One of the nicest and most visually impressive games I've ever played; A game that, despite its flaws, has an unique charm and soul.
The characters and story are solid, telling some of my favorite fables of all fiction. The way the characters react to tragedy and to love is simply too real. The fashion the tales are developed is nothing short of compelling and engaging; I get genuinely interested and anxious for what's to come next after a certain event. And even though this is truer for "character tales", even the casual side-quests I happen to activate by pure accident are phenomenal. The feeling I get from idly roaming across the island fetching some collectables and, out of nowhere, cross by a down-to-earth and heartfelt story is indescribable. And honestly, for as good as the main story is, I think the game's true identity lies within its side content. The tales bring just that much more weight and meaning to the island of Tsushima.
The game has, however, one major issue: the massive amount of collectibles dissuate me from pretty much everything I've just described. I had to mentally separate the already started tales from actually exploring in two sections of the game, otherwise one would drag the other down. Matter of fact, I left the exploration content and completion aspects for last, and of course I gave up halfway across. I really enjoyed activities such as pillars of honor, hot springs and specially writing haiku, but the others are just too overwhelming. Inari shrines are a concept I do not disapprove; it's a cool idea, but they throw it out of the window when there are fourty fucking nine of them. It just gets... boring after some time... And that's a theme with the others as well. Bamboo striking has a cool mechanic and I can't give too much crap to the shinto shrines, but all of them together just pile up to a dull, repetitive and tiring chore (and those are the ones the game gives me the courtesy of showing on the map, ugh...). Were it up to me, the game could have half of those removed and focus on bringing more artefacts/records instead... Y'know, things that are actually different from one another and encourage exploration.
But now, no matter what I'm doing, whether it being chasing the billionth fox or climbing a mountain, I will be doing that amidst an absolutely stunning scenario. The setting in this game is so well done it's worthy playing for this reason alone. Some of my most intimate moments with Ghost of Tsushima were about me just... looking at the horizon, with Jin's cape against the wind... and me slowly... moving my analog to get the most of the view... Gosh, I don't even wanna count how much time I spent doing just that smh. It's just... that this is one of the few games that make me feel - truly feel - as if I am but a nomad embarking on an important quest, wandering a cruel yet beautiful world.
And although it's not the best thing ever written, I liked the story a lot too. I wouldn't complain if the cast members were to have more dialog and interactions outside their own campaign, but they already cause enough an impact from the participation they do have within the main story. And I adore the conceit of "disenchanting principle"; a practical example of how at times man-made concepts and ideals are just that - not worth more than actual human lives. A theme that though clearly leans towards fitting on the 13th century's setting, was also brilliantly done in a way it is also relevant for today's dilemmas.
The slow realization that this game would not be about a stoic and typical samurai that's untouchable, but about a flawed, confused man giving his all in order to protect his friends and people would already be excellent, but Ghost of Tsushima tells about it through its gameplay, a touch I find simply genial.
Ghost of Tsushima is not a perfect game, didn't even join my all time favorites nor anything, but it is a game I admire and respect deeply. I didn't 100%'d it because I believe it would lose part of the charm of blindly exploring the island as I progress through the story. I've opened 100% of the map already. I don't think it would be the same... but if I ever replay it, ya better BET I will!
The characters and story are solid, telling some of my favorite fables of all fiction. The way the characters react to tragedy and to love is simply too real. The fashion the tales are developed is nothing short of compelling and engaging; I get genuinely interested and anxious for what's to come next after a certain event. And even though this is truer for "character tales", even the casual side-quests I happen to activate by pure accident are phenomenal. The feeling I get from idly roaming across the island fetching some collectables and, out of nowhere, cross by a down-to-earth and heartfelt story is indescribable. And honestly, for as good as the main story is, I think the game's true identity lies within its side content. The tales bring just that much more weight and meaning to the island of Tsushima.
The game has, however, one major issue: the massive amount of collectibles dissuate me from pretty much everything I've just described. I had to mentally separate the already started tales from actually exploring in two sections of the game, otherwise one would drag the other down. Matter of fact, I left the exploration content and completion aspects for last, and of course I gave up halfway across. I really enjoyed activities such as pillars of honor, hot springs and specially writing haiku, but the others are just too overwhelming. Inari shrines are a concept I do not disapprove; it's a cool idea, but they throw it out of the window when there are fourty fucking nine of them. It just gets... boring after some time... And that's a theme with the others as well. Bamboo striking has a cool mechanic and I can't give too much crap to the shinto shrines, but all of them together just pile up to a dull, repetitive and tiring chore (and those are the ones the game gives me the courtesy of showing on the map, ugh...). Were it up to me, the game could have half of those removed and focus on bringing more artefacts/records instead... Y'know, things that are actually different from one another and encourage exploration.
But now, no matter what I'm doing, whether it being chasing the billionth fox or climbing a mountain, I will be doing that amidst an absolutely stunning scenario. The setting in this game is so well done it's worthy playing for this reason alone. Some of my most intimate moments with Ghost of Tsushima were about me just... looking at the horizon, with Jin's cape against the wind... and me slowly... moving my analog to get the most of the view... Gosh, I don't even wanna count how much time I spent doing just that smh. It's just... that this is one of the few games that make me feel - truly feel - as if I am but a nomad embarking on an important quest, wandering a cruel yet beautiful world.
And although it's not the best thing ever written, I liked the story a lot too. I wouldn't complain if the cast members were to have more dialog and interactions outside their own campaign, but they already cause enough an impact from the participation they do have within the main story. And I adore the conceit of "disenchanting principle"; a practical example of how at times man-made concepts and ideals are just that - not worth more than actual human lives. A theme that though clearly leans towards fitting on the 13th century's setting, was also brilliantly done in a way it is also relevant for today's dilemmas.
The slow realization that this game would not be about a stoic and typical samurai that's untouchable, but about a flawed, confused man giving his all in order to protect his friends and people would already be excellent, but Ghost of Tsushima tells about it through its gameplay, a touch I find simply genial.
Ghost of Tsushima is not a perfect game, didn't even join my all time favorites nor anything, but it is a game I admire and respect deeply. I didn't 100%'d it because I believe it would lose part of the charm of blindly exploring the island as I progress through the story. I've opened 100% of the map already. I don't think it would be the same... but if I ever replay it, ya better BET I will!
Vondervent
1 year ago