It’s time to pack your smoke bombs, mud off your katana, and prep your greatest haikus. The Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Lower is right here, bringing next-gen upgrades for PS5 gamers and an enormous new island to discover, it doesn’t matter what console you’re taking part in on.
Should you’ve performed final 12 months’s unique launch, it’s, frankly, extra of the identical. However when that “similar” is being a badass samurai in one of the vital lovely recreation worlds ever rendered by silicon? Nicely, domo arigato to the builders at Sucker Punch – we’ll take it.
First up, what’s modified for the PS5 version? Nicely, not a hell of so much should you’ve already sampled the unique PS4 recreation on a PS5, which obtained a really spectacular 60fps patch quickly after the PS5’s launch.
The PS5 model retains the 60fps body charge (together with improved, extra constantly sharp dynamic decision scaling), provides in DualSense controller haptic suggestions, delivers 3D spatial audio and accelerates loading occasions courtesy of the SSD. The following-gen adjustments are delicate, however that’s not wholly surprising – Ghost of Tsushima was already a shocking recreation, and people anticipating some intense graphical makeover had been overreaching.
In addition to the complete unique recreation and new DLC content material, the Director’s Lower additionally throws in a free method level, a brand new appeal and a brand new pores and skin set, only for downloading the up to date model of the sport, in addition to including a much-requested Japanese lip-sync possibility for voice overs. There’s additionally a co-op multiplayer “Legends” mode, although that wasn’t accessible for testing pre-release, on the time of writing.
A complete new island
However the true addition for returning followers is the sizable Iki Island marketing campaign. We received’t go into a lot depth on the main-game content material included right here – you’ll be able to try our unique Ghost of Tsushima evaluation for that. However suffice to say, we cherished it, letting you reside out your samurai fantasies in a fantastic, blood-soaked recreation.
The Director’s Lower’s Iki Island content material, accessible from Act Two of the primary recreation (however in all probability greatest performed when you’ve accomplished the primary marketing campaign), runs about 5 hours in size (and significantly extra for completionists) and weaves an amazing story inside the established Tshushima storyline. After stumbling upon some villagers pushed mad by a brand new wave of Mongol invaders, protagonist Jin Sakai finds himself shipwrecked on the southerly island, now run by the invading, shamanistic Eagle and her military. Drugging Jin and inflicting hallucinatory experiences, Jin must confront some darkish truths about his dad and mom in addition to driving this new risk from Japan.
Shamans are the most important new addition to fight in Ghost of Tsushima. They’re like buffing characters in your enemies, elevating their aggression and resolve, and actually bloody annoying. You’ll need to hunt these guys down out of a bunch first, or concern being overwhelmed by considerably more durable grunts.
Although there are new armor units to seek out and your base expertise will be additional improved with returning bamboo strike minigames, there’s solely actually one new method so as to add to Jin’s arsenal this time round. That’s the Horse Cost – maintain down L1 and your trusty steed will gallop by way of columns of enemies, damaging them and inflicting their compatriots to flee in terror. It’s a strong software and nice enjoyable to activate, however a bit below utilized. You’d count on a lot of vast open area fight towards bigger enemy teams, however that doesn’t actually come, and the closely fortified encampments that make up the primary thrust of Jin’s bloodshed aren’t effectively suited to horseback fight. Nonetheless, it’s helpful when chasing down a cowardly troop fleeing your sword.
A few new minigames are included too. Gone are the pleasant little foxes of Tsushima, changed on Iki by colonies of monkeys, cats and deers, that are being captured and plagued by the Mongol invaders. Free them and also you’ll enter right into a minigame to earn their belief, by which Jin should play a tune on his flute to calm them. You’ll use the movement controls of your gamepad to information a marker alongside a melody line – achieve this efficiently and also you’ll befriend the animal and get a skill-boosting appeal enchancment. And a cute little animation as well – sure, you’ll be able to pet the monkey. And the deer. And the cats.
Archers will get to check their expertise with a collection of archery challenges dotted across the map as effectively. These are powerful as nails until you’ve acquired the corresponding armor, appeal and ability boosts, however can reward affected person and expert shooters with improved time-slowing aiming talents.
Magnificence among the many bloodshed
As with the primary recreation, the Director’s Lower’s strengths and weaknesses stay largely unchanged. The Mythic Quest aspect missions are excessive factors, mixing exploration with difficult fight, alluring supporting characters and uniquely crafted places.
Additionally as with the primary recreation, Jin continues to be a little bit of a humid squib, too restrained and doggedly honourable to be emotionally connecting, whereas the Eagle and her trippy talents are underused.
However Iki Island. Oh, Iki Island! From its stormswept seashores affected by large whale bones and shipwrecks, to its sakura blossom deer clearings, to its icy mountaintops, it’s nearly as lovely as an open world recreation has ever been. Ghost of Tsushima has by no means been a vastly ingenious recreation – it’s primarily a samurai-skinned Murderer’s Creed recreation with an excellent fight system hooked up. However its painterly landscapes stay unmatched. Iki Island is one other wealthy location to only luxuriate in – a various and wondrous setting to wash in (a minimum of while you’re not swimming within the blood of your enemies).
Like returning to a favourite vacation location, travelling to Iki Island is comfortably acquainted, and splendidly pleasurable.