With katana in-hand, Ghost of Tsushima has carved its name in the PlayStation hall of fame. Despite a seemingly niche appeal as a love letter to samurai cinema, Jin’s revenge-fuelled saga quickly became one of the PS4’s all-time greats when it released last summer. Now, one year later, Sucker Punch is back with a second helping.
Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut gives fans not one, but three irresistible reasons to revisit the power-selling PlayStation exclusive.
Thanks to backwards compatibility, the acclaimed samurai sim was always playable on PlayStation 5. Shortly after the launch of Sony’s new console, Ghost of Tsushima also received a performance patch though many were left wondering what further improvements a native version of the game could offer. Now we know.
Up top, the Director’s Cut features 4K resolution and targets a silky 60 FPS on PS5. On top of that, fans can dial up the immersion on PS5 by marrying 3D audio and real time cutscenes with Japanese lip syncing with haptic feedback from the DualSense controller. It’s been interesting to see how different developers utilise the latter feature, Ghost of Tsushima going for a subtle approach that helps underline minute-to-minute gameplay, from tense katana duels to feeling hooves clatter as you lore Tsushima.
Oh, and then there’s Iki Island.
Having an assortment of shiny bells and whistles to tinker with is great, though many fans will be picking up the Director’s Cut for this fresh helping of story – available for the game on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
Although you don’t need to beat the main story in order to set sail for Iki, you will need to have progressed to the game’s second act. From there, you’ll have access to a quest called “Journey into the Past” which will bring you to the shores of this new region.
It’s best that you experience this meaty side story first-hand, but here’s a very quick overview. After repelling a band of Mongol raiders from an unknown tribe, Jin goes in pursuit of this new threat. Their mysterious leader – The Eagle – isn’t the only terror that stalks Iki Island though, and our hero will also have to face his past and the legacy of his father.
As much as I wanted more Ghost of Tsushima content to play, I had some reservations. Having clocked some 70 hours and bagged the platinum trophy, there was a worry that Iki Island would bring nothing particularly new or inventive to the table.
While it doesn’t revolutionise the core gameplay or expand it in a meaningful way, the expansion introduces a few new tools and side activities you’ll only find on Iki. There’s a gorgeous change of scenery for you to take in, but the most refreshing part of this DLC is how it dials up the challenge. New enemy types gradually filter in, their adaptable fighting styles adding a perilous dimension to even some of the smaller skirmishes.
Of course, this wouldn’t be Ghost of Tsushima without that signature element of adventure. At first glance, Iki appears to be relatively small, but Sucker Punch has done a fantastic job in populating the island with meaningful things to see and do. There’s plenty of side quests and secrets scattered across this new region and, for those fans who fancy themselves master swordsmen, there is one legendary armour set that you’ll want to unlock straight away. We’re a few hours into the DLC and have only explored half the map.
Although it isn’t part of the Director’s Cut, upcoming content for Ghost of Tsushima: Legends provides yet another compelling reason to reach for your bow and blade once again. Those players who blitzed through the main game may have missed this excellent multiplayer addition which seamlessly spliced GoT’s fluid swordplay with a co-op twist. New features and cosmetics are already rolling out, while a Legends standalone release and the competitive “Rivals” game mode should spur on new players to check it out.
Since launch, Ghost of Tsushima has remained firmly in the spotlight, perhaps even more so than other PlayStation exclusives including The Last of Us: Part II. If you’ve yet to play this samurai showpiece, then now is the perfect time.
