A brilliant game that nobody should miss

Ghost of Tsushima won’t strike gamers long familiar with the action-adventure genre as transcendent at first glance. Those who have spent countless hours captivated by, say, Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey and Lord Of The Rings: Shadow of War won’t find its grounded setting appealing from afar. That said, all it takes is one spin, however short, for doubters to conclude that even its well-made trailers don’t do it justice; it’s like a cake that looks nothing out of the ordinary in appearance, but hooks the reluctant with just a single taste. Certainly, its unique sense of style and presentation entices even the most skeptical to binge on it with nary a care for the time.

In Ghost of Tsushima, players take control of samurai warrior Jin Sakai in his fight against the Mongol hordes of Khotun Khan. The invaders have overrun the Japanese island of Tsushima, conquered its castles, ravaged its villages, and have made slaves of its women and children. Only the principal protagonist can hope to stand against them, outnumbered but not outmatched. Through careful use of bow, sword, and stealth, he sets off to fight the raiders, slay their leader, and put an end to their tyranny — all while coming to terms with his understanding of honor, justice, and victory.

Indeed, Ghost of Tsushima winds up being so good that a second passthrough on a harder mode becomes not just an option, but a requisite. The ensuing challenge enables gamers to appreciate it even more, as clear a testament as any on the effort Sucker Punch Productions put into its development. In this regard, it is helped no end by its outstanding audio-visual presentation. It looks pretty damn good, able to pull off its Japanese aesthetic and immersing gamers in its late 13th century setting from the get-go. True, plenty of samurai games have come before it, but it knows to distinguish itself with the perfect mix of gorgeous looks and sounds and compelling gameplay.

As soon as Ghost of Tsushima boots up, players are treated to the awesome sight of the Mongol ships looming across the horizon. The night is dark, and Jin peers into the endless darkness, seeing only the torches of the invaders who mean to sack his home. Fast forward mere minutes later, and he finds himself part of a daring charge of men and horses, throwing himself into a carnage of blood, steel, and arrows. It is a hopeless fight, and yet, amidst the chaos, he finds peace in doing his duty and upholding his honor, even if death beckons with every step.

These are just a handful of the sequences that Ghost of Tsushima is able to showcase at the outset. There are plenty more of them to have, and they all look — and feel — beautiful. That said, the non-scripted sequences are even better. Minutes after the prologue ends, gamers are given the freedom to wander about the place, and that’s where it’s presentation really shines. It pushes its venerable Unreal Engine 5 foundation to the limit; rides across the empty plains or glances at the ocean as the distant stars twinkle underscore the lushness of the sceneries and the painstaking care given to every nook and cranny of the island.

By design, Ghost of Tsushima’s tutorial is fairly rote; the objective is to show the basics of its interface. Jin can swing his katana with a light attack and a heavy attack. He can parry certain enemy strikes and dodge enemy blows, and, if he’s in a pinch, heal himself from some of the damage he’s taken. These moves may make combat seem limited, but it does branch out over time. By accomplishing side missions alongside principal objectives, gamers can add to the central character’s accomplishments and grow his “legend,” its stand-in for an experience bar.

And once his legend hits certain thresholds, he gains access to various bonuses like increased health, increased resolve, and special attacks, techniques, and various other perks to make combat easier.

GAME TIME

BY ALEXANDER O. CUAYCONG AND ANTHONY L. CUAYCONG

VIDEO GAME REVIEW Ghost of Tsushima

Sony PlayStation 4