Summary
Ghost of Tsushimawas one of the new PlayStation first-party IPs that was a success right out of the gate. It’s a game that wears its influences on its sleeve, with a feudal Japanese setting providing an underdog vengeance-filled story and a core structure that feels in line with the less linearAssassin’s Creedgames.
Its success felt like a formality as it followed a string of great PlayStation exclusives, enough so that most people are excited for a sequel that is yet to officially be announced. The timings match up for the future to echo the past, asGhost of Tsushimawas the perfect ending for the PS4, and its successor could be a fitting conclusion for the PS5.
PlayStation 5 Needs a Swansong Offering
The PlayStation 4 is one of the most successful home consoles of all time and had a solid seven-year run as the dominant system on the market with plenty of worthwhile games to play. It was a natural evolution from the PlayStation 3, and while there were some titles likeUncharted 4andGod of Warthat were new installments of pre-existing first-party properties, the system was the breeding ground for more ideas to flourish, likeHorizon Zero Dawn,Spider-Man, andGhost of Tsushima.
After Sony announced the acquisition of Sucker Punch Productions in August 2011, the studio has worked on two properties,InFamousandGhost of Tsushima.
The latter was released in the PS4’s final few months as a fitting send-off forSony’s flagship console. It’s a great game, deploying a gorgeous open world full of luscious colors and plenty of activities to be getting on with. The gameplay is superb, and the combat lends itself well to different strategies, provoking honorable confrontations or stealthy, efficient takedowns. Strong characters, sky-high presentation, and a great deal of polish make it a quintessential PlayStation experience.
Ghost of Tsushima’s Successor is Eerily Silent
Ghost of Tsushimais one of the defining titles for the PlayStation 4 and a big advancement on what Sucker Punch has done on previous PlayStation consoles. The developer behindSly Cooperand theahead-of-their-timeInFamoustitlesmoved onto something less linear withGhost of Tsushima, and the strong reception by fans and critics alike makes it very likely that a sequel will be the studio’s next big project. However, almost five years have passed since Jin Sakai’s first story, and though games typically take a while to release after their announcement, it might be a while before it finally hits shelves and digital storefronts.
Because of thisGhost of Tsushima’s sequel, whatever it will be called and however it will manifest, may very well be in a similar position to its predecessor, especially since Sony recently said thePS5 is in the latter stage of its life cycle. In 2013,The Last of Usdid the same as it released a few months before the PS4’s launch, andPart 2released in 2020, just weeks shy of the PS5. It could be a good way to echo the success of the past, and it might be the safest route to high sales, as bringingGhost of Tsushimato players at the end of a console’s life cycle has already proven to work wonders.
Sony’s First Party Future is As-Yet Unclear
Thefirst-party franchises likeHorizon,God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, andThe Last of Usare a big part of PlayStation’s success and overall identity, but none of the aforementioned series have a clear future that has been formally announced. The only reason players know about Insomniac’s plans is due to the leak that occurred in December last year.Ghost of Tsushimais one of many that needs more clarity, and while it could have to wait until the PS6, this would be a huge disappointment to the fans who bought the fifth iteration of Sony’s home console withGhost of Tsushimain mind.
Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut
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In the late 13th century, the Mongol empire has laid waste to entire nations along their campaign to conquer the East. Tsushima Island is all that stands between mainland Japan and a massive Mongol invasion fleet led by the ruthless and cunning general, Khotun Khan.As the island burns in the wake of the first wave of the Mongol assault, courageous samurai warrior Jin Sakai stands resolute. As one of the last surviving members of his clan, Jin is resolved to do whatever it takes, at any cost, to protect his people and reclaim his home. He must set aside the traditions that have shaped him as a warrior to forge a new path, the path of the Ghost, and wage an unconventional war for the freedom of Tsushima.
