This story of samurai revenge is reminiscent of Japanese films. There are several betrayals, the tragic deaths of several close comrades, thrilling sword battles, besieged towns and castles, and even a ‘Kurosawa mode’ black-and-white filter that you may use throughout the game. With some creative liberties, the setting of medieval Japan is lovely, with fields of grass and bullrushes to sprint across on your beloved horse, temple ‘puzzles’ to maneuver around, and fortifications to appraise and assault.
As you go through the main narrative quest and more than enough side quests and challenges, you will unlock more powerful sword techniques and postures, as well as new weapons and banned methods, all of which are nicely weaved into the tale of a samurai driven to the brink of death. It still has a lot of fetch quests and treasures spread around Japan’s prefectures, but the sheer beauty of Ghost of Tsushima fools you into thinking it’s the best open-world game on PlayStation. Don’t get me wrong: it’s on the list.
The new PS5 Director’s Cut version now has dynamic frame rates of up to 60 frames per second, ensuring the game looks and feels even more like an homage to Japanese cinematic auteurs of the past. There are other DualSense quirks, such as a bow that tightens tangibly when you pull on trigger buttons and slight rumbling as you ride over the plains of Tsushima, while the Director’s Cut adds a new, unexpectedly intriguing DLC chapter. As you explore the Iki Island, the game adds a few more tactics to Jin’s armory and expands on the hero’s connection with his father.
Number 3. The God of War
