The island of Tsushima is under siege by the Mongols, the samurai's defense has failed and the countryside is on fire. Jin Sakai is one of the last surviving samurai and it is now his job to take back his home by all possible means, even if it goes against everything he has learned about honor and glory. It's not the most remarkable revenge story ever, but it does its part to set the right thematic mood for the rest of the game.
A lot of love and energy has been put into studying this historical period to make every detail feel as authentic as possible. Japanese cultural experts have been consulted and trips to the country have been made, all in order to represent the time correctly. With that said, the game does not in any way attempt to appear as a documentation of the Japanese 13th century and the first Mongol invasion.
Sucker Punch has in fact also been influenced by the more romanticized Japan that we often see on film. Akira Kurosawa's old samurai reels are an obvious source of inspiration that stops Ghost of Tsushima from fully grounding itself in reality - to the game's advantage should be added. We are talking about stoic sword duels in distinct environments, secret techniques and big battles with seemingly invincible odds.
Where we can see Kurosawa's influence most clearly is in how Ghost of Tsushima uses movement. On the island of Tsushima, the wind winds through the trees and the leaves fall in endless numbers around me in an almost magical dance. Tsushima has a life of its own, and wherever I turn the camera, it is clear that the island itself is the real star here.
The incredibly colorful world created by the developers is captivating in its beauty and a pure pleasure to explore. Markers that usually guide me in other games have been scaled down to a minimum and instead the wind leads me in the right direction. With the screen freed from redundant information, I get more space to take in and appreciate Tsushima's unsurpassed open world and really explore it for real. Fortunately, there are plenty of secrets and exciting adventures to be found out there as well.
Of course, my journey is not only peaceful as in the role of Jin I mainly have to kill lots of enemies that stand in my way. The battles flow in a pleasant rhythm, are challenging enough and also give me opportunities to turn them to my advantage with a growing arsenal of weapons. When the honorable samurai team is not enough, I have a number of other ugly tricks in my back pocket. Throwing knives, poison arrows and sneak attacks are on the menu when, like a shadow, I move unnoticed through enemy camps and take them all out one by one. The many ways to win a battle means that during the course of the game it never feels repetitive.
With Ghost of Tsushima, Sucker Punch Productions manages to create the gaming world's equivalent of a really nice samurai film, inspired by the very best. Well-balanced action, incredibly beautiful environments and historical details abound, making this a worthy last ride for the old gaming station. This summer, Tsushima is the hottest destination.