Summary
Ghost of Tsushimawas among the most striking new franchises introduced during the last console generation. This can be attributed in large part to its stunning presentation. When Jin fights as a Samurai, the game’s visual style mimics that of an Akira Kurosawa film, making every engagement, significant or otherwise, feel epic. The majesty of this combat is matched in the wayGhost of Tsushima’s world is depicted. While Samurai-style combat is often visually compelling inGhost of Tsushima, its stealth, which is more central to the plot, unfortunately lacks the same pizzazz.Ghost of Tsushima2needs to take some queues from Batman and make its stealth cooler to engage with.
Batman is one of pop culture’s most recognizable heroes. Unlike many other superheroes, Batman does not possess powers. He instead fights with technology and stealth. Many ofBatman’s gadgetsare as iconic as the character himself is; from his cape, which keeps him shrouded in darkness, to his trusty Batmobile, everything about the character oozes cool. As a result, even when Batman isn’t directly engaging in combat, he is still fun to watch or play as throughout his various depictions. This has made Batman iconic and lastingly popular for decades.
Ghost of Tsushima’s Stealth is Bland
Thestealth inGhost of Tsushima’s sequelmust be more compelling than in the original. Stealthy attacks, such as sneaking up behind enemies or dropping onto them from roofs, are incredibly powerful in the game, but they lack the appeal of its sword fights.Ghost of Tsushimadelivers the Samurai fantasy in this way, but it fumbles the feeling it tries to create around being the Ghost.It is possible to wipe out an entire camp of enemies without being detected, but it lacks the same excitement as taking on the enemies head first. Considering the fact that Jin embracing the role of the Ghost is central to the game’s story, it does little to make it appeal to the player.
Why is Stealth Bland in Ghost of Tsushima?
Ghost of Tsushima’s combat is grounded, and the game constantly tries to maintain some sense of historical accuracy, even if it is oftentimes more inspired byAkira Kurosawamovies than actual events. The result is that many of Jin’s stealth techniques are quick and simple. This may be how one would actually fight in his situation, but it is dull to watch over and over again. Jin Sakai’s tools are also unremarkable; he has throwing knives, wind chimes, smoke bombs, and other gadgets that are typical of stealth games such asAssassin’s Creed. These tools are very effective, but there is nothing particularly memorable about using them.
How Could Ghost of Tsushima 2 Make Stealth More Exciting?
Ghost of Tsushima 2could overhaul the original’s approach to stealth in a number of ways.The grounded nature ofGhost of Tsushimais central to its identity, but so is its connection to cinema. The game should avoid delving into the realm of fantasy, but Jin could be given a wider array of animations for assassinations, and some of these animations could be flashier. In addition to this, Jin could utilize some cooler gadgets, just like Batman. One possibility could be giving Jin a wider variety of darts for his blowgun, allowing him to do more than poison foes or cause them to hallucinate. Giving Jin more unique tools and making him look cooler while being stealthy could help to make playing in that way as compelling as taking on enemies directly.
One final way thatGhost of Tsushima2could make stealth more exciting is with its open-world design. For example, placing more grappling hook points in the world could allow for rapid escapes while potentially leaving Jin very exposed. Giving players more choices and making environments more varied could help each situation feel unique. The originalGhost of Tsushimacertainly has room for improvement, but given Sucker Punch’s excellent track record as a developer, its sequel will likely be a compelling step forward, assuming Sucker Punch does make a sequel. Until news arrives about a follow-up, fans can look forward to theGhost of Tsushimamovie.
