:12

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