Ghost of Tsushima Review

ESRB Rating MATURE 17+ for Ghost of Tsushima

Posted: 4 weeks ago, last updated 2 days ago.

Author: @gweronimo and Andy Robertson.

Overview

Ghost of Tsushima is a stealth and action adventure set in 13^th century Japan, where you play as a clan leader and samurai warrior trying to protect your people and the Tsushima Island against Mongol invaders.

It has a large open world that can be explored by foot or horseback. It embraces the feeling of space and getting lost, as there are no navigation waypoints apart from guiding gusts of wind. Combat is detailed, with brutal swordplay and archery. You choose between strategies of "noble" face-to-face attacks or "foul-play" stealth kills.

It's a world of beautiful scenery, contrasted with very violent and bloody action. The story is emotional and reflects the world in the protagonist's troubled moral conflicts about war, mercy and revenge.

The game has an extensive Photo Mode where you can get creative with lots of options for framing shots.

Details

Rating: PEGI 18+, ESRB MATURE 17+

Release Date: 17/07/2020

Platforms: PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.

Genres: Action, Adventure and Open World.

Developer: @SuckerPunchProd

Tips

View our choice of games like Ghost of Tsushima. This game is good if you want to:

Commitment

Duration: This game will take between 25 hours and 80 hours to complete.

Players: This is a single player game. You can play with up to 4 players online. A free co-operative multiplayer mode, titled Legends and inspired by Japanese folk tales and mythology,
is set to be released in late 2020. It will be a free download for owners of the game, but will require a PlayStation Plus subscription.

Costs

Additional in-game purchases are offered for items that enhance the experience.

Ghost of Tsushima: Digital Deluxe Edition (or Upgrade) provides the following:

One technique point
Charm of Hachiman's Favour
Hero of Tsushima Skin Set: Golden Mask, Body Armour, Sword Kit, Horse, Saddle
Digital mini artbook
Director's commentary
Samurai PS4™ theme

You will need PlayStation Plus (must be 18 to create, then create sub-accounts for younger players who need be set as 13 or older) to play online with PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5.

Age Ratings

Rated PEGI 18 due to frequent depictions of extreme violence towards human-like characters. During a number of missions, characters can be seen being decapitated and dismembered. In these instances, strong blood and gore effects are present on impact of the attack. The bodies then slump to the floor and remain there. This game also contains depictions of violence towards defenceless human characters. In these instances, characters are often restrained then beaten/killed. The most pertinent example of this is when an enemy solider is tied to a wooden stake and then burnt to death. He can be seen screaming in pain as his body and clothes catch alight. He then slumps down as his body burns.

Rated ESRB MATURE 17+ for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity. Players use samurai swords, poisoned darts, and bows to battle enemies in melee-style combat. Some attacks result in dismemberment and/or decapitation of enemy soldiers, often accompanied by large blood-splatter effects. Players can also perform assassination kills (e.g., neck stabbing, sword impalement) to dispatch enemies quietly. Cutscenes depict additional acts of intense violence: a soldier lit on fire and beheaded; bound civilians lit on fire and burned at the stake; a decapitated man's head held up towards the screen. The game also depicts a man's exposed buttocks as he bathes in a hot spring. The word "sh*t" can be heard in the game.

Users Interact: The game enables players to interact and communicate with each other, so may expose players to language usually associated with older rated games.

Accessibility

It should be noted that the game has an option to turn off blood effects, making it a bit less violent. (This does not affect cutscenes, though.)

Image

How you can adjust the visuals to suit your needs, and offer additional information if you can't hear the game.

Turn Off Blood: Reduce or disable graphic content of blood and gore.

System Settings

PlayStation 4 has a range of accessibility settings. Some are system only, some work in games (invert colours and button mapping). PlayStation 5 has a range of system-wide accessibility settings... read more about system accessibility settings.

Supported by PlayabilityInitiative and accessibility contributors: Andy Robertson

Games Like Ghost of Tsushima

The following games are like Ghost of Tsushima. They address a similar topic or offer a similar way to play. They are good options to play next and also good alternatives to Ghost of Tsushima for younger age ratings.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Dark Souls

Total War

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Nier: Automata

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This game contains mature content