Well where to begin with this one. Having already dome a 100% on the PS4 version I thought it’d be well worth my time to enjoy the upgraded version. Along with the DLC in Iki Island, for a bit of extra stealthy samurai action. So here’s the review on Ghost of Tsushima Directors Cut PS5.
Honestly this game even at a few years old looks incredible, not necessarily up there with the likes of Horizon Forbidden West of the newly released God of War Ragnarok. I think the main thing that allows it still stand out is the art direction and over all design. The game just looks amazing especially with the tall grass with the blowing of the wind. The nice feature of how to track where you need to head to, swiping the touch pad and the passing wind guiding you where to go. It even comes in an artist option of black and white if you so desire and the blood staying red to add in the brutal nature and setting of the game.
The combat in this game is great fun. The particular highlight for me though comes from the stand-off. Fully upgrading that along with the armour perk to allow to add one more in the chain. Quickly dispatching 5 enemies in one go, with a one hit kill, hitting the strike button before your foe gets a hit in. The upgrades in this game don’t really make too much of a difference until you’ve upgraded your sword, picked a style of armour you want to go with and have upgraded the four different stances. As these allow for added combo strikes, new parrying options to keep all the different types of enemies at bay. Archery is pretty fun and serves one of the four main side quest chains you can do. Which gets more fun with fire arrows and the great long bow exploding ones.
With the main plot being Jin leaving behind the teachings of the samurai for a more stealthy and dishonourable road. The stealth in this game whilst fun, and you gain throw-able weapons and chain assassinations. I do feel this is one aspect that lacked some depth, whilst fun and always a good time trying to take out a mongol stronghold without being caught. It could definitely used a bit more to aid in tactical options, maybe a dedicated skill tree for it. As for the most part it just makes you slightly more silent and allows you to see and hear enemies from further away.
The game is bleak, I mean, turbo bleak everyone in it basically dies or has some close to them die. With most of the side missions you tracking someone down who ends up being dead or someone you put down for being a piece of shit. I mean spoiler, in my defence the game has been out for years not, but even your first horse dies, and that scene fucking hurts to watch. Like the developers and director knew full well what they were doing when they chose to add that cutscene in. You can’t forget the missions of a disease that’s killed off a small holding, or the warrior monks who have all been killed, and Norio’s brother who instead of killing the decide to just fucking de-limb him completely. The story of the invading Mongolian army and the change within Jin itself is great, and his clash of ideals with his uncle. But fuck me it’s not happy, it makes for a great backdrop and setting though. Everywhere is on fire and littered with blood or corpses and rogue samurai patrol the land looking to hurt you at any point. Not to mention the pin cushion peasants filled with arrows for practice. Don’t let this bleakness detract you from playing this game if you haven’t already though, a small price for an incredible story and fun game.
The world design is great, with a shit ton of side activities to do, fox dens, where you follow a fox to the shrine. With the best bit being at the end where you get to pet them and they get super happy. Bamboo strikes to increase your focus metre. Hot springs to increase your health. Haiku’s for new head gear. Shinto Shrines for new charms, Mongolian outposts and the bigger town areas you have to liberate. Farmsteads which unlocks a new set of armour. The tales that give you new armours, special moves or even the longbow, where you get to do the coolest part of the games with boss duels. You also have new sword skins, ronin duels I might be missing something, but the point I’m trying to get at everything is worth your time. Everything helps to build you into the unstoppable machine that you are. With most open world games especially when aiming for a platinum trophy it can feel a slog having to find very collectible and there’s always that one that you can’t find, or you have to do a side mission first that doesn’t unlock until you’ve done this. Here though I honestly wanted to do everything, In both play through’s, I felt fairly empty once I did finish it though. I clocked in around 50 hours to do everything, so it’s not a short experience nor the longest. I long for the day soon when I can complete the Witcher 3 on death march difficulty again in glorious 4k. This is truly one of the best PS exclusives and is well worth your time if you haven’t played it yet. The story DLC is a much of muchness in that it’s good fun for the extra hours, and some nice back story for Jin, but ultimately just gives you more time to enjoy being the Ghost.
I’d give this game 10/10, real fuckin’ Tasty.
A great story told through great voice acting and motion capture all neatly packed into one of the nicest looking and designed worlds of last generation. All complimented with great combat, fun if slightly lacking stealth mechanics and super tailored side activities which make for trundling along the bleak land that little bit more palatable.
Released August 20th 2021, Sony Playstation 5.
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