Developer: Sucker Punch Productions, Nixxes Software
Publisher:
PlayStation Publishing
Platform: PC, PS4, PS5
Tested on: PC
Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut (PC) – Review
In the almost four years since Ghost of Tsushima was first released, the game has gained quite a cult following. We reviewed the Director’s Cut version for the PlayStation here, but many PC gamers were also eagerly awaiting a chance to play this action-adventure game themselves. Developer Sucker Punch called in the help of Nixxes Software to make that happen. Only last month, Ghost of Tsushima finally made its entrance to the PC gaming world, and we’re happy to report it’s as good as it always has been.
Story
For those unaware, Ghost of Tsushima is set in historic Japan during the Mongol invasion. On the island of Tsushima, samurai Lord Jin Sakai leads his men into a battle on the beach to stop the Mongol fleet from trying to move inland. The battle ends in disaster, with Jin’s uncle captured and his men violently killed. Even Jin himself gets left for dead while bleeding heavily, but he survives thanks to the help of a thief named Yuna. Despite an immediate attempt to fight the Mongol warlord head-on again, Jin realizes one man doesn’t stand a chance against an army. If he wants to win this war, he’ll need allies and weapons. While samurai are meant to fight honorably, Jin quickly learns that stealth and assassination might be a much more effective way to deal with this situation. Thus he begins to travel across Tsushima while trying to find people willing to help, earning himself ‘The Ghost’ as a nickname along the way.
The game is open-world and has a lot of side quests. While optional, they’re all soaked in more plot and don’t feel like tedious work. This way you get to learn more about the Sakai clan, Jin’s past, as well as what the common folk are enduring as part of the Mongol occupation. The game’s plot is also lightly influenced by how noble and honest you want to be, with many quests allowing you to change how things turn out based on your actions.
Graphics
The graphics are probably the main thing that’s different about the PC version when you compare it to its console counterpart. While the Director’s Cut for PlayStation already saw significant enhancements, the PC version takes this a step further… if you have the GPU to keep up with it. That being said, even with the graphic settings turned down, you’ll enjoy the stunning visuals of Tsushima island. Many of the locations are based on pictures from real-life islands and have a great sense of realism about them. The open world of this game is gorgeous and has different terrains to explore, and all the characters look great too. This version also has the renewed lip sync for the Japanese dialogue, which was a nice touch.
Sound
Nothing changed with the audio of the game, though that’s not a complaint in the slightest. Ghost of Tsushima has a very nice soundtrack. You’ll be accompanied by more relaxing, atmospheric music for most of the time, but the soundtrack definitely picks up into being more high-energy when you enter battle. The music can then also be used as an audio cue to know when you’re out of danger. The use of traditional Japanese instruments fits nicely with the setting. Since the game is made by an American studio, there’s an excellent cast of English voice actors lending their talents to the characters. We do highly recommend the Japanese voice acting too though, since it’s more immersive for the setting, and thanks to above mentioned lip-synching, the cutscenes aren’t as awkward as they used to be.
Gameplay
Ghost of Tsushima is an open-world action-adventure game that allows you to explore the island freely and take on quests. A lot of these are optional, but they’re fun to do and there are rewards for completionists. The game is divided into acts which does lock some areas for later, but aside from that, you’re allowed to go at your own pace and the day-night cycle of the game is purely for aesthetics. The Director’s Cut of the game for PC adds all additional content added to the console edition later, such as the Iki Island DLC and the multiplayer mode.
The two main aspects of the game are combat and stealth. For combat, Jin uses his katana to take on enemies. You can block their strikes, parry them by getting the timing right, and then attack when their guard is down. If you’re driven into a corner, a dodge can get you out of a pinch. This is also necessary for boss battles or enemies with attacks you can’t parry. If you’d like to take the easy way out, you can use your arrows or poison darts to attack from a distance. Want to become a true ghost? A lot of quests can also be finished by simply staying out of sight and using stealth to get past enemies. To do this, you simply sneak around or employ diversion tactics such as smokescreens. The game always allows for multiple options. As you continue, you unlock new tactics, like advanced sword stances that let you take on bigger enemies. Those side quests we mentioned also grant you charms for passive bonuses like more health.
Traveling across the island is easy on your trusty horse, which you can call over from wherever you are. You can also fast-travel to key locations. Overall the game offers up to 50 hours of excellent gameplay, so it’s a real treat that PC gamers now also get to enjoy this absolute gem. A great addition to the PC version is that modders have already started to make free cosmetics in the Steam workshop for people to experiment with.
Conclusion
Ghost of Tsushima has only gotten better since the day it was initially released. Thanks to content updates and patches for bugs, this Director’s Cut edition for the PC is a complete way to experience the game while it looks better than ever. We recommend anybody who hasn’t tried it yet to head on over and start a war against the Mongols. Just know that if you have played the Director’s Cut on PlayStation before, there’s no new content in here.
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