Arriving just a couple of months before the launch of the PS5, Ghost of Tsushima was one of the last truly great PS4 exclusives. The open-world action RPG delighted critics and gamers with its blend of majestic scenery, visceral combat, and an engaging story. While not 100% accurate, Ghost of Tsushima is actually based on true historical events, chronicling the first Mongol invasion of Japan in which the island of Tsushima was occupied by the Yuan invasion force.
The game follows the story of Jin Sakai, a samurai on a mission to protect the island of Tsushima from the fierce Mongol armies. The journey sees him call into question the moral code he has abided by his entire life, as he is forced to make some tough decisions. A powerful, personal narrative ensures the player really gets to know Jin and understands his motives and culture. It's a great example of a game fully understanding and respecting its source material, and Tsushima is brought to life in stunning detail, offering one of the best examples of Japan seen in video games so far.
Tsushima's Historical Timeline
Ghost of Tsushima takes place in the year 1274. Jin Sakai, and his uncle Lord Shimura, lead the island's samurai warriors in an attempt to repel the enemy invaders. Despite their noble efforts though, the samurai are defeated, Shimura is captured, and Jin is badly wounded by the fierce Mongol general Khotun Khan and left for dead. Thus begins a revenge mission whereby Jin learns to adopt guerilla warfare tactics in order to overwhelm and defeat the Mongol armies. Along the way, he meets allies who offer assistance, including the infamous straw hat Ronin, a group of samurai with no masters.
In reality, the Mongol invasion force was not led by Khotun Khan, but rather by Kublai Khan, the grandson of the famous Mongolian general Ghengis Khan. This force, approximately 8000 strong, began landing on Tsushima island on October 7, 1274, and quickly took hold of the island by defeating a small group of around 80 samurai. Despite this hasty defeat though, eyewitness reports claim that one such samurai defeated approximately 25 soldiers in individual combat, showcasing the samurai's expertise with a sword. It took Khan's force no more than the next few days to secure control of the entire island.
While the game attempts to stay as close to the facts as possible, events are dramatized and timelines are slightly altered to ensure the narrative is as exciting as possible. The island itself is replicated fairly similarly, but it's not a one-to-one recreation, thanks mainly to Tsushima's extremely uneven terrain which wouldn't have translated particularly well into an open-world game with an emphasis on exploration. One of the game’s better missions takes place in the mountaintop fortress of Kaneda Castle. In the game, it’s a fortified stronghold, but in reality, in 1274 Kaneda was no longer in use and had been abandoned for hundreds of years, having been built way back in the year 667.
Developer Sucker Punch received acclaim for its attention to detail, and many are hoping that news of a sequel is announced soon. A movie based on Ghost of Tsushima is also reportedly in the works. With other games in development, including Rise of the Ronin and Like a Dragon: Ishin!, looking to focus on different elements of Japanese history, a sequel to Tsushima will certainly face stiff competition. If it can recapture the aesthetic of its predecessor though, while building on the already stellar mechanics, it should be more than a match for its foes.
Ghost of Tsushima is available on PS4 and PS5.
