Every year there are breakout video games that just stand above the rest. Most of these games are touted for years as a game to watch for in the future, while others are sleeper hits. Ghost of Tsushima was a game that fans had been anxiously anticipating, yet there was still a certain level of cautious optimism about whether it would live up to its billing.
Luckily, not only did it live up to expectations but in some fans' minds, it surpassed it. Let's look over small things fans might have missed the first go around.
Stealth Is Your Friend
It is expected of games like Ghost of Tsushima to have to hack and slash your way through enemy camps. This is primarily due to the overabundance of guards patrolling all the different areas in the game. With that said, the intelligence of the AI in the game is almost beyond belief when it comes to just how easy it is to sneak in and out of places without being detected. The first go-around fans might have slashed their way through encampments but by the second play through players will be ready to exploit the game's AI.
Talk To All the NPC Characters
It isn't surprising in most games to bypass talking to NPC characters on the side of the roads or in the towns you roam through. This primarily is due to the fact that most NPC characters just give you random conversations that do not have any in-game usefulness. Luckily, the same cannot be said for the NPC characters in Ghost of Tsushima as each passing conversation might leave you with some interesting rumor and a new spot on your map to explore. These side quests can not only lead to experience but popular in-game items.
Showing Respect Can Earn You Easter Eggs
The first time playing through Ghost of Tsushima, players might not pay attention to the small detail of showing respect. After all, it has little to do with the many main quest or side quest priorities. However, bowing can lead to some really neat in-game stuff that probably was missed the first go around.
Easter eggs aren't the only thing a gamer gets for showing respect if one bow before all the hidden altars in the game they receive a trophy for all their hard work and diligence for minding their manners.
Hidden Stable In Izuhara Region
Mongol stables can be found throughout Ghost of Tsushima. After all, expertise on a horse is what the Mongol invaders were known for. So it is a bit surprising to come across the Izuhara region and find no stables anywhere to be found. However, things are not always what they appear as there is a stable in Izuhara region and it holds a particularly interesting artifact. Upon arriving at the Stone Arch Crossing look to the left and a small stable will appear with a Mongol Artifact Saddle and the only horse in the region inside.
Don't Forget To Use The Traveler's Attire
Secrets that are right in front of people are the ones that are the hardest to find. Many of these secrets are so out in the open that players fail to notice them or their importance. The Traveler's Attire is one of the first things a gamer gets from a merchant. At first, it might not seem like much but in reality, it is by far one of the easiest ways to find items and even some secrets on the map. The attire is a helpful guide for using the wind to bring them to the next hidden artifact.
Observing Mongol Leaders
Ghost of Tsushima makes no bones about how it wants stealth to be a key issue in how the player roams around the game. After all, it is an occupied country, and freedom from this occupation is something that has to be earned in the shadows instead of facing it head-on in the open.
If the main character sneaks into a Mongol camp, he can observe the Mongol leader's form as a means of obtaining one stance point. Which will come in handy when having to face that Mongol leader to free the encampment.
Pet The Fox
Most games now allow for the human protagonist to own some sort of animal to help him or her on their quest to free their land from the game's antagonists. Some games like Farcry 5 have pet bears that can help the protagonist even the odds by rampaging through enemy lines but Ghost of Tsushima takes another approach when it comes to furry friends. If one encounters a red fox in the game, feel free to follow it as it will take them to a hidden Inari shrine. Afterward show appreciation by petting the kind fox.
Golden Bird Bonus
Following a fox through the woods isn't the only way to find hidden bonuses and objects in Ghost of Tsushima. In fact, the fox is only one of many animals that play an important role in the story. The visual beauty of the game is astonishing, with the leaves blowing in the wind and animals prowling the woods. One animal a player should constantly be aware of flying high above and that is a golden bird. If one is spotted, the player should follow it as it will lead one to bonus objects throughout the game.
The Weather Is Affected By Gameplay
In Ghost of Tsushima the main protagonist's journey leads him far from the admirable way of the samurai into a darker path, one that leads him down the road of being a stealthy assassin. This is an inner confrontation that the main protagonist has to endure as it is a path that he struggles with, with each kill.
As the player moves throughout the map one thing becomes more obvious, the weather gets stormier when stealth kills are performed and sunnier when fighting more admirably when facing opponents. As the protagonist's mood darkens so does the weather.
Immerse Yourself In Language
For those English speakers out there, the console they are playing on has already deliberated what language the player wishes to hear in the game. With the historical aspect of the game a focal point of what transpires in the game, some players after finishing their journey might seek a more authentic feel by being immersed in the native Japanese language. Luckily, Ghost of Tsushima allows for the language setting to be changed from the player's native language to that of Japanese as a means of capturing the magic of the in-game visuals and conversations.