Ghost Of Tsushima REVIEW: 7 Ups & 2 Downs

5. Jin's Journey From Samurai To Ghost Is Handled Expertly

Before Ghost of Tsushima, Sucker Punch had carved out a niche with Infamous in embracing morality systems and multiple choice mechanics in their titles, forcing the player to make sometimes difficult decisions that would lead them on the path to becoming a hero or villain.

Tsushima does away with such a morality system, and fully embraces Jin's transition from samurai to the Ghost of the people. Some may bemoan the lack of player freedom in this instance, but it only enhances the tragedy of the story, and the crushing sense of inevitability that, no matter how much you try to honour Jin's clan, you're only a stealth-kill away from continuing his descent.

Sporadically, if you choose to kill your enemies by stabbing them in the back, or shooting them from afar, or even poisoning them, you'll be treated to flashbacks of Jin training with his Uncle Shimura as a young child. It emphasises that the choices you're making aren't made without pain, and when the time comes for Jin to fully adopt the way of the Ghost, you'll be surprised at how affecting it actually is.

I can't talk too much about the story (anything after the second act is strictly prohibited), but it is superb, and engages with the feudal setting brilliantly. Jin is a lord, a samurai, rescued by a peasant thief at the beginning called Yuna, who encourages him to realise the futility of his honour-bound code and who also coins the Ghost legend to rally the island, as well as to spread fear among the Mongol ranks.

There's a fascinating conflict and dynamic that arises as a result of Jin's transformation into the Ghost and his partnership with Yuna, but I can't really say anything more than that without getting too deep into spoilers.