GhostWire: Tokyo is yet another big budget Ubisoft style sandbox but it's Ubisoft sandbox, Japan so it's better

That description already paints a decent picture of what to expect. It's an open world game in Shibuya with an unremarkable story, basic combat, light stealth mechanics, and way too many collectables. Junk food gaming, basically. A fundamental video game that adequately does what you'd want from it with a few exceptional elements that aren't enough to lift the game from the purgatory of mid. It’s not fulfilling, it’s not interesting, it’s not very remarkable.

But sometimes you just really want junk food.

If you're in the mood for this style of game, I don't think GhostWire is a bad option. The big thing is it has great, genuinely creative aesthetics that give it an edge over competition. The enemies, effects, collectables, and antagonists are beautifully stylish and keep the game's spiritual elements at the forefront, making GhostWire's vibes stand out among both open world games and the many other titles taking place in Tokyo. On top of that, many effects have a layer of digital theming mixed in, accentuating the technological meets mythological motif that permeates the title to a wonderful degree. It’s especially noticeable with the backdrop of a hauntingly empty nighttime Shibuya. Shooting magic at ghosts outside 7/11 works surprisingly well. To keep up the theming, the city also inhabits a variety of colourful yokai that range from more collectables to unique enemies to the stupid fucking cat shopkeeper who won't stop making cat puns. I enjoyed seeing so many interesting creatures in the world even as someone who doesn't know Japanese folklore. It's a very pretty and enjoyable environment as far as sandboxes go.

The main story isn't too long (took me 15 hours and that includes some side content) which is a good length for a game with this type of combat. There are just a few types of attacks, each with their own attributes, and a few talismans that offer supportive effects you can mix in. It's a simple selection of skills that's varied enough to keep battles fun for a short FPS campaign. If you decide you want more after that, there are a good few side missions to tackle where you can spend more time trying to make the most out of combining all your different options while helping solve people's problems. I didn’t bother with many because they seemed like more of the same but they’re there. It’s a fun enough little story with magic shooter mechanics that make up for the few annoying parts.

Don’t be tricked by any silly positivity, though. This is still a cautious and conditional recommendation that most people shouldn't bother with. GhostWire: Tokyo's great setting and unique aesthetics are held back by being in a repetitive, formulaic title that showcases little more than competency in most other areas, leaving its genuinely exceptional highlights stuck in a mid experience that I can't wholeheartedly suggest. Play it if you really want to play an Ubisoft style sandbox, pass if you contribute to society. I know which one I chose.