Ghost Of Tsushima REVIEW: 7 Ups & 2 Downs
Sucker Punch's samurai epic is another huge win for PlayStation.
Ghost of Tsushima is the latest effort from Infamous developers Sucker Punch Productions, and only their second full release to grace the PlayStation 4 since 2014's Infamous: Second Son. That's a lot of years to spend crafting the ultimate samurai experience, and while Ghost of Tsushima isn't without its faults, it's another superb first-party offering for Sony's current gen console.
Set in 13th century feudal Japan, in the midst of the Mongol Invasions, Tsushima puts players in the shoes of Jin Sakai, a samurai who - faced with insurmountable odds - is forced to abandon his honourable ways and become the 'Ghost', a ninja-like spectre who utilises every dirty trick in the book to force the Mongols off his homeland.
It's a wonderfully realised journey - a case where the gameplay illuminates the narrative just as much as the cutscenes - and it's likely still that players will find themselves just as torn up about the decisions they make in combat as Jin is. He's a samurai. He should be better. But what do you do when an enemy doesn't respect you? Do you stand your ground and be principled, or do you make a sacrifice and fight on their level? It's a compelling question that Tsushima levels from start to end, and one that makes the game as much a tragedy as it is a war epic; equal parts Throne of Blood, than just purely Yojimbo.
It isn't flawless, but Ghost of Tsushima is another rousing effort from Sucker Punch, and a fine bookend to the PlayStation 4...