Ghost Of Tsushima REVIEW: 7 Ups & 2 Downs

2. It's A Breath Of Fresh Air

I would be lying if I said there weren't times while playing Tsushima that I was worried the game would devolve into a typical open world title. There are camps to liberate and collectibles to find, but it's the way the game goes about integrating those elements that prevents any kind of malaise from setting in.

Playing Tsushima felt like opening the windows and letting in a cool, refreshing breeze. The industry has seen some tremendous as well as forgettable open world titles over the current console generation, but few play like Tsushima does.

The emphasis on environmental storytelling has paid off tremendously, if not for the fact it divests from clunky UI and the kind of icon mania that has typified many current-gen open world offerings, then because it actually indulges in my love of flowers and bird watching. Songbirds will frequently appear and lead the player to points of interest, and well, it's just plain nice to admire the flora from time to time (the golden forest is a particular highlight).

It's just a wonderfully composed experience, and one that should be relished. Exploring shrines, temples and even just the various vistas dotted across the open world is just as satisfying as the combat. Granted exploration can be a bit finicky at times (scaling up and down cliffs doesn't feel as fluid as it should be), but reaching your destination is always worth it.