Why I Found Ghost of Tsushima Underwhelming After Playing It On PC

See full bio

Obaid Ur Rehman

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

See full bio

Ghost of Tsushima is one of those games that almost every person praises. When a game is praised this much, people often tend to believe those opinions and mix up theirs with them. This is a natural phenomenon: if a massive community hates a game, you might never play it.

I have heard from so many people and seen so many threads online about how great Ghost of Tsushima is. Even Shinji Mikami had great words to say about it. However, when I finally played the PC Port, the game felt pretty underwhelming to me, and I found it overpraised.

Why it matters: Ghost of Tsushima has been released on PC after nearly 4 years, and thousands of people have tried it this year.

Mediocre Story And Bland Open World

This game receives so much praise for its story, as it is heartwarming and emotional. However, to me, it didn’t really feel that great. Often, such types of generic stories are criticized, but Sucker Punch somehow got a pass.

I am not saying I didn’t enjoy the story—I actually did—as it was good enough to make me end the game. However, it was nowhere near as impactful as the fandom described it to be. 

Many might have enjoyed the story, and I did, too, but that doesn’t mean it has top-tier writing. If you want to witness the best storytelling, you should look toward games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Alan Wake 2.

While the story was mediocre for me, the open world wasn’t any better. I agree that it is one of the most gorgeous open worlds in the industry, but that’s about all the world has going for it.

This is the signature Ubisoft open world that everyone criticizes. The map is filled with checklist-style objectives, there are countless Mongol camps to take down, and the side quests in this world are very surface-level.

In my opinion, the open world felt completely flat, with the unique guiding wind system being one of the only few saving graces. It was enjoyable to ride my horse and take in the sights, but this open world lacked the substance that I wanted.

The Combat Is Solid, But The Stealth Is Bad

I have to admit that Ghost of Tsushima has a pretty solid combat system. This is coming from someone who has put hundreds of hours into Sekiro. I enjoyed the game solely on the basis of the combat.

Of course, it doesn’t have the best combat in gaming history, but it was pretty decent. Switching between different stances to deal with the many enemies was enjoyable, wielding the terrifying Ghost Stance felt exhilarating, and the stand-off made the beginning of each fight cinematic.

I only wish the fights were a little more difficult, as I was just rapidly going through the game, even at the hardest difficulty. While the combat was great, stealth gameplay left a lot to be desired.

For a title that places a lot of emphasis on its character relying on stealth and hiding in the shadows, Ghost of Tsushima does little to make the stealth segments stand out. These are bogged down by very basic gameplay and often terrible AI.

It seems like Sucker Punch lifted the stealth right out of Assassin’s Creed, making it the most disappointing part of the combat.

Experience Ruined Due To Unrealistic Standard

I would agree that the combat is fun and can make for an entertaining playthrough. So, the game is fun overall and can be enjoyable for almost every single person. However, I don’t understand the hype surrounding it.

If you have enjoyed a game, then give it a score based on your satisfaction level. If you only liked the combat and not the story, then why would you give it a solid 10? This would be an unrealistic standard that other people would inevitably follow.

Hence, I found myself impacted by the fandom’s praise for Ghost of Tsushima, even when certain elements were clearly weaker than they were made out to be.

If you haven’t played this PlayStation first-party title, I still recommend trying it. Be warned, however, that your expectations might be a bit too unrealistic. Ghost of Tsushima is very similar to an Assassin’s Creed title with a Japanese spin on everything.

Obaid Ur Rehman

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com