Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut

Ghost of Tsushima is a PC action adventure game with an open-world perspective. It has won several awards. The game is set in feudal Japan but Western players will easily understand the problems faced by its protagonist.

The Game

It's a Japanese story, set in the 13th century, complete with detailed, beautiful scenery, including animals like songbirds (including golden ones that lead you when you are lost, or distracted), crickets and foxes you can even pet, torii gates and Shinto Temples.

Your task is to repel the Mongols who have so far been successful in reclaiming your land (under Khotun, the grandson to the famous Genghis). You must also avenge your homeland which was invaded.

To succeed you will have to take some tough decisions. Will you follow the honourable samurai protocol or choose the morally 'right thing'? You will be able to gather allies as you transform from Jin the upright samurai into "The Ghost." As you travel you'll learn their stories and resolve their problems.

You'll have Sensei, a samurai who is searching for his lost student, Masako a mother who wants revenge for the murder of her family, and Yuna the thief, who has saved you from Mongols at the beginning.

The Nitty Gritty

While you follow the main storyline, NPCs will guide you along your journey, encouraging you to take a detour so you can enjoy the beautifully rendered landscape. You can even enjoy moments of tranquility and rest when you sit back, relax, and take in the scenery.

You can use a katana to defend yourself (and even attack). More about weapons is below. Choose one of four classes to play and choose between single-player mode for just one player or for up to two people, or the co-op version for four or more players. You can also play the multiplayer mode.

The game can be played in English or Japanese, with the option of English subtitles. However, lip-readers are quick to notice that all mouth movements will still be English regardless of which language you choose. Kurosawa mode will evoke classic black-and-white films by Akira Kurosawa who created the image of the Japanese samurai.

Tales, or side quests in the game are what they are called. There are both standard tales based on real life (or something similar) and Mystic Tales that explore a more supernatural aspect of things. As you would expect, combat is mainly katana-based. You can kill an opponent with just a few well-placed strokes. You can also be eliminated in the same manner, so it's important to learn how to parry, dodge, and block as well as swinging your sword around. Playing with precision will enhance your score and make it more enjoyable.

The open world has no indicator or map. This can be an enjoyable experience but it is also frustrating. Sometimes things such as plumes of smoke or bird flight, leaves swirling, etc. will make you feel more compelled to take action.

The majority of the time, you will be traveling on horseback. However, grappling hooks can also help when climbing up or reaching something that is out of reach.

What weapons are there?

You will unlock more and better armours, costumes and charms as you advance. Many of these can be upgraded. The benefits can include decreased damage, enemy awareness (it takes them longer to see you), improved health, quicker healing or increased melee damage. Only cosmetic head and facial customisations can be made.

• The traditional sword of the Samurai, Katana, gets better as you discover power-ups. It gives you an edge, literally.
• The bow: back in the day, arrows and bows were used as the main weapons. But these also have a few extras. Have fun with the different types of bows and make sure you stock up on your quiver.
• While stealth may not be thought of traditionally as a weapon by players, they will soon realise it is designed more for you to gain a good position to surprise your opponents.
• If your sneaking tactics don't work, throw a few firecrackers at them to decoy or distract them as you creep up and kill them.
• Smoke Bombs: Like firecrackers but lasting longer, smoke bombs are a great way to set up a show or sneak by an enemy camp if the mood strikes you.
• Kunai: originally thought of as masons' tool, these fierce-looking stabby darts have been adapted to self-defence. In this game they can be used as daggers, throw knives, or sharp spikes to take down several enemies simultaneously.
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