This was by far the hardest video I've worked on and one of my most personal. Your feedback is greatly appreciated, as is the support of the channels UA-cam and Patreon members. If you want to support the channel, you may do so through the links in the description.
I never saw Jin as a hypocrite I saw him as a man being forced to do things he never wanted to so why would he want his former friends to fall down the same path. Of course he would tell everyone around him to stay on the honorable path because look at how painful dishonor has been for him
@@voidgivenfocus then every person who has learned a lesson, grown, and changed for the better is a hypocrite which maybe denotatively correct but not connotatively. Don’t be obtuse
I love the video, but felt pretty differently about the combat. I personally never had many problems with enemy targeting but that may well be up to personal preference. I found the combat to be very difficult and extremely engaging in the higher difficulties. The complexity of light and heavy attacks, charged guard breaking attacks, different combos and the different stances all come together to make my favorite sword based melee combat in a video game ever. I loved just being in a battle or boss fight. It feels like a dance, you are constantly matching and reacting to every movement of your enemy.
Same here. I love the combat and didn't really have issues with targeting except for maybe when I was in a building with little space. I also NEVER used lock-on. I'm so glad that didn't exist when I first beat the game and in subsequent playthroughs I never turned it on.
@@Joker_JAK I totally agree, I think if lock on was there by default it would have taken away from the experience. The combat and story are the two main reasons this game is special so I guess if one of those doesn't click with someone they won't like it that much.
@@Joker_JAKthe game was never designed for Lock-On and I was baffled by how many UA-camrs _demanded_ one. People seem to forget Free-Flow Combat exists.
If you like GoT you should play Nioh 2. Ghost is like a good intro to how Nioh works, and it goes so much deeper. The combat alone kept me playing for hundreds of hours, mastering literally just one weapon, the basic sword. I consider the skill ceiling to be basically infinite and the combos you can pull off sometimes, dear lord jesus I'm about to go download it again
I loved the combat but don’t agree that it was difficult, one of my biggest problems with this game is how easy the combat is, even on hard and lethal. I’m not usually one to play above the normal difficulties in games, but once you get levelled up a bit some of the skills and talismans are just way too overpowered to me, especially the one that makes parties easier. Hope they address that in the sequel if anything
I was infatuated with this game when it came out. Even swiping the touch pad to flick the blood off Jin’s katana to sheathe it after every fight had me captivated. I especially liked the hardest difficulty where one strike was enough to end you and the opponent for the most part
Yeah, I’m glad they patched in lethal difficulty. I really enjoyed swiping the touchpad to summon the winds which would lead to your destination. So immersive, as was swiping to sheathe your katana.
I enjoyed that mechanic as well, while the Playstation touchpad isn't used all to much in games, when done right like in this games case, it can create a sense of immersion that other consoles can never achieve, I still find it mind boggling that Playstation are still the only company out of the big three to have incorporated this mechanic into their controllers since the touchpad is such a simple yet effective button on any playstation controller
Big agree! Lethal difficulty is the this game's peak. It takes an already very immersive game and just cranks it up so much. The fact that everyone, including you, dies in just a hit or two (except for enemies in duels, which I'm thankful for) makes it really feel like a sword fight. I pretty much always play games at their easiest difficulty. I enjoy feeling like an unstoppable beast, and I like to keep a game's narrative moving. But this game NEEDS to be played on Lethal, it's just too insanely good to go with any other way. Combat flows so much better when you aren't hacking at single enemies repeatedly. It really gives you that smooth, slicing through enemies like butter samurai feel. It's a shame so many people never give it a shot. It changes everything about how the game feels in the best way.
For me, Ghost of Tsushima came at the right time during the covid lockdowns, even a week before my birthday. Highschool just closed for a week we thought that it was going to be the best time ever, then it became 2 weeks, then 3, then a month and more. I was stuck in my dark room doing online classes, my family all quarter themselves off because we were falling ill one by one. Playing the game and just experiancing the nature, the colors and sort of comforted me during it. It felt magical, spiritual even as I was raised buddhist and having those motifs or themes in the game connected with me. Jin's struggles have held my hand in my way with my own struggles. I haven't gotten that feeling in a while until I passed by yellowstone national park. Just the sense of beauty of reflecting and nature was a feeling that can only be achieved by being there. In my mind as I passed by springs, animals, and mountains as the Tsushima soundtrack just played in my head. Now I'm making samurai armor and love to go on nature walks, and I thank Tsushima for introducing me to that.
Thank you for giving Yuriko’s tale the weight it deserves. Two of my grandparents have suffered from dementia before they passed, so I almost immediately noticed the signs in Yuriko. It’s the only side quest in a game to have ever made me cry. It was so well made and absolutely beautiful Also, thank you for featuring my comment from the Legends comment section. It was not necessary at all, but I really appreciate it. Thanks for the shoutout!
RIP to your grandparents. Losing my grandparents is a challenge I still have not overcome, despite it happening 5 years ago. I just beat Ghost of Tsushima for the first time earlier this week and Yuriko's tale had me crying too. I found myself often visiting her grave and playing my flute in game the same way I visit my grandparents and talk to their headstones.
If i remember correctly, the controller will pulse like a heartbeat if you decide to kill Shimura, and the pulse will slowly fade. I chose to spare him my first run, and i prefer that ending better but damn... feeling Shimura's heartbeat fade out as you stab him broke me.
@@mattmas6628Xbox 360 trauma. Every vibration on low battery turned the controller off. And also, me personally never liked vibration. When the PS5 controller showed the features of the adaptive buttons I was livid because that's a thing I WILL DEFINITELY turn off. I need responsive controls, not adaptative ones.
Throughout the game, Jin's primary motivation is doing whatever he has to to help the people of Tsushima. When it came down to the final choice, i made the decision that i thought would be best for Tsushima: to spare Lord Shimura. He definitely has flaws as a military leader, but he was a good lord when it came to peacetime life, and the people of Tushima need that. And if The Ghost kills the shogun's appointed lord of Tsushima, then who might he send next? Someone to crack down on The Ghost and all he represents? With Shimura still in charge, they could have the understanding that peace has been achieved, the ghost will fade away, and the civilians will prosper. at least, that was my thinking. but i didn't care much about the honor code, i only cared about saving civilian lives
It's one of my favourite things about the story, characterisation, and final choices of Ghost of Tsushima: it's that everyone has a different logic behind the choice they made based on who they see Jin as at the end of his journey, and nobody's wrong in their reasoning. When it came to my playthrough, I made the choice to kill Lord Shimura out of a sense of love for the man and as my final act as a samurai. I felt that after everything I'd done, how I'd turned my back on every single thing he'd ever raised Jin to be, how I'd destroyed my own clan's legacy, how I'd had his hand forced to either kill the man he saw as his own son, or live a life as a disgraced leader who failed in his duties to the Shogunate, the last thing I could do for him was to give him the death he wanted and to spare him from facing that failure. I also made the choice to let Shimura see in his last moments that the man he'd essentially raised was still in there, that I hadn't completely fallen off the path into being a monster and was still the son he'd raised for the last twenty years. That despite all the horrendous things I'd done across my journey, I still had that shred of humanity in me who cared for the wishes and wellbeing of others, and I still had my code of honour somewhere inside. I felt that giving Shimura a Samurai's death was the last thing Lord Sakai did before he fully turned his back on the Shogunate and became the Ghost of Tsushima once and for all. In my interpretation of the story, it felt cruel of me to ask Shimura to continue living on in his world that had burned down around him, so I made the choice to spare him from that fate, which is what I believe he wanted. It's one of my favourite things about these grey area choices in gaming where there isn't a Mass Effect-style glowing prompt on screen that tells you which is the arbitrary good choice and which is the arbitrary bad choice so you know in advance if you're going to be a hero or a jerk to people. Some of my favourite choices and endings in games are ones where there's never an answer given to whether or not you made the right or wrong choice, or the good or bad one. You're given information, given a set of options, and are allowed to make an informed decision based on either who you are or who you see your character to be. It's why the ending of GoT has stuck with me for the last four years and why I love discussing it with people who had different choices for different reasons based on their own personal interpretations or philosophies, rather than just picking a red or blue colour choice because that's the playthrough they'd committed to for that run.
Personally i prefer killing him, i think it is more honorable to give him his wish and you kill him knowing that he still cares for Jin despite the path he takes. Its comforting knowing that he still see's Jin as his son and when they are both dead, that they can have time together in the afterlife.
Man i remember seeing the trailer in lockdown and replaying that trailer everyday(my cousin who i saw after a long time in 2020 also saw the trailer and we were both obsessed). I was so blown away by the graphics and how fast the fast travel. The combat too is just so satisfying. Plus when i saw that this game was coming out on my birthday (along with Paper Mario the origami king, whic i love btw) i knew i had to play. All my friends and family gathered around the TV and man we were all mesmerized by the graphics and the world, we even passed the controller just to run around and the free roam. We all collectively said this game is gorgeous during the opening as you ride your horse in the field and the logo popped up. This game definitely holds a special place in my heart and I'm currently trying to get the platinum on it too (might get the directors cut even) and i can't wait for the sequel. Sucker Punch should definitely be applauded for this amazing game and it's definitely my game of the year in 2020. For Tsushima, Jin and the gang. FOR THE GHOST!!! I legitimately can't wait for what they can do for the sequel and the features of the PS5.
a new story where jin goes to mainland japan to regain his honor by helping every town and samurai he meets regardless if they want him dead or not until the shogun or lord shimura has no choice but to acknowledge him.
This game was a masterpiece, a true love letter to the samurai genre and stands as a solid choice in any game library. Fantastic video, love the content and the level of detail you went into. Can't imagine how much work went into this video.
Its also amazing to take note how the devs went back in the Directors cut and reworked all of the lip syncing for the Japanese dub, its not everyday you see games get two variations of lip syncing, in both gameplay and cutscenes
I'm happy for your thoughtful interpretation of Shimura which a lot of people overlook. I really think Shimura was being too soft with Jin from the end of Act 1 onwards because he wasn't looking at the outward actions of Jin, but Jin's inner state. He wanted Jin not to "lose himself" to hatred and darkness, but unfortunately things happen later which force Shimura to confront Jin's literal actions. Clan Oga was forcing Shimura into an "in-person" exam of his competence, and he basically got exposed as not being the best at fighting the Mongols while relying on Jin to do the real stuff. That's the subtext I think was actually going on with Shimura, that he wanted to have his cake and eat it too: to save Tsushima but also keep the samurai reputation intact. Jin undermines all that, and well, that leads to Shimura having an existential meltdown by the end of the game. He can't fathom the samurai actually failing, that it must all be his fault, so the best thing to do is just redeem himself with death at Jin's hands.
i finally tried the game after 4 years and man did i miss out... i played the main game, dlc and online mode (and got every single trophy for it too, wich i definently do not do for all games i play) and all i can say is that i just want more... this is the best game and game story i have played in years (the ending deadass made me cry...)
DLC is also so well done. Sucker punch absolutely destroyed me with this masterpiece. I tell all my ppl to try this if they want a story with insane gameplay
The greatness this game displays is what terrifies me from a sequel. They'd have to truly outdo themselves to excel even more at what they've done with this one game and Jin's story to the point that they probably shouldn't make a sequel, but they could always make it an anthology where the next game has a different protagonist and story, maybe taking place within mainland Japan this time.
Man this is one of your best vids, if not the best. It’s so easy to tell that you poured your heart and soul and more into this video. Maybe this game being the hardest for you to make a video on is the reason that it came out so well. A blind man could tell that you resonated and found peace in this game and that you connected to it on a level that most people cant connect to with a game. I am so sure that you could have continued talking about this game for more than double the time of this vid (which 2 hours which by itself is so much effort and time being sunk into it so massive respect for that.) the final part of the vid where you were saying things like “this may not be my best work” and that sort of stuff feels wrong to me cause man I’ve been watching your vids since the dawn of time and everyone watching them can tell you pour your heart out into every single video you masterfully craft, its incredible how you can always keep me (and I’m sure loads of other people) coming back to your vids. You gotta give yourself more credit cause damn bro, you never miss. The game for me is a definite masterpiece and even if it has its flaws, it’s still a masterpiece in my eyes. Story is top notch. Gameplay, even though repetitive, has a certain satisfaction that doesn’t allow me to get bored, the sounds and the atmosphere are just phenomenal. This video only made me love the game even more. You probably wont see this comment and its probably gonna be sent to the bottom of this endless abyss of comments cause no one would read this long message but if you just get to read this then I’m happy. Amazing work on this vid, i feel like it would be so incredible to just have a conversation with you cause you are so deep and i love those sorts of conversations. You are an incredible content creator and you have easily shown your skills and those skills are unmatched. Keep up the good work man!!! I was excited for this video and I’m still excited to eventually rewatch it in the future. Good work, i cant wait to see what else you are gonna post cause i cant stop coming back!!
Wow, I’m really flattered that you wrote such a long piece, and I’m glad you’re continually enjoying the videos! Thank you! If you ever want to chit chat feel free to join the discord. I’m in the voice chat occasionally.
@@ThatBoyAqua Im actually so happy to have gotten a reply, thats got me excited not gonna lie. I am only speaking facts man. You keep on releasing masterpiece after masterpiece man it’s great to see. I’ll be sure to join the discord.
This is to me the best "ubisoft style" game ever made, and it's not even close. What I would call it above everything else is cohesive; the main quest sets a context and tone for the setting which is then taken advantage of by every sidequest and activity. These sidequests are somber, are about war survivors and the tragedy of people who lose their loved ones or need to compromise their morals just as Jin has and is, and this makes it so when you take time out of the main story to do them it never feels out of place or like a break from that story. Perhaps the most genius move in the game was to block your progression, stopping you from exploring certain sections of the island until you complete certain main quest events. This let the story take center stage, and again helped cohesion because your progress and freedom as a player was directly tied to Jin's progress and freedom as he leads a counterattack against the invading Mongols. More games of this type need to examine this approach and integrate its lessons.
My experience before Lethal Mode: "This is alright, combat gets a little stale by the end of the game when I can just turn my brain off" After Lethal Mode: "This is one of the best Action Adventure experiences I have ever had."
@@ApoMelon Honestly yes. It forces you to get very good at the combat, which makes you feel more like a samurai when you can cut down 4 men who could all kill you in a single hit. Brings the challenge and the experience you'd want from a game that allows you use a sword. Hell, by the time you get all the upgrades to your sword damage, you and the enemies are both just one hit from death at all times.
Man I spent about 65 hours in this game and just walking around the world of Tsushima felt so peaceful even tho the game was about anything but. Like the tranquility of the wild and the wind and music and MY GOD when I would find a haku spot I’d get so excited I loved the cinematicness of it and it was so calming needless to say I loved the game
This was an amazing video. Thank you for pouring your heart like that. I believe that it wasn't an easy video to make for you and that Ghost of Tsushima truly moved you. I hope this game comes out on PC eventually so that I can experience it myself.
They were talking about it for April 2023, I don't know where I remember this from. Then radio silence. Pretty sure it is in the works, and will come out a bit unexpectedly. Like Horizon Forbidden West, I will double buy that one when it's on PC, really pushing the prettiness !
Ghostof Tsushima is one of the games I platinum in the PS5 and man did I loved it, the experience and story was so good that I have yet to find a game to capture my excitement and heart like it did. I never saw ghost of Tsushima gameplay before but played because of my passion for samurai/ronin stories, so I made a effort to not look at any spoilers for the game once I began playing because some of the reviews talked how immersive it was. I spent 67 hours on the game exploring the entirety of Tsushima and Iki island, having that platinum was a very satisfying achievement and I plan to revisit the game on the end of the year for the new game plus achievements
Phenomenal video, the reason I (and i suspect many others) enjoy your reviews and retrospectives are all the little personnal touches that you add, like the haikus at the beginning of each chapters, you also have great talent at speaking with clarity and precision without sacrificing any nuance or pretenting objectivity So many people try to make multi hours videos covering every little detail of games and provide the most comprehensive description of every moment, yet you share your perspectives in a way that never feel superfluous or filler, each words you say have purpose and provide insight into your subject matter. Great job all around.
Dude I've enjoyed every video of yours I've watched. I work overnight and most times put them on to listen to something meaningful and with effort put into it. Love the work and can't wait for the next one
man this is one of the most comfortable vidoe i have watched in my time on youtube simply outstanding and well made with sincirty. you sir deserve all the praise you can get for making a video of such kwalitie.
Ghost of Tsushima is one of my favorite games of all time. Truly, no other game I had played gave me a sense of peace and calm than this, when I was just riding around on Kage. The scenery, the art direction, the island was so incredibly serene when you stopped and took the time to take it all in. GoT had amazing combat, a great story, a gorgeous soundtrack and a breathtaking world. To me, it was as close to perfect as a game could get.
1:09:31 During the first Yuriko side tale this is brought up, she tells Jin that Kazumasa was not as rigid as Shimura and that his own men thought he was a demon after pursuing his enemies
This game still tugs at my heart even after 10s of playthroughs. Yet as much as i love this game, no game will ever beat the emotional journey that is"Outer Wilds" not to be confused with "the outer worlds" and i hope one day i open youtube and see aqua has finally made a review for a new but timeless classic
I’ve written 5 different scripts for Outer Wilds and none of them seem to capture how special that game is to me. I’m glad that game was able to resonate with you too :)
@santi_super_stunts2573 that's one of its beauties, go where you want and just discover what you can, nothing in the game is locked behind an item that you don't have but instead is all based on what you just don't know yet, I get that it isn't everyone but I'd recommend giving it another go the time you put in is rewarding
Outer Wilds is overrated af. And Ghost is good, but not that good. Nioh 2 is a way more engaging videogame. Ghost boils down to a very pretty but boring playable open world movie.
Although i played it and consistently loved it, the one thing that put me off about it was how it treated bushido. I believe anyone who has touched any sliver of feudal Japanese history, would know that the idea of bushido as an “honorable code” was not widespread until fairly recently. It was a code to serve one’s master and nation, and bring them glory. If that required a warrior to kill women and kidnap children, it was considered correct to do so. To me, as well as my Japanese parents (who have grown up watching samurai movies and dramas) Jin’s attitude to accept any tactics necessary was as “bushi” as it got, and it felt odd for his uncle to constantly put him down for it. That being said, i’ve also heard that it’s true that the Japanese at Tsushima had to adopt new tactics in response to the invaders. Maybe the whole Bushido thing in GoT was a stand-in for that transition. In that sense, i also felt that it worked. And all things aside, I loved the game thoroughly still. It felt like the Kung-fu Panda of samurai movies; a love letter to a genre that showed genuine love, greater than many of its Japanese contemporaries.
Without a shred of a doubt, the reflection section of this video encapsulates everything that I've wanted to say about this game for many years. You did an absolutely outstanding job conveying your feelings and the message that accompanied them. Thanks for your time, your passion and this video it was wonderful to watch. I really look forward to more of your stuff in the future!
You can really see the passion and hard work that go into each of your videos. Your essays remind me a lot of Luke Stevens' but I personally think yours are way better.
It has been 4 years?... Damn, we are getting old now. As per usual, have to watch this when I get home and eat and write, can't wait to see what you have for new years Chef.
I’m happy that you used Genshin music in the background when explaining the peace part, because Genshin and Ghost of Tsushima are both my favorite games for that reason: they give me a sense of peace and contentment that other games just fail to provide. It just feels like home :)
For me, Ghost is the game showing contrast in Japanese history and culture. So much beauty, peace and serenity everywhere and then in literally a second everything gets covered in blood and sounds of death. And then, in another second, there is a cute fox. If anyone would ask me why I consider games art, Ghost would most likely be the first game I´d want to show them and not just for it´s visuals. It evokes emotiones and feels that only art can.
Amazing video! As someone who played sooo much before falling off in Act 3 this really summed up a lot of my love but also my issues of replayabilty. Thanks for all the hard work, i really appreciate your cadence and thought process.
Damn man. I think this is the most that your content has ever resonated with me. It's rare that I watch a review that brings me so close to the core experience underlying a game's superficial aspects - seriously think this is your best script yet. Not a pound of fat on there!
This world was so stunning. I have yet to feel another one make me feel so relaxed, even in walking sims that are supposed to. I suppose the contrast between the violence and serenity makes it more impactful
I really enjoyed this video! The commentary and editing were all done immaculately, I know longer videos can be harder to edit so you should really be proud of yourself. You made a good job!
This is a great video about a great game. I love this game to pieces, for many of the reasons you brought up. At a time, when I was so fed up with open world games, I took a gamble with Ghost of Tsushima, because the very first screenshots and trailers actually tucked at something deep within me. It was immediately apparent, that this game had what I was looking for, open world or not. To me, Ghost of Tsushima is a masterpiece, because it never stopped making me feel something, while playing it. Iki Island hit home so hard, because of similar experiences with my own, dead father; I cried so much while writing that haiku. But it also was freeing. It made me think about him, about us, and it felt so good. In a day and age, where games are just media, or content to consume, I did not expect any of this from it. It reminded me, that games are art. And I think, your video reflects that adequately. In fact, your video is as much a creative endeavour as the game itself. I'm happy and grateful. to have watched it, reliving these fond memories and feelings.
Ghost of Tsushima is one of the greatest games for a casual gamer. As someone who gets three hours to play in a week on average, I got tired of souls-like games due to the constant grind and long learning aspect of every enemy making it feel like a chore more than an activity. A game like GoT brings the 'fun' in it back where I can constantly enjoy everything I do for the limited time I can while being just challenging enough (as well as different difficulty options) to make the wins feel like an accomplishment while not holding my hand over everything. Even in itself, it's a masterpiece of a game which can more accurately be described as an *experience*. It has its flaws, many of them, but overall the satisfying combat and well-designed gameplay mechanics along with the PS5 experience make this my favourite game of all time.
i love that you mentioned jin's personal idea of honor, it's something i literally never see anyone bring up. he may have broken the samurai honor code, but he did so by STICKING TO his own personal honor code, the one he spells out to his uncle early on: protecting people who can't protect themselves. to me, by throwing off the arbitrary samurai idea of honor and choosing to live by his own selfless code makes him far more honorable. it actually annoys me when people irl say he has no honor like, tell that to the people he saved at the cost of his own conscience and that the other samurai left to the mercy of the mongols in order to "die honorably"
In the opening cutscene when one of the samurai steps forward to duel someone (as is their custom) from the mongol army and then gets doused in oil and set on fire as the mongol laughs that was the point where professional warriors should know that their tactics must be adjusted.
I have 100 percented this game 6 times and currently on my 7th. 5 times on ps4 (I was rendered unable to work for months due to being jumped on the street and suffering a head injury) then 6th playthrough on ps5 without transferring my save data, I am now on my 7th playthrough on a new game plus on ps5 playing lethal + for the 4th time. I can only say I absolutely love this game. That being said... I am most certainly biased due to being a samurai fanatic and an iaijutsu amd kenjutsu practitioner... aswell as this game getting me through 8 to 9 months of being bed ridden and not knowing wether i would be able to train agian... but still... this game is a masterpiece. This is my go to back up game whenever I finish or get bored of whatever game I am playing and every time I load in I feel a sense of peace that no other game or form of media has ever gifted me. I recommend that everyone at the very least gives it a try.
There is explanation for things like the wind guiding you and the foxes if you’re familiar with Japanese culture and traditions. Foxes are a symbol of fertility and bearer of good fortune.
Amazing video, don’t anyone let make you think different. The way you sum the game up as an experience, more than something you play is exactly what made me love it too. Your passion and honesty is what makes you and your videos so engaging, can’t wait to see what you work on next.
The passion and drive in this video says it all. Even I don’t know what to say. So many points hit right on the nail. It may not reach the bar you hoped for. But it shows your honor in yourself and your work. Truly one of the best Ghost of Tsushima videos out there.
ive only ever played this game in og japanese and no subtitles, so have had NO CLUE whats happening in the story. this is crazy, such cool storytelling
I played and finished the main story recently and this video perfectly encapsulates why it is now one of if not my favourite games EVER thank you for making this video
Nice haiku. I'm not tryna criticize but, the stanzas are supposed to be a syllable length of: 5 for the 1st line ( which you did) , 7 for the 2nd (there 9 in your intro haiku) , and 5 for the last (which you achieved beautifully at by the way). Anyway, keep up the good work I'm a fan.
Fantastic video as always. Crazy this one never showed up on my feed until today. One thing though, you should REALLY give Lethal difficulty a try. I can see in the video that enemies aren't dealing too much damage with each hit, and you're also hacking away quite a bit on each one. Comparitively, all the other difficulties make the game borderline clunky and awkward (Again, relative to Lethal at least) It makes the swordplay flow incredibly well. Everyone dies in just a couple hits, you AND your enemies. It gives it much more of that classic Samurai feel you see in classic movies. You end up flying through enemies with fast, graceful slices and chaining together kills in a much more natural and smooth way. And while you're doing it, you're always one misstep away from death. Every victory feels earned and absolutely badass. It plays like an entirely different game in the best way. It's a much more satisfying, cinematic, and immersive way to play. Seriously, give it a shot! Especially now that you've beaten it. Going back on NG+ with all your gear will make it a lot easier to acclimate.
I'm curious your thoughts on the khan becoming just a regular enemy shows further how Jins choice to become the ghost is a little more personal than even his original goal for tackling khotun and protecting the people
57:42 i played this game when it first came out on ps4. i really enjoyed it. this series of missions you are referring to really stuck with me as well, as it was about the same time my grandmother had been diagnosed with alzheimers. everything you said about having to watch a mind deteriorate in a still living body is as difficult as you say I can attest.
4 years later still play Legends Mode every now and then, and Hunters are just like I remember em. Headshot machines. If they make another game and add Legends Mode again I would definitely add a crafting system and increase the rewards gained based on difficulty. Also I LOVE how in Legends skins are EARNED. We really need to bring this back.
I platinumed the game. Did everything, and the same in the dlc. Played alot of the multiplayer. I'll say that this is a good game, but not the best around. It's not my favourite. But, I find it does something amazing. It's memorable. I'll remember almost everything I did in this game. Even years later. The music, the vistas. The story isn't anything new, but I'll still feel the emotions the actors gave in their performances. I'll remember what happened. The developers gave care to this game.
15:25 I think this is one area where player expression and assigned meaning is gonna effect each player's experience. I personally loved the fox dens, but found Haiku in the game to be mediocre and underwhelming, even if there were less haiku, seeking them out felt like more of a chore to me, both because the reward for doing so is purely cosmetics (in my opinion, some of the worst cosmetics), but also because it legitimately doesn't matter what you do in the haiku, it's hollow expression of creativity to me due to the lack of freedom. (Three sets of three to four options doesn't appeal to me much as someone who actually writes for my own enjoyment.) Yet I loved every last moment of unlocking and finding every last fox den in the game. "Honor the fox. Pet the fox." Was my motto for every playthrough, as you both get some of the best charms in the game through Inari shrines, but also, it feels like you grow to actually appreciate these tiny moments of respect for nature and the culture for WHY the foxes are considered so important both in the game and in Japanese culture itself. Repetitive? Absolutely. Novel? Sure. Boring and nauseating? Only if you lack the patience to slow down and appreciate the little things, in my opinion at least. This game wouldn't be the true love letter to Japan that it is if it had less foxes in my opinion, that's legitimately how much foxes are part of the culture. And of course, I jumped when I had the chance to change my aesthetic to match, no one's "Ghost" is identical to another. Honor the Fox. Pet the Fox. Become the Fox. That is my journey as the Ghost in this game.
Love your videos brother. Just got done playing this game an it was honestly one of the top 5 best games I've ever played...only a few games have I did all the side content an dlc. Hoping for a sequel or something of the sort.
This was an amazing video although there was one error I found when you were talking about the horse and saying when jin gets his new horse he doesn't say that they'll have a peaceful ride he actually can still say that voiceline. Otherwise great video and I wish you the best on all your future videos
Ghost of Tsushima is one of the greatest games of all time, it is truly a breathtaking experience!! Thank you for sharing your in-depth thoughts in such a succinct presentation!
in ghost of tsushima i found myself often overwhelmed by my own ego... i was thinking of myself always as stronger then i am and threw myself into combat but most of the times by using what i had ad my disposal and also ALOT of running around and trying to manage the encounters i have i had a lot of fun and it was rather satisfiyng to get threw the game... but my main strategy is challenge oponent after taking out 1-3 enemys by it then run to archers kill them then let enemy come close parry and counter attack in the meantime when enemy close smokebomb into 2-4 enemy takedowns... priority on the big guys after all big guys gone just fight the rest by parry all their attacks a very passive yet extremely overpowered way of playing... i noticed by doing that even the hardest outposts quickly became rather simple all i needed to do and that always were finding the archers and taking them down as soon ass possible since they are supposed to balance that
Your format and intimate understanding of what the message of Ghost of Tsushima is gave this video more soul than any other I’ve watched on the subject matter.
I would like to say that I really appreciate you taking the time to make this video it is very well put together, and you definitely transformed it into more than just a game review
I named my horses Sora and then Kage which mirror's jin's fall from standing out in the light to in the shadows and when I realized that after selecting my horse's second name I was floored.
I finally got a PS5 to play this game. I love stealth games and particularly samurai/ninja games that aren't RPG as I'm into 1st and 3rd person shooters with stealth. I am also into history and warfare regarding the samurai. I haven't seen anything I've liked since Tenchu set in this period. I think this is the most graphically beautiful video game I've played and I've played longer than many gamers have been alive. It's essentially like playing, rather than watching Samurai Cinema. I see many elements of Far Cry 4, especially with the Legends mode. Like you, this game is personal for me. It speaks to our current times where there is so much division and we are forced to choose sides, maybe change who we are and shed the old ways for evolving times. We suffer the loss of friends and family, we feel the sting of betrayal and it's heartening to find peace scatter throughout this game. There have been heartbreaking moments where I've actually cried at the sadness and loss. the loss of Yuriko, the betrayal of his childhood friend and the loss of his horse. Sucker Punch knocked this out of the park, IMO. As of this writing, I have yet to finish it. One thing to say is that video games have come a long way since the 80's.
This was beautifully done and I know it took a lot of hard work and effort to complete it. You and I are strangers, and odds are we will always remain that way. Regardless of that fact if you ever feel like your work doesn't merit a sense of pride, that there are tons of other people, me included, who are very proud of you.
Just finished my first playthrough two days ago and i was craving more videos about the game and lucky me that this amazing video was posted just in time. I dont know why but the fact that you named your second horse Nobu but didnt feel as much attachment to them as you did to Kage was so interesting because I felt so connected with my first horse, Nobu and less connected to my second, Kage. Anyway thanks so much for this awesome video about Ghost of Tsushima
What I like is whilst Kazumasa may hv been a 'butcher', its that he too saw cracks in the Samurai code. Yuriko implies that he most likely would've approved of what Jin was doing to see Tsushima
This video is honestly a master piece my brother despite what anyone says, i can feel your passion for the game, and it resonates with me at every stop. It was also crazy to find someone who shares practically every opinion desire and purpose i do towards this game, and my love for gaming as a whole. Only point i kind of disagreed with on was the combat, i can understand what you felt about the targeting and camera, but for the most part i felt the camera gave a really wide view unlike god of war, i believe playing defensively and reacting while distancing yourself so u never get overwhelmed(even tho enemies never attack at the same time really, trivializing the concept of a gank). I found locking on to be a waste of time, just space yourself out, and dodge towards who u wanna attack if the distance is a little wide to fix the targeting. Otherwise this Felt like listening to a kindred spirit through this video, and i salute you. Looking forward to more and its an instant sub from me 🙌🏽
I just started playing this on PC. This game is a treasure. I wanted to comment quick because idk if the host of this channel has a team or not? But presenters intellectual take on the game is thought provoking and deserves a mention. Great upload man. New Sub here.
This is my favorite game of all time. When I first played it. I quit. Not because it was to repetitive or to grindy. I didn't upgrade my armor or sword the entire game and when I got to the second Ryuzo fight I quit. I took me like 3 months to come back to the game and experience the wonderful ending and side content
I forgot about this game, but at the time this was the most hyped release between my friends and I, it definitely met expectations for the hype that it had on release - nobody thought it was supposed to be the greatest game ever. Anyone who said it was bad needs to get their mental health checked out
16:30 I mostly agree with this, but from my research the katana was created in response to the mongol invasion, so it would've been cool to see Jin wield the first ever katana to use against them. That could have been a really powerful moment if they went in that direction.
Everything about this video wanted me to hop back in and do another play through. Even at the agreed low points of the game. I just wish this would come to PC already so I can play it again in a different way or perhaps on the go with my deck 😢
uhh im not sure ishikawa views jin as a failure; the scroll from him in jin's little endgame hut says ishikawa still welcomes him as a student. ishikawa may not have liked it, but he understood that the samurai code needed some adjustments if they wanted to get the mongols off the island
i absolutely love ghost of tsushima. i'm a really big fan of japanese historic time periods, and this game lets me experience it in an extremely well made way. the combat, visuals, and music is just the best combination. my favorite thing in the game has to be the sarugami armor, as it completely changes the way i approach fights. it changed my playstyle, and it looks really good. i especially love running the red variant of the armor with the second or third helmet in the set and the sarugami's wrath mask. i honestly wish suckerpunch added a way to remove the capes because i recently found out the second style has fur all the way along the back, and i really dont like how the capes work in the game due to the wind never really hitting your front when you play. thats why i usually use the first style because it's just nicer without the cape. i digress. this game really is great though and i'm glad i got to play it.
This was by far the hardest video I've worked on and one of my most personal. Your feedback is greatly appreciated, as is the support of the channels UA-cam and Patreon members. If you want to support the channel, you may do so through the links in the description.
Always supporting your work, thanks for hours upon hours of great content to keep my chill times entertaining and knowledgeable
_Now cover_ *Resident Evil 6!*
Your work does not go unappreciated and i would really love you to talk on Sekiro Shadows Die Twice
I slept through 95% of the vid, overall, 10/10.
I appreciate your work Aqua, always here to support with or without ads
I never saw Jin as a hypocrite I saw him as a man being forced to do things he never wanted to so why would he want his former friends to fall down the same path. Of course he would tell everyone around him to stay on the honorable path because look at how painful dishonor has been for him
I once heard “a hypocrite is a man who is learning”. In the right context it speaks to me.
@@knightslayer6161 kind of similar to the doctor saying “you know what thinking is? It’s a fancy word for changing your mind”
That doesn't change the fact that he's a hypocrite lol
@@voidgivenfocus then every person who has learned a lesson, grown, and changed for the better is a hypocrite which maybe denotatively correct but not connotatively. Don’t be obtuse
@@Argonaut717 sounds like someone got their feelings hurt LOL
I love the video, but felt pretty differently about the combat. I personally never had many problems with enemy targeting but that may well be up to personal preference. I found the combat to be very difficult and extremely engaging in the higher difficulties. The complexity of light and heavy attacks, charged guard breaking attacks, different combos and the different stances all come together to make my favorite sword based melee combat in a video game ever. I loved just being in a battle or boss fight. It feels like a dance, you are constantly matching and reacting to every movement of your enemy.
Same here. I love the combat and didn't really have issues with targeting except for maybe when I was in a building with little space. I also NEVER used lock-on. I'm so glad that didn't exist when I first beat the game and in subsequent playthroughs I never turned it on.
@@Joker_JAK I totally agree, I think if lock on was there by default it would have taken away from the experience. The combat and story are the two main reasons this game is special so I guess if one of those doesn't click with someone they won't like it that much.
@@Joker_JAKthe game was never designed for Lock-On and I was baffled by how many UA-camrs _demanded_ one. People seem to forget Free-Flow Combat exists.
If you like GoT you should play Nioh 2. Ghost is like a good intro to how Nioh works, and it goes so much deeper. The combat alone kept me playing for hundreds of hours, mastering literally just one weapon, the basic sword. I consider the skill ceiling to be basically infinite and the combos you can pull off sometimes, dear lord jesus I'm about to go download it again
I loved the combat but don’t agree that it was difficult, one of my biggest problems with this game is how easy the combat is, even on hard and lethal. I’m not usually one to play above the normal difficulties in games, but once you get levelled up a bit some of the skills and talismans are just way too overpowered to me, especially the one that makes parties easier. Hope they address that in the sequel if anything
I was infatuated with this game when it came out. Even swiping the touch pad to flick the blood off Jin’s katana to sheathe it after every fight had me captivated. I especially liked the hardest difficulty where one strike was enough to end you and the opponent for the most part
This guy understands how badass and satisfying that motion is.
Yeah, I’m glad they patched in lethal difficulty. I really enjoyed swiping the touchpad to summon the winds which would lead to your destination. So immersive, as was swiping to sheathe your katana.
I enjoyed that mechanic as well, while the Playstation touchpad isn't used all to much in games, when done right like in this games case, it can create a sense of immersion that other consoles can never achieve, I still find it mind boggling that Playstation are still the only company out of the big three to have incorporated this mechanic into their controllers since the touchpad is such a simple yet effective button on any playstation controller
Big agree! Lethal difficulty is the this game's peak.
It takes an already very immersive game and just cranks it up so much. The fact that everyone, including you, dies in just a hit or two (except for enemies in duels, which I'm thankful for)
makes it really feel like a sword fight. I pretty much always play games at their easiest difficulty. I enjoy feeling like an unstoppable beast, and I like to keep a game's narrative moving. But this game NEEDS to be played on Lethal, it's just too insanely good to go with any other way. Combat flows so much better when you aren't hacking at single enemies repeatedly. It really gives you that smooth, slicing through enemies like butter samurai feel. It's a shame so many people never give it a shot. It changes everything about how the game feels in the best way.
@PloopChute I'm going to be picking this up on pc. I love a challenge and realism modes. Can I/ should I start on lethal difficulty?
For me, Ghost of Tsushima came at the right time during the covid lockdowns, even a week before my birthday. Highschool just closed for a week we thought that it was going to be the best time ever, then it became 2 weeks, then 3, then a month and more. I was stuck in my dark room doing online classes, my family all quarter themselves off because we were falling ill one by one. Playing the game and just experiancing the nature, the colors and sort of comforted me during it. It felt magical, spiritual even as I was raised buddhist and having those motifs or themes in the game connected with me. Jin's struggles have held my hand in my way with my own struggles.
I haven't gotten that feeling in a while until I passed by yellowstone national park. Just the sense of beauty of reflecting and nature was a feeling that can only be achieved by being there. In my mind as I passed by springs, animals, and mountains as the Tsushima soundtrack just played in my head. Now I'm making samurai armor and love to go on nature walks, and I thank Tsushima for introducing me to that.
Legit my only problem with G.O.T is that you cant use the sword on his back with Jin's ghost armor that really grinds my gears.
I've always had the idea that if you're using the ghost armor, it could enable some sort of double assassination using the tanto and back sword :/
The sword is for drip purposes only.
I was JUST saying this with my little brother like 3 days ago
I just hate how it doesn’t match the sword kit
@bowino489 that's why whenever I use the Ghost Armor, I always feel compelled to use the base white set for the sword.
Thank you for giving Yuriko’s tale the weight it deserves.
Two of my grandparents have suffered from dementia before they passed, so I almost immediately noticed the signs in Yuriko.
It’s the only side quest in a game to have ever made me cry. It was so well made and absolutely beautiful
Also, thank you for featuring my comment from the Legends comment section. It was not necessary at all, but I really appreciate it. Thanks for the shoutout!
RIP to your grandparents. Losing my grandparents is a challenge I still have not overcome, despite it happening 5 years ago. I just beat Ghost of Tsushima for the first time earlier this week and Yuriko's tale had me crying too. I found myself often visiting her grave and playing my flute in game the same way I visit my grandparents and talk to their headstones.
Yea that was a horrible scene. Really unpleasant and sad to watch
If i remember correctly, the controller will pulse like a heartbeat if you decide to kill Shimura, and the pulse will slowly fade. I chose to spare him my first run, and i prefer that ending better but damn... feeling Shimura's heartbeat fade out as you stab him broke me.
Aww man I always play with my vibration off and now I wish I hadn’t lol
@@ThatBoyAqua why play with no vibration?
@@mattmas6628some people just don’t like it. Myself included
I find it pulls me out of games a lot more than it enhances any immersion
@@mattmas6628Xbox 360 trauma. Every vibration on low battery turned the controller off. And also, me personally never liked vibration. When the PS5 controller showed the features of the adaptive buttons I was livid because that's a thing I WILL DEFINITELY turn off. I need responsive controls, not adaptative ones.
Throughout the game, Jin's primary motivation is doing whatever he has to to help the people of Tsushima. When it came down to the final choice, i made the decision that i thought would be best for Tsushima: to spare Lord Shimura. He definitely has flaws as a military leader, but he was a good lord when it came to peacetime life, and the people of Tushima need that. And if The Ghost kills the shogun's appointed lord of Tsushima, then who might he send next? Someone to crack down on The Ghost and all he represents? With Shimura still in charge, they could have the understanding that peace has been achieved, the ghost will fade away, and the civilians will prosper.
at least, that was my thinking. but i didn't care much about the honor code, i only cared about saving civilian lives
It's one of my favourite things about the story, characterisation, and final choices of Ghost of Tsushima: it's that everyone has a different logic behind the choice they made based on who they see Jin as at the end of his journey, and nobody's wrong in their reasoning. When it came to my playthrough, I made the choice to kill Lord Shimura out of a sense of love for the man and as my final act as a samurai. I felt that after everything I'd done, how I'd turned my back on every single thing he'd ever raised Jin to be, how I'd destroyed my own clan's legacy, how I'd had his hand forced to either kill the man he saw as his own son, or live a life as a disgraced leader who failed in his duties to the Shogunate, the last thing I could do for him was to give him the death he wanted and to spare him from facing that failure.
I also made the choice to let Shimura see in his last moments that the man he'd essentially raised was still in there, that I hadn't completely fallen off the path into being a monster and was still the son he'd raised for the last twenty years. That despite all the horrendous things I'd done across my journey, I still had that shred of humanity in me who cared for the wishes and wellbeing of others, and I still had my code of honour somewhere inside. I felt that giving Shimura a Samurai's death was the last thing Lord Sakai did before he fully turned his back on the Shogunate and became the Ghost of Tsushima once and for all. In my interpretation of the story, it felt cruel of me to ask Shimura to continue living on in his world that had burned down around him, so I made the choice to spare him from that fate, which is what I believe he wanted.
It's one of my favourite things about these grey area choices in gaming where there isn't a Mass Effect-style glowing prompt on screen that tells you which is the arbitrary good choice and which is the arbitrary bad choice so you know in advance if you're going to be a hero or a jerk to people. Some of my favourite choices and endings in games are ones where there's never an answer given to whether or not you made the right or wrong choice, or the good or bad one. You're given information, given a set of options, and are allowed to make an informed decision based on either who you are or who you see your character to be. It's why the ending of GoT has stuck with me for the last four years and why I love discussing it with people who had different choices for different reasons based on their own personal interpretations or philosophies, rather than just picking a red or blue colour choice because that's the playthrough they'd committed to for that run.
I personally chose to kill lord shimura, after everything that he and Jin went through during the game it just wasn’t possible to deny his last wish.
I spared him. Fuck honor
@@Shweelan bro great comment
Personally i prefer killing him, i think it is more honorable to give him his wish and you kill him knowing that he still cares for Jin despite the path he takes. Its comforting knowing that he still see's Jin as his son and when they are both dead, that they can have time together in the afterlife.
Man i remember seeing the trailer in lockdown and replaying that trailer everyday(my cousin who i saw after a long time in 2020 also saw the trailer and we were both obsessed). I was so blown away by the graphics and how fast the fast travel. The combat too is just so satisfying. Plus when i saw that this game was coming out on my birthday (along with Paper Mario the origami king, whic i love btw) i knew i had to play. All my friends and family gathered around the TV and man we were all mesmerized by the graphics and the world, we even passed the controller just to run around and the free roam. We all collectively said this game is gorgeous during the opening as you ride your horse in the field and the logo popped up. This game definitely holds a special place in my heart and I'm currently trying to get the platinum on it too (might get the directors cut even) and i can't wait for the sequel. Sucker Punch should definitely be applauded for this amazing game and it's definitely my game of the year in 2020. For Tsushima, Jin and the gang. FOR THE GHOST!!! I legitimately can't wait for what they can do for the sequel and the features of the PS5.
The combat in this game was so satisfying. Would love to see a sequel at some point.
a new story where jin goes to mainland japan to regain his honor by helping every town and samurai he meets regardless if they want him dead or not until the shogun or lord shimura has no choice but to acknowledge him.
This game was a masterpiece, a true love letter to the samurai genre and stands as a solid choice in any game library.
Fantastic video, love the content and the level of detail you went into. Can't imagine how much work went into this video.
Its also amazing to take note how the devs went back in the Directors cut and reworked all of the lip syncing for the Japanese dub, its not everyday you see games get two variations of lip syncing, in both gameplay and cutscenes
You are a consistent gem. Never believe you’re making content similar to anyone else. Your effort does not go unnoticed!
I'm happy for your thoughtful interpretation of Shimura which a lot of people overlook. I really think Shimura was being too soft with Jin from the end of Act 1 onwards because he wasn't looking at the outward actions of Jin, but Jin's inner state. He wanted Jin not to "lose himself" to hatred and darkness, but unfortunately things happen later which force Shimura to confront Jin's literal actions. Clan Oga was forcing Shimura into an "in-person" exam of his competence, and he basically got exposed as not being the best at fighting the Mongols while relying on Jin to do the real stuff. That's the subtext I think was actually going on with Shimura, that he wanted to have his cake and eat it too: to save Tsushima but also keep the samurai reputation intact. Jin undermines all that, and well, that leads to Shimura having an existential meltdown by the end of the game. He can't fathom the samurai actually failing, that it must all be his fault, so the best thing to do is just redeem himself with death at Jin's hands.
Just watched Blue Eye Samurai on Netflix, and had to go back and play through the game again. It complimented the feelings the show gave me perfectly!
had that same experience but with watching kurosawa films then (attempting) to play it on kurosawa mode
We are the same, and I am still waiting for Season 2 in London.
Yeah me too after watching Shotgun assassin (lone wolf and cub).
i finally tried the game after 4 years and man did i miss out... i played the main game, dlc and online mode (and got every single trophy for it too, wich i definently do not do for all games i play) and all i can say is that i just want more... this is the best game and game story i have played in years (the ending deadass made me cry...)
DLC is also so well done. Sucker punch absolutely destroyed me with this masterpiece. I tell all my ppl to try this if they want a story with insane gameplay
Same here as well. Once you give yourself time to enjoy, this will definitely deliver.
Same just bought it two months ago, best I’ve played in years. Even enjoyed it more than FF7 rebirth gameplay wise and I was a huge fan of that
It baffles me that any human being would call this game "bad"
Same
Not bad
But can be boring & repetitive
Which is bad
@@tydendurler9574 having platinum the game I can admit the fox shrines where repetitive. But that's about it. That doesn't make the game bad bro.
The reason why the game is bad because it is not woke enough.....😂😂😂🤣🤣😂
@@lovely1762dont bring that into this conversation
The greatness this game displays is what terrifies me from a sequel. They'd have to truly outdo themselves to excel even more at what they've done with this one game and Jin's story to the point that they probably shouldn't make a sequel, but they could always make it an anthology where the next game has a different protagonist and story, maybe taking place within mainland Japan this time.
Man this is one of your best vids, if not the best. It’s so easy to tell that you poured your heart and soul and more into this video. Maybe this game being the hardest for you to make a video on is the reason that it came out so well. A blind man could tell that you resonated and found peace in this game and that you connected to it on a level that most people cant connect to with a game. I am so sure that you could have continued talking about this game for more than double the time of this vid (which 2 hours which by itself is so much effort and time being sunk into it so massive respect for that.) the final part of the vid where you were saying things like “this may not be my best work” and that sort of stuff feels wrong to me cause man I’ve been watching your vids since the dawn of time and everyone watching them can tell you pour your heart out into every single video you masterfully craft, its incredible how you can always keep me (and I’m sure loads of other people) coming back to your vids. You gotta give yourself more credit cause damn bro, you never miss. The game for me is a definite masterpiece and even if it has its flaws, it’s still a masterpiece in my eyes. Story is top notch. Gameplay, even though repetitive, has a certain satisfaction that doesn’t allow me to get bored, the sounds and the atmosphere are just phenomenal. This video only made me love the game even more. You probably wont see this comment and its probably gonna be sent to the bottom of this endless abyss of comments cause no one would read this long message but if you just get to read this then I’m happy. Amazing work on this vid, i feel like it would be so incredible to just have a conversation with you cause you are so deep and i love those sorts of conversations. You are an incredible content creator and you have easily shown your skills and those skills are unmatched. Keep up the good work man!!! I was excited for this video and I’m still excited to eventually rewatch it in the future. Good work, i cant wait to see what else you are gonna post cause i cant stop coming back!!
Wow, I’m really flattered that you wrote such a long piece, and I’m glad you’re continually enjoying the videos! Thank you! If you ever want to chit chat feel free to join the discord. I’m in the voice chat occasionally.
@@ThatBoyAqua Im actually so happy to have gotten a reply, thats got me excited not gonna lie. I am only speaking facts man. You keep on releasing masterpiece after masterpiece man it’s great to see. I’ll be sure to join the discord.
This is to me the best "ubisoft style" game ever made, and it's not even close. What I would call it above everything else is cohesive; the main quest sets a context and tone for the setting which is then taken advantage of by every sidequest and activity. These sidequests are somber, are about war survivors and the tragedy of people who lose their loved ones or need to compromise their morals just as Jin has and is, and this makes it so when you take time out of the main story to do them it never feels out of place or like a break from that story. Perhaps the most genius move in the game was to block your progression, stopping you from exploring certain sections of the island until you complete certain main quest events. This let the story take center stage, and again helped cohesion because your progress and freedom as a player was directly tied to Jin's progress and freedom as he leads a counterattack against the invading Mongols. More games of this type need to examine this approach and integrate its lessons.
My experience before Lethal Mode: "This is alright, combat gets a little stale by the end of the game when I can just turn my brain off"
After Lethal Mode: "This is one of the best Action Adventure experiences I have ever had."
Would you say lethal mode is most optimal way to experience the game?
@@ApoMelonyes
@@ApoMelon Honestly yes. It forces you to get very good at the combat, which makes you feel more like a samurai when you can cut down 4 men who could all kill you in a single hit. Brings the challenge and the experience you'd want from a game that allows you use a sword.
Hell, by the time you get all the upgrades to your sword damage, you and the enemies are both just one hit from death at all times.
Man I spent about 65 hours in this game and just walking around the world of Tsushima felt so peaceful even tho the game was about anything but. Like the tranquility of the wild and the wind and music and MY GOD when I would find a haku spot I’d get so excited I loved the cinematicness of it and it was so calming needless to say I loved the game
This was an amazing video. Thank you for pouring your heart like that. I believe that it wasn't an easy video to make for you and that Ghost of Tsushima truly moved you. I hope this game comes out on PC eventually so that I can experience it myself.
They were talking about it for April 2023, I don't know where I remember this from. Then radio silence. Pretty sure it is in the works, and will come out a bit unexpectedly. Like Horizon Forbidden West, I will double buy that one when it's on PC, really pushing the prettiness !
I heard its coming in 16th of may, though I dont wanna bait you so maybe google it
Ghostof Tsushima is one of the games I platinum in the PS5 and man did I loved it, the experience and story was so good that I have yet to find a game to capture my excitement and heart like it did. I never saw ghost of Tsushima gameplay before but played because of my passion for samurai/ronin stories, so I made a effort to not look at any spoilers for the game once I began playing because some of the reviews talked how immersive it was. I spent 67 hours on the game exploring the entirety of Tsushima and Iki island, having that platinum was a very satisfying achievement and I plan to revisit the game on the end of the year for the new game plus achievements
Phenomenal video, the reason I (and i suspect many others) enjoy your reviews and retrospectives are all the little personnal touches that you add, like the haikus at the beginning of each chapters, you also have great talent at speaking with clarity and precision without sacrificing any nuance or pretenting objectivity
So many people try to make multi hours videos covering every little detail of games and provide the most comprehensive description of every moment, yet you share your perspectives in a way that never feel superfluous or filler, each words you say have purpose and provide insight into your subject matter. Great job all around.
Dude I've enjoyed every video of yours I've watched. I work overnight and most times put them on to listen to something meaningful and with effort put into it. Love the work and can't wait for the next one
man this is one of the most comfortable vidoe i have watched in my time on youtube simply outstanding and well made with sincirty. you sir deserve all the praise you can get for making a video of such kwalitie.
Ghost of Tsushima is one of my favorite games of all time. Truly, no other game I had played gave me a sense of peace and calm than this, when I was just riding around on Kage. The scenery, the art direction, the island was so incredibly serene when you stopped and took the time to take it all in.
GoT had amazing combat, a great story, a gorgeous soundtrack and a breathtaking world. To me, it was as close to perfect as a game could get.
1:09:31 During the first Yuriko side tale this is brought up, she tells Jin that Kazumasa was not as rigid as Shimura and that his own men thought he was a demon after pursuing his enemies
This game still tugs at my heart even after 10s of playthroughs. Yet as much as i love this game, no game will ever beat the emotional journey that is"Outer Wilds" not to be confused with "the outer worlds" and i hope one day i open youtube and see aqua has finally made a review for a new but timeless classic
I’ve written 5 different scripts for Outer Wilds and none of them seem to capture how special that game is to me. I’m glad that game was able to resonate with you too :)
@ThatBoyAqua I saw nice little description for the dlc which was "it is a story that is difficult to put into words, so they simply never used them"
That game didn’t tell u shit ab where to go, didn’t like it but I respect ur oo
@santi_super_stunts2573 that's one of its beauties, go where you want and just discover what you can, nothing in the game is locked behind an item that you don't have but instead is all based on what you just don't know yet, I get that it isn't everyone but I'd recommend giving it another go the time you put in is rewarding
Outer Wilds is overrated af.
And Ghost is good, but not that good. Nioh 2 is a way more engaging videogame. Ghost boils down to a very pretty but boring playable open world movie.
Although i played it and consistently loved it, the one thing that put me off about it was how it treated bushido.
I believe anyone who has touched any sliver of feudal Japanese history, would know that the idea of bushido as an “honorable code” was not widespread until fairly recently.
It was a code to serve one’s master and nation, and bring them glory. If that required a warrior to kill women and kidnap children, it was considered correct to do so. To me, as well as my Japanese parents (who have grown up watching samurai movies and dramas) Jin’s attitude to accept any tactics necessary was as “bushi” as it got, and it felt odd for his uncle to constantly put him down for it.
That being said, i’ve also heard that it’s true that the Japanese at Tsushima had to adopt new tactics in response to the invaders. Maybe the whole Bushido thing in GoT was a stand-in for that transition. In that sense, i also felt that it worked.
And all things aside, I loved the game thoroughly still. It felt like the Kung-fu Panda of samurai movies; a love letter to a genre that showed genuine love, greater than many of its Japanese contemporaries.
Without a shred of a doubt, the reflection section of this video encapsulates everything that I've wanted to say about this game for many years. You did an absolutely outstanding job conveying your feelings and the message that accompanied them. Thanks for your time, your passion and this video it was wonderful to watch. I really look forward to more of your stuff in the future!
You can really see the passion and hard work that go into each of your videos. Your essays remind me a lot of Luke Stevens' but I personally think yours are way better.
It has been 4 years?... Damn, we are getting old now.
As per usual, have to watch this when I get home and eat and write, can't wait to see what you have for new years Chef.
The Tale of Yuriko hit me like a brick, still getting chills by only thinking about it right now
I’m happy that you used Genshin music in the background when explaining the peace part, because Genshin and Ghost of Tsushima are both my favorite games for that reason: they give me a sense of peace and contentment that other games just fail to provide. It just feels like home :)
If you have a playstation this game is a must have. Also the PS5 remaster runs so smoothly and is one of the quickest games to start up
I just got the Platinum for GoT yesterday so this is a great way to end off my experience. Great video.
For me, Ghost is the game showing contrast in Japanese history and culture. So much beauty, peace and serenity everywhere and then in literally a second everything gets covered in blood and sounds of death. And then, in another second, there is a cute fox. If anyone would ask me why I consider games art, Ghost would most likely be the first game I´d want to show them and not just for it´s visuals. It evokes emotiones and feels that only art can.
Amazing video! As someone who played sooo much before falling off in Act 3 this really summed up a lot of my love but also my issues of replayabilty. Thanks for all the hard work, i really appreciate your cadence and thought process.
Damn man. I think this is the most that your content has ever resonated with me. It's rare that I watch a review that brings me so close to the core experience underlying a game's superficial aspects - seriously think this is your best script yet. Not a pound of fat on there!
This world was so stunning. I have yet to feel another one make me feel so relaxed, even in walking sims that are supposed to. I suppose the contrast between the violence and serenity makes it more impactful
Big difference between shogun japan and alien pandora
But for peaceful beauty id recommend avatar
I really enjoyed this video! The commentary and editing were all done immaculately, I know longer videos can be harder to edit so you should really be proud of yourself. You made a good job!
This is a great video about a great game. I love this game to pieces, for many of the reasons you brought up. At a time, when I was so fed up with open world games, I took a gamble with Ghost of Tsushima, because the very first screenshots and trailers actually tucked at something deep within me. It was immediately apparent, that this game had what I was looking for, open world or not. To me, Ghost of Tsushima is a masterpiece, because it never stopped making me feel something, while playing it. Iki Island hit home so hard, because of similar experiences with my own, dead father; I cried so much while writing that haiku. But it also was freeing. It made me think about him, about us, and it felt so good. In a day and age, where games are just media, or content to consume, I did not expect any of this from it. It reminded me, that games are art. And I think, your video reflects that adequately. In fact, your video is as much a creative endeavour as the game itself. I'm happy and grateful. to have watched it, reliving these fond memories and feelings.
Ghost of Tsushima is one of the greatest games for a casual gamer. As someone who gets three hours to play in a week on average, I got tired of souls-like games due to the constant grind and long learning aspect of every enemy making it feel like a chore more than an activity. A game like GoT brings the 'fun' in it back where I can constantly enjoy everything I do for the limited time I can while being just challenging enough (as well as different difficulty options) to make the wins feel like an accomplishment while not holding my hand over everything. Even in itself, it's a masterpiece of a game which can more accurately be described as an *experience*. It has its flaws, many of them, but overall the satisfying combat and well-designed gameplay mechanics along with the PS5 experience make this my favourite game of all time.
The sequel is a serious project. Lot of love and craftsmanship going into it. The title’s been finalized to Ghosts of 2shima: This Time it’s Personal
i love how the chapter start text actually translates and how a haiku is included every chapter
i love that you mentioned jin's personal idea of honor, it's something i literally never see anyone bring up. he may have broken the samurai honor code, but he did so by STICKING TO his own personal honor code, the one he spells out to his uncle early on: protecting people who can't protect themselves. to me, by throwing off the arbitrary samurai idea of honor and choosing to live by his own selfless code makes him far more honorable. it actually annoys me when people irl say he has no honor like, tell that to the people he saved at the cost of his own conscience and that the other samurai left to the mercy of the mongols in order to "die honorably"
I agree. Jin had his own code of honor and on Iki, you can see why he felt that way.
In the opening cutscene when one of the samurai steps forward to duel someone (as is their custom) from the mongol army and then gets doused in oil and set on fire as the mongol laughs that was the point where professional warriors should know that their tactics must be adjusted.
I have 100 percented this game 6 times and currently on my 7th. 5 times on ps4 (I was rendered unable to work for months due to being jumped on the street and suffering a head injury) then 6th playthrough on ps5 without transferring my save data, I am now on my 7th playthrough on a new game plus on ps5 playing lethal + for the 4th time. I can only say I absolutely love this game. That being said... I am most certainly biased due to being a samurai fanatic and an iaijutsu amd kenjutsu practitioner... aswell as this game getting me through 8 to 9 months of being bed ridden and not knowing wether i would be able to train agian... but still... this game is a masterpiece. This is my go to back up game whenever I finish or get bored of whatever game I am playing and every time I load in I feel a sense of peace that no other game or form of media has ever gifted me. I recommend that everyone at the very least gives it a try.
There is explanation for things like the wind guiding you and the foxes if you’re familiar with Japanese culture and traditions. Foxes are a symbol of fertility and bearer of good fortune.
Amazing video, don’t anyone let make you think different. The way you sum the game up as an experience, more than something you play is exactly what made me love it too. Your passion and honesty is what makes you and your videos so engaging, can’t wait to see what you work on next.
The passion and drive in this video says it all. Even I don’t know what to say. So many points hit right on the nail. It may not reach the bar you hoped for. But it shows your honor in yourself and your work. Truly one of the best Ghost of Tsushima videos out there.
ive only ever played this game in og japanese and no subtitles, so have had NO CLUE whats happening in the story. this is crazy, such cool storytelling
I played and finished the main story recently and this video perfectly encapsulates why it is now one of if not my favourite games EVER thank you for making this video
Nice haiku. I'm not tryna criticize but, the stanzas are supposed to be a syllable length of: 5 for the 1st line ( which you did) , 7 for the 2nd (there 9 in your intro haiku) , and 5 for the last (which you achieved beautifully at by the way). Anyway, keep up the good work I'm a fan.
Fantastic video as always. Crazy this one never showed up on my feed until today.
One thing though, you should REALLY give Lethal difficulty a try. I can see in the video that enemies aren't dealing too much damage with each hit, and you're also hacking away quite a bit on each one. Comparitively, all the other difficulties make the game borderline clunky and awkward (Again, relative to Lethal at least)
It makes the swordplay flow incredibly well. Everyone dies in just a couple hits, you AND your enemies. It gives it much more of that classic Samurai feel you see in classic movies. You end up flying through enemies with fast, graceful slices and chaining together kills in a much more natural and smooth way. And while you're doing it, you're always one misstep away from death. Every victory feels earned and absolutely badass. It plays like an entirely different game in the best way. It's a much more satisfying, cinematic, and immersive way to play.
Seriously, give it a shot! Especially now that you've beaten it. Going back on NG+ with all your gear will make it a lot easier to acclimate.
Still one of the greatest games I’ve ever played
I'm curious your thoughts on the khan becoming just a regular enemy shows further how Jins choice to become the ghost is a little more personal than even his original goal for tackling khotun and protecting the people
I will never get tired of reactions to the opening title drop horse ride. I was hoping there was a bit of that in this retrospective.
Till this day even with all the amazing games to come since ghost... it is still my favorite game. I've never been sucked into a game like this one.
I'm excited to watch this video as Ghost is one of my favorite games. Excellent work Aqua keep up the amazing work.
57:42 i played this game when it first came out on ps4. i really enjoyed it. this series of missions you are referring to really stuck with me as well, as it was about the same time my grandmother had been diagnosed with alzheimers. everything you said about having to watch a mind deteriorate in a still living body is as difficult as you say I can attest.
4 years later still play Legends Mode every now and then, and Hunters are just like I remember em. Headshot machines. If they make another game and add Legends Mode again I would definitely add a crafting system and increase the rewards gained based on difficulty. Also I LOVE how in Legends skins are EARNED. We really need to bring this back.
Very well put. Really had me glued to this one. Great video
I platinumed the game. Did everything, and the same in the dlc. Played alot of the multiplayer.
I'll say that this is a good game, but not the best around. It's not my favourite. But, I find it does something amazing. It's memorable. I'll remember almost everything I did in this game. Even years later. The music, the vistas. The story isn't anything new, but I'll still feel the emotions the actors gave in their performances. I'll remember what happened.
The developers gave care to this game.
15:25
I think this is one area where player expression and assigned meaning is gonna effect each player's experience.
I personally loved the fox dens, but found Haiku in the game to be mediocre and underwhelming, even if there were less haiku, seeking them out felt like more of a chore to me, both because the reward for doing so is purely cosmetics (in my opinion, some of the worst cosmetics), but also because it legitimately doesn't matter what you do in the haiku, it's hollow expression of creativity to me due to the lack of freedom. (Three sets of three to four options doesn't appeal to me much as someone who actually writes for my own enjoyment.)
Yet I loved every last moment of unlocking and finding every last fox den in the game.
"Honor the fox. Pet the fox."
Was my motto for every playthrough, as you both get some of the best charms in the game through Inari shrines, but also, it feels like you grow to actually appreciate these tiny moments of respect for nature and the culture for WHY the foxes are considered so important both in the game and in Japanese culture itself.
Repetitive? Absolutely.
Novel? Sure.
Boring and nauseating? Only if you lack the patience to slow down and appreciate the little things, in my opinion at least.
This game wouldn't be the true love letter to Japan that it is if it had less foxes in my opinion, that's legitimately how much foxes are part of the culture.
And of course, I jumped when I had the chance to change my aesthetic to match, no one's "Ghost" is identical to another.
Honor the Fox.
Pet the Fox.
Become the Fox.
That is my journey as the Ghost in this game.
_Four years_ ago?? I only just recently stopped playing it.
Love your videos brother. Just got done playing this game an it was honestly one of the top 5 best games I've ever played...only a few games have I did all the side content an dlc. Hoping for a sequel or something of the sort.
This was an amazing video although there was one error I found when you were talking about the horse and saying when jin gets his new horse he doesn't say that they'll have a peaceful ride he actually can still say that voiceline. Otherwise great video and I wish you the best on all your future videos
this is one of the best videos ive ever seen. keep up the amazing work!
Ghost of Tsushima is one of the greatest games of all time, it is truly a breathtaking experience!! Thank you for sharing your in-depth thoughts in such a succinct presentation!
Thank you so much for all your effort. This video was definitely worth the wait for me. I wish you good luck on future endeavours.
in ghost of tsushima i found myself often overwhelmed by my own ego... i was thinking of myself always as stronger then i am and threw myself into combat but most of the times by using what i had ad my disposal and also ALOT of running around and trying to manage the encounters i have i had a lot of fun and it was rather satisfiyng to get threw the game... but my main strategy is challenge oponent after taking out 1-3 enemys by it then run to archers kill them then let enemy come close parry and counter attack in the meantime when enemy close smokebomb into 2-4 enemy takedowns... priority on the big guys after all big guys gone just fight the rest by parry all their attacks a very passive yet extremely overpowered way of playing... i noticed by doing that even the hardest outposts quickly became rather simple all i needed to do and that always were finding the archers and taking them down as soon ass possible since they are supposed to balance that
Your format and intimate understanding of what the message of Ghost of Tsushima is gave this video more soul than any other I’ve watched on the subject matter.
I still can't believe that this game loses to Neil Druckmann's Revenge, Teen drama wet dream.
Combat 10/10 replay ability 10/10 story 10/10 CHARACTERS 10000/10 FREEEE ROAMMM 10000000090000009292/10
YOUR ARE SO CLUTCH I JUST RESTARTED THIS GAME
I would like to say that I really appreciate you taking the time to make this video it is very well put together, and you definitely transformed it into more than just a game review
Just finished this game for the first time and it was one of the most finest gaming experiences I’ve had. So so good
I named my horses Sora and then Kage which mirror's jin's fall from standing out in the light to in the shadows and when I realized that after selecting my horse's second name I was floored.
I finally got a PS5 to play this game. I love stealth games and particularly samurai/ninja games that aren't RPG as I'm into 1st and 3rd person shooters with stealth. I am also into history and warfare regarding the samurai. I haven't seen anything I've liked since Tenchu set in this period. I think this is the most graphically beautiful video game I've played and I've played longer than many gamers have been alive. It's essentially like playing, rather than watching Samurai Cinema. I see many elements of Far Cry 4, especially with the Legends mode. Like you, this game is personal for me. It speaks to our current times where there is so much division and we are forced to choose sides, maybe change who we are and shed the old ways for evolving times. We suffer the loss of friends and family, we feel the sting of betrayal and it's heartening to find peace scatter throughout this game. There have been heartbreaking moments where I've actually cried at the sadness and loss. the loss of Yuriko, the betrayal of his childhood friend and the loss of his horse. Sucker Punch knocked this out of the park, IMO. As of this writing, I have yet to finish it. One thing to say is that video games have come a long way since the 80's.
This was beautifully done and I know it took a lot of hard work and effort to complete it. You and I are strangers, and odds are we will always remain that way. Regardless of that fact if you ever feel like your work doesn't merit a sense of pride, that there are tons of other people, me included, who are very proud of you.
Thank you so much reading this made my day 🙏
Just finished my first playthrough two days ago and i was craving more videos about the game and lucky me that this amazing video was posted just in time. I dont know why but the fact that you named your second horse Nobu but didnt feel as much attachment to them as you did to Kage was so interesting because I felt so connected with my first horse, Nobu and less connected to my second, Kage. Anyway thanks so much for this awesome video about Ghost of Tsushima
What I like is whilst Kazumasa may hv been a 'butcher', its that he too saw cracks in the Samurai code.
Yuriko implies that he most likely would've approved of what Jin was doing to see Tsushima
The bald guy who controls electricity is still among my favorite games.
You mean Infamous?
@@randomgamer625 duh lol, this is just me quoting him from the video.
Absolutely joy to watch this video perfectly explains this masterpiece of a game and my fav game oat thank you amazing video ❤
This video is honestly a master piece my brother despite what anyone says, i can feel your passion for the game, and it resonates with me at every stop. It was also crazy to find someone who shares practically every opinion desire and purpose i do towards this game, and my love for gaming as a whole. Only point i kind of disagreed with on was the combat, i can understand what you felt about the targeting and camera, but for the most part i felt the camera gave a really wide view unlike god of war, i believe playing defensively and reacting while distancing yourself so u never get overwhelmed(even tho enemies never attack at the same time really, trivializing the concept of a gank). I found locking on to be a waste of time, just space yourself out, and dodge towards who u wanna attack if the distance is a little wide to fix the targeting. Otherwise this Felt like listening to a kindred spirit through this video, and i salute you. Looking forward to more and its an instant sub from me 🙌🏽
GoT was one of the few games where I was constantly hopping into photo mode to take endless pictures. Such a wonderful game in every way.
A 2 hour deep dive into one of my top games OAT? Yes please.
I just started playing this on PC. This game is a treasure. I wanted to comment quick because idk if the host of this channel has a team or not? But presenters intellectual take on the game is thought provoking and deserves a mention. Great upload man.
New Sub here.
This is my favorite game of all time. When I first played it. I quit. Not because it was to repetitive or to grindy. I didn't upgrade my armor or sword the entire game and when I got to the second Ryuzo fight I quit. I took me like 3 months to come back to the game and experience the wonderful ending and side content
I forgot about this game, but at the time this was the most hyped release between my friends and I, it definitely met expectations for the hype that it had on release - nobody thought it was supposed to be the greatest game ever. Anyone who said it was bad needs to get their mental health checked out
16:30 I mostly agree with this, but from my research the katana was created in response to the mongol invasion, so it would've been cool to see Jin wield the first ever katana to use against them. That could have been a really powerful moment if they went in that direction.
Great essay, well done, you can be very proud of this, thank you.
"Less fox dens"
Get out. There are never enough foxes.
Everything about this video wanted me to hop back in and do another play through. Even at the agreed low points of the game. I just wish this would come to PC already so I can play it again in a different way or perhaps on the go with my deck 😢
uhh im not sure ishikawa views jin as a failure; the scroll from him in jin's little endgame hut says ishikawa still welcomes him as a student. ishikawa may not have liked it, but he understood that the samurai code needed some adjustments if they wanted to get the mongols off the island
i absolutely love ghost of tsushima. i'm a really big fan of japanese historic time periods, and this game lets me experience it in an extremely well made way. the combat, visuals, and music is just the best combination.
my favorite thing in the game has to be the sarugami armor, as it completely changes the way i approach fights. it changed my playstyle, and it looks really good. i especially love running the red variant of the armor with the second or third helmet in the set and the sarugami's wrath mask. i honestly wish suckerpunch added a way to remove the capes because i recently found out the second style has fur all the way along the back, and i really dont like how the capes work in the game due to the wind never really hitting your front when you play. thats why i usually use the first style because it's just nicer without the cape.
i digress. this game really is great though and i'm glad i got to play it.
Aw hell nah don’t tell me that game came out that long ago, tf have I been doing for 4 years
I loved the second phase of the khan fight. After him playing dirty decimating him with ghost weapons and a full arsenal was insanely fun