Ghost Of Tsushima REVIEW: 7 Ups & 2 Downs

Downs...

2. Exploration Sometimes Lacks Achievement

However, even though Tsushima having a lot of things to do is undoubtedly great in terms of getting more bang for your buck, the density of content can prove off-putting after a while.

When Tsushima's environmental cues work, they really work. There's nothing quite like following a fox to honour a nearby shrine, and then to pet said fox, or following a bird to a nearby onsen or bamboo post to strengthen your sword arm. It's just that sometimes with the sheer amount of content on offer, it can prove difficult to get a peaceful thought; you'll be following your best mate, the fox, to a nearby shrine, only to rescue a peasant and then trigger another side mission, all the while your other friend, the bird, will be nagging you to go somewhere else.

There've been plenty of occasions while playing the game where I've set out to do a side mission I've been neglecting, only to encounter another one on the way there and get distracted. Meanwhile, in the process of actually doing said mission, I'll encounter a fox or bird or other environmental cue and feel compelled to go ahead and stop everything and follow them. This is without actually doing much exploration, so that sense of achievement sort of gets lost in translation.

Players are sure to appreciate the wealth of content Tsushima has to offer, but the sheer density of tales available can be frustrating to navigate.