Ghost of Tsushima is a game set in the Kamakura period in feudal Japan during the first mongol invasion on the island of Tsushima. you play as Jin Sakai, a samurai and nephew of the Jito, Lord Shimura. during the first battle on Komoda Beach, the samurai of Tsushima are defeated and Lord Shimura is captured. Jin, saved by a theif named Yuna, recovers his sword and broken armor and challenges the Mongol leader, Khotun Khan;son of Kublai;grandson of Genghis. hopelessly outmatched, Jin Sakai is thrown off a bridge into the ocean below, and wakes up the next morning on a beach. filled with conviction and with the wind guiding him, Jin sets off on his journey to liberate all of Tsushima from the mongols and discover his identity as "The Ghost".
Photo by: Sucker Punch Studios-featured on Ghost of Tsushima Wikipedia
I love this game, Ghost of Tsushima is a beautiful game, with deep characters, story and combat. Jin's journey in liberating Tsushima is such a spectacle to watch, as he forsakes his samurai code in the name of saving his people, betrayed and hunted down by his best friend, disregaurding his uncle, who raised him after his father died and gathering unlikely warriors from across all of Tsushima, eventually earning the name "The Ghost". the internal struggle of Jin Sakai as he forsakes the code he has lived by all his life for his people, earning the scorn of his uncle and eventually becoming a legend is so intoxicating to watch and experience. the swordplay is well executed, from the stances, the parrying, the strong attacks and the showdowns all feel like scenes in a samurai movie, which is the feeling the developers were going for. the special interaction when commiting "dishonorable" actions from other character makes the game feel more immersive, like your actions have consequences. Jin's journey to becoming the ghost feels so fluid and clean, it feels like an actual human striving from internal conflict instead of a character being a character for the sake of being a character. hearing NPCs talk about Jin's actions in small conversation only adds to the immersion. Stealth becomes more fluid as you progress through the game, as Jin becomes more comfortable with stabing his enemies in the back and using all the tools he can to claim victory. the showdowns feel like real samurai standoff, cutting down your opponents in 1 quick slice as they charge at you. The Duels feel cinamatic and powerful, as the camera tracks your opponent and you are unable to use anything but your sword. this game is amazing, by the end of the first act, I already felt like a samurai, sitting in my chair, waving my arms around like I am crazy. I give this game a 9/10, would play again.