Ghost of Tsushima is an epic open-world game set in feudal Japan. The title’s stunning visuals and some of the best swordplay game mechanics in recent years set it apart from the crowd. While the game does a good job of providing you with tutorials and teaching you gameplay, the open-world aspect might make this a bit too much for some players. Here are a few tips and tricks on Ghost of Tsushima to help you understand what you should be focusing on in your playthrough.
1. Play the Story missions
Like any open-world game, it is very tempting to wander off into the world and see what the game allows you to do. But we recommend holding off on this when it comes to Ghost of Tsushima, especially at the start. Ghost of Tsushima is a game that has the tutorials and story working together. If you want to learn more about how to fight and unlock new abilities, you need to play through the story missions. Especially the first two, which unlock the bow and the listening sense, the latter of which helps you detect enemies. Without the ability to take out enemies from a distance or being able to locate enemy positions, taking down camps on your own could be quite difficult. So stick to the story missions until you have a solid grasp on the game mechanics.
2. Take out archers first
The free-flowing combat of Ghost of Tsushima allows you to string together moves to perform a captivating dance of swords and blood. In most battles, you will find yourself taking on multiple enemies and figuring out how to dispatch them without taking too much damage. This can get much worse if you add multiple archers into the mix, as they can simply rain arrows down on you from a distance, making you focus on dodging instead of fighting. The simple solution is to prioritize taking out these pests first. With the archers taken care of, you can be free to enjoy the game’s combat system without any distractions.
3. Master the combat
Even if we spent a few articles describing the combat in Ghost of Tsushima, we still wouldn’t be able to fully capture its brilliance. But some essential things you do need to remember are:
- Standoffs
- Stances
- Staggers
Standoffs
Standoffs are the button prompt you get when approaching enemies, asking them to engage in one-on-one battles. Execute a standoff well, and you could get an easy one-shot kill on single or multiple enemies. Fail, and you might find yourself getting taken out instead. Be sure to watch the enemy’s feet instead of their arms to get a clear indicator of when they are about to attack.
Stances
There are a total of 5 stances in Ghost of Tsushima: Stone, Water, Wind, Moon, and Ghost. Each stance helps you take out different types of enemies, string together powerful combos, and even take out enemies in one hit. If you want to effectively counter swords, shields, spears, and brutes, learning the stances and how to successfully toggle between them is essential.
Staggers
To successfully take down an enemy, you need to learn how to make them stagger. Otherwise, they will simply block your attack and counter. You can make enemies stagger by using the correct stance against them or by using parry at the right moment. Long story short, adapting to what each enemy type throws at you is the key to mastering the combat in Ghost of Tsushima.
4. The Divine Wind
One of the core gameplay elements introduced in Ghost of Tsushima by developer Sucker Punch is The Divine Wind. Unlike other AAA titles, Ghost of Tsushima does not have waypoints or mini-maps to distract you from the glorious 4K landscape (if you have an appropriate monitor/gaming TV) on your screen. Instead, you follow the Divine Wind to help guide you towards your objectives. To use it in-game, you first need to track a target on your map and then swipe up on your controller’s touchpad to see which way the wind is blowing. Historically, The Divine Wind was revered in Japan and considered instrumental in saving the country from the Mongol invasion. This innovative integration of history and gameplay mechanics is enough to give anyone chills.
5. Tales of Tsushima
Tales of Tsushima are the vast number of side-quests that you can embark on in this game. While side-quests might not be extremely important for the story, finishing them will help you take on some of the stronger bosses in the main storyline. Thankfully, the game straight-up tells you what you will receive from completing a side quest. It will obviously increase your level, but also let you know if you get any extra materials or items. This makes it easier to find and update your gear exactly the way you want. Try Tales of Tsushima, and definitely check out the mythic tales to get mythic armor or techniques.
Once you have mastered these tips, you are free to enjoy this gorgeous open-world action game by doing whatever you think is the most fun.