Just finished playing the base game + DLC of Ghost of Tsushima, per bestie’s recommendation. At first, I was skeptical about whether I’d last past the first 15 minutes—looking at Jin’s face, not really attracted to him, nor particularly wanting to play as him. The opening was only so-so, given today’s standards for game cinematics. Not to mention, in the case of the Japanese fighting Genghis Khan’s grandchildren, I’d probably be keener to side with the latter given my Chinese heritage.
But the game quickly reeled me in with its open-world exploration mechanics—the ever-familiar Witcher/Skyrim-esque formula of discovering places of interest, revealing the fog on the map, gathering collectibles, etc. As I discovered the joys of counter-attacking after a perfect parry, pulling off a clean five-man stand-off, and breaking barriers with the matching techniques, I knew I had to finish the game. Beyond the chill exploration of Tsushima’s beautiful landscape, which offered countless picturesque moments, there was also the suspense of Shimura’s judgment looming on the horizon, keeping me eager to uncover more of the story.
The base game’s ending was poetic and emotional, and I loved it. I loved the message it conveyed about creativity, survival, and traditions. It also makes me wonder—does it reflect a questioning, awakening, rebellion, or contemplation among this generation of Japanese against the deep-rooted traditions that Japan, as a nation and tribe, so greatly values? The expectation to obey and observe traditions and codes without question was, incidentally, also the foundation of Japan’s militaristic capabilities, which led to massacres and war crimes that subjected many, including my grandparents’ generation, to cruelty. Maybe they’re now considering capitalizing more on their national strength in creativity while abandoning the traditions and customs that have only served to bind them—forcing them to knowingly make mistakes in times of crisis. Maybe this is their way of signaling to the world that the new generation of Japanese is rebelling against their predecessors—and they’re done making mistakes.
I, for one, absolutely love this generation of Japanese creators for crafting such an amazing masterpiece of a game. Please bring us more like this, in Ghost of Yotei and Death Stranding 2.
Tiffani "Oling" L. 