Ghost of Tsushima - New Sucker Punch IP

[jonamok]

Wow, this is glorious. Put about 8 hours into it yesterday. Looks and feels amazing at 4K60.

 

Love the combat, love the world, love the story and the performances, and adore the foxes. Also has that ‘one more mission’ thing that had me playing til gone 2am.

[jonamok]

Just noticed a fun thing. Was trying to remember the button presses to switch between the four stances in a mob fight, and realised something intentional or unintentional that’s cool either way:

 

Stone stance (for fighting dudes who usually have two swords) is X, which looks like two crossed swords.

 

Water stance (usually for fighting dudes with round shields) is circle.

 

Wind stance (for blokes with spears) is triangle, which looks like the tip of a spear.

 

Moon stance (for the brutes) is square, like a big chunky torso.

 

It’s a nice mnemonic and it’s made insta-switching much more intuitive for me.

[glb]

Started today, having picked the game up in the PS Store’s current sale, and can already see it’s going to be hugely enjoyable.

 

Playing on a Pro, it looks lush. Controls all feel pretty intuitive (albeit can’t get the parry timing at all so far) and Jin is a likeable, compelling character. Feel like he’s about to go on a journey...

 

Stand offs are the best ‘new’ thing I’ve played in ages too. So delightfully brutal.

 

Solid start

[FiveFootNinja]

I too am just starting it having been tempted in by the sale price. PS5 for me and it’s solid as a rock, smooth and utterly utterly beautiful to look at. 
 

Very early days for me thus far but it’s already going into my extensive list of PS4 generation must plays I think. Lush.

[Jamie John]

Physical versions of this are still stubbornly expensive, for some reason. I'd get it in the sale on the PSN store, but I'm scared that if I don't get on with it I'll have wasted £30. It's a shame it's not on that PS+ collection thing, but I suppose it's still relatively new.

[jonamok]

Do you like open world games? Do you like fast, fun combat? Do you like good writing and acting? Do you have any interest in the era or culture depicted? Do you like foxes?

 

Yes to one or more of those and you'll likely love it.

[HarryBizzle]

I’m getting increasingly distressed by you calling the writing and performances good. The game has one drum to bang and does it for 30 hours, with no twists or turns.
 

All of the side characters are entirely one note, and their stories are incredibly drawn out. 
 

I’m still playing and enjoying this, but it’s a prettier and simpler version of Assassin’s Creed with some great combat (think Batman combat but with a sword). 
 

 

The foxes quite nicely highlight the worst of the design choices in the game - you come across a fox, which you can’t really miss, because its den is highlighted for you on the map, and follow it to a shrine. You can’t mess this up, because the fox sits and waits for you, and then at the shrine you press a button and get a little bonus. 
 

The whole thing is a pointless bit of busywork. 

[jonamok]

Different folks I guess. Don't be distressed.

 

Edit: But they are foxes and they are lovely, and you get to follow them as they run and jump, and then you get to pet them (good fox!), and then you discover that either a) that is never not awesome, or b) you are dead inside. 

[Jamie John]

23 minutes ago, jonamok said:

Do you like open world games? Do you like fast, fun combat? Do you like good writing and acting? Do you have any interest in the era or culture depicted? Do you like foxes?

 

Yes to one or more of those and you'll likely love it.

 

I like all of those things, but this has a distinctly Assassin's Creed feel to it and I've never managed to finish one of those games.

[jonamok]

9 minutes ago, Jamie John said:

 

I like all of those things, but this has a distinctly Assassin's Creed feel to it and I've never managed to finish one of those games.

 

Then stick to the main story missions, and ignore the side stories, and drop the difficulty if you get stuck, and you'll be more likely to make it to the end.

 

FWIW, I've never got through an Ass Creed game either, but I loved every minute of HZD, and 22+ hours in I'm loving every bit of this.

[joemul]

41 minutes ago, Jamie John said:

 

I like all of those things, but this has a distinctly Assassin's Creed feel to it and I've never managed to finish one of those games.

I’m about 15 hours into Days Gone and it’s absolutely superb right now. The world feels dangerous. 

[jonamok]

Conversely I found the first half-dozen hours of Days Gone excruciating, and I tried it twice, but the awful, unlikeable characters, poor writing and performances, crap bike handling, and plain ‘gaminess’ of it killed it stone dead for me.

 

The exact opposite experience I’m having with GoT, and had with HZD.

 

YMMV obvs.

[dizogg]

Why are you both suddenly talking about Days Gone? Have I missed something?

[jonamok]

Don’t think so, just a little wander into other open world games I guess.

[Triple A]

I like this because it is a beautifully crafted game with great combat, that I can dip in and out of without feeling too much pressure to play for a certain time, or perform at a certain level

[Mr Majestyk]

Finished the main story. About 50 hours played. Still plenty to mop up, but this has been one of my favourite open world games in a long time. 

 

Visually glorious with great combat and a satisfying level of gore when slicing and dicing. Once the stance system clicks its great shifting it mid combat to efficiently eliminate those damn Mongolians. 

 

I'll happily return to Tsushima to find the remaining shrines etc.

 

Spoiler

I had no issue eliminating my uncle at the end. That bastards guards killed my horse!!! 

 

[jonamok]

I'm on 30 hours and still on the South Island. 

[jonamok]

Just a PSA for anyone who might have missed my earlier post, this is still down from £55 to £31 on PSN until tomorrow (14/4/21), which is as cheap as it’s ever been.

 

FWIW I adore everything about it. 40 hours in, with loads to go, and it’s easily in the running for my GOTG. Stunning stuff.

[Hoodedclaw]

17 minutes ago, jonamok said:

Just a PSA for anyone who might have missed my earlier post, this is still down from £55 to £31 on PSN until tomorrow (14/4/21), which is as cheap as it’s ever been.

 

FWIW I adore everything about it. 40 hours in, with loads to go, and it’s easily in the running for my GOTG. Stunning stuff.

 

if you shop about for cheap psn card deals its even cheaper , i think i managed to get it for £26 using Eneba

[Waggo]

It is £32 in Tesco if you have a club card for the physical disc.  It was tempting me this morning on my weekly shop, but think I will hang fire until I get a PS5.

[jonamok]

If you can I would, as at 4K60 on PS5 it’s the best looking game world I’ve ever seen, and the combat is super smooth.

[Parappa]

Down to £30.99 at Argos. 

[Gigawatt]

I've just started this on PS5 and I'm really enjoying it.  Someone should show this to Rockstar as an example of how to ride around on a horse and general character movement.  Also a really simple thing like picking up resources is super quick and easy rather than taking an age.  The sword combat is great so far, and reminds me in a really good way of the early Assassin's Creed games, especially how the insta-kill standoffs feel.

[Sidewaysbob]

The best bitis the photo mode. endless hours of fun.

 

 

[FiveFootNinja]

I'm only about 11 hours in and I reckon at least 2 of those I've spent faffing about in photo mode pretending to Akira Kurosawa film posters. Beautiful game.

[Timmo]

It's visually stunning. I'm finding it very boring, though.

[jonamok]

FUCK ME

 

Major end of Act 2 spoiler:

Spoiler

MASSIVE EMO WHINING POST WARNING

 

I can't believe they killed my fucking horse in such a cheap, manipulative way.

 

I've spent 50 hours getting to this point in the game, from picking my lovely black horse (Kage/Shadow) at the start, to barely using fast travel, instead just going everywhere at horsey trotting pace, and doing every available mission together on the way.

 

I've also even spent hours searching out banners to trade for saddles that suit both the horse and my armour of the moment. All of these mechanics are front and centre in the game - you are told to pick carefully at the start, the horse is with you for the long haul. I've gone out of my way to keep the horse out of combat too. Proper roleplaying the lone ninja/samurai and his loyal steed. I was even looking forward to travelling around the map post-game on poor old Kage and searching out all the remaining bits and bobs.

 

Now I've had to bury the poor cunt for no good reason, and some random scabby brown nag keeps turning up when I whistle - and of course the canned Jin/Horse animations till play, as if he gives a fuck for this equine imposter - further shitting on the immersion bed. Why do this? It has been massively counterproductive for me. Why not just have Yuna take the horse when you get arrested by your uncle, and reunite you with horsey later when you escape? Why have a long drawn out loyal horse death and burial scene? What am I meant to feel?

 

As can be seen from my posts this last few weeks, I fucking loved this - perhaps a bit too much? 

 

But killing the horse for no reason, with a whole load of game still to go, is a terrible writing decision. I can only assume the cunt who signed that off thought it would be a big dramatic moment that would get you really fired up for the third act. But why would it? I was already engaged, I've put 50 hours into the fucking thing. I'm already fired up to avenge Yuna's dumbass brother. And it wasn't the Mongols that killed horsey, it was my own side. So it leaves me pissed off at nobody but the writer, and takes me out of the game, every time I need to saddle up to explore Act 3's virgin landmass.

 

It has not made me more engaged, it has undermined the hours I've already put into it, and made me go from loving it, and never wanting it to end, to literally racing as quick as I can along the main Act 3 missions to just get it over with. The suspension of disbelief (always a fragile thing) has well and truly gone, my desire to keep roleplaying it has gone with it, and now it's become an exercise in just getting it done - when I can be arsed firing it up again. I'm sure I'll be fine when I calm down , but man, what a stupid, shitty decision.

 

And breathe... ah, that feels better. Tonight I'll be pouring out a sake for Kage. RIP big fella. 

 

Edit: So, a little further on (early Act 3 spoilers)

Spoiler

Oh, you now get to pick another good horse after a certain number of main missions.

 

Okay, why make me wait a potential age to get this? I only got it when I did as they’d pissed me off enough to drag me back to the main story for a swift resolution. If I’d gone off to do side missions it could have been a good while.

Can I have a black one again please? No you fucking can’t.
 

At least I can put my desired saddle colour on again, but it’s not really the same. Ho hum, it continues to be a succession of cheap, stupid writing choices, but at least I’m now somewhat back on track and adventuring into the wilds on new ‘permanent’ horsey again. He’s no Shadow, but I suppose he’s better than random brown nag.

 

[Number 28]

You've reminded me of my biggest criticism of the game, which is that you never seem to make any meaningful decisions that have consequences*. You're stuck on a single train track of a plot, travelling from the beginning to the end. You can mix up the order of things slightly by choosing side/legendary missions and there's the choice to use stealth, attack head on, or mix it up, but that's about it. How you proceed makes no odds. If you've ever watched the Hbomberguy review of Fallout New Vegas, you realise what is possible, and that was made eleven years old now. Imagine if you could prevent what jonamok just spoke about? Imagine if when you're trying to recruit other clans and comrades, it's possible to fuck up, making the counterattack very different/more difficult? Imagine if Jin's Uncle was impressed with you because you played more honourably? Or murdered any witness who might blab about how you didn't? I just feel like building these huge, intricate open worlds is somewhat wasted when your impact is so superficial. Saying all that, I enjoyed the game enough to finish it twice, so it's still very entertaining.

 

*

Spoiler

The biggest one is tacked on the end, but that's cheating because no consequences.

 

[mikeyl]

Top tier computer game horse (1. Argo 2. Epona 3. D-Horse, if you wanted the top 3).

[jonamok]

I assume you mean Agro?