Reviews for the highly anticipated Ghostwire: Tokyo have begun to roll out, and it looks like critics have plenty of nice things to say about Tango Gameworks' supernatural action-FPS. The latest Sony exclusive had gamers excited for it in the lead-up to this week, with many praising the game's trailers and gameplay showcases for its unique approach to combat and fleshed-out urban fantasy world. Ghostwire: Tokyo's Japanese folklore influences are also on full display, which has helped build hype as well.
Ghostwire: Tokyo will take players to a fictionalized version of its titular city, as the overwhelming majority of its population has disappeared in a mysterious event. Players will fill the shoes of Akito, a man possessed by a spirit detective known as KK. Although KK has his own goals, he grants Akito mystical powers that he can use to fight against the onslaught of demonic enemies called Visitors. These powers will also allow players to traverse the open-world environment of Tokyo, gathering collectibles, uncovering secrets, and engaging with side quests. This is important, as the city of Tokyo seems to play a central role in the game, with small details like the behavior of Ghostwire: Tokyo's dogs catching the eyes of fans.
These intricacies and unique inclusions seem to have paid off for Ghostwire: Tokyo, as many of the currently available critic reviews have been singing its praises. These reviews of the game give the impression that the open world is filled with an alluring sense of charm and that the passion from the game's developers is clearly expressed. The game's narrative has also been complimented, although critics have noted that the mission design is somewhat repetitive and one-note. Criticisms have also been leveled at the gameplay, which has been described as similarly one-dimensional despite Ghostwire: Tokyo's efforts to make movement and combat visceral and engaging. Here's what some reviewers had to say about Ghostwire: Tokyo:
Jacob Zeranko - 4.5/5 - Screen Rant
"Ghostwire: Tokyo has a unique combat system, fantastic narrative, and a recreation of its titular city that is intricate and immersive, even if it feels a bit empty at times. For those looking to binge the main narrative, it only takes four hours to complete the game's five chapters - however, the side-missions are well written, and players are highly encouraged to play through them to gain extra unlocks such as outfits and ability upgrades. Ghostwire: Tokyo exceeds expectations and to anyone that is even slightly curious about this game, it is well worth the time and money."
Jordan Middler - 3/5 - Video Games Chronicle
"Ghostwire’s mission structure could certainly be more unique, and the game feels like it comes to an abrupt halt rather than a graceful conclusion, it’s otherwise a memorable experience with combat that is fun, even if it gets a bit stale towards the end of the journey."
Cam Shea - 8/10 - IGN
"I enjoyed my 20 or so hours with Ghostwire: Tokyo largely because I found its world so immersive. The attention to detail in the city itself is hugely impressive, whether it’s looking to recreate the surroundings of the best-known crossing in the world or bringing life to a dank back alley. This is an environment I loved being in, and all the more so because of the many touchstones to iconic elements of Japanese culture and mythology. If the moment-to-moment gameplay – in particular its one-dimensional combat and uninteresting mission design – weren’t such a disappointment, Ghostwire: Tokyo could have truly captivated me. As it stands, the merely adequate stealth and action do little to add to the fantastic setting, but they don’t diminish its brilliance, either."
Joshua Duckworth - 3.5/5 - Game Rant
"Ultimately, Ghostwire: Tokyo's world-building, Japanese folklore, and character dynamics are engaging, but the pacing and combat weigh down the middle section."
Justin McElroy - Polygon
"Perhaps the kindest thing I can say about Ghostwire: Tokyo is that it’s an endearing experience. There’s a lot of care on display, from the cultural detail in the sweet side stories to the rendering of the rain-swept world itself. But whatever charm there is gets bogged down by frustrating design decisions and sluggish mechanics. It may be a captivating setting, but Ghostwire: Tokyo is difficult to recommend to all but the most devoted students of Japanese culture."
While all these reviews have plenty of good things to say about the game and none are explicitly negative, it's clear that critics are somewhat split on Ghostwire: Tokyo as a whole. The game's dark, magical interpretation of Tokyo has been almost universally praised, but some critics have taken greater issue with its mission design than others. The other point of contention appears to be combat, which is being described as overstaying its welcome.
It's worth noting that these reviews are not contradictory in any major way - critics appear to have reached a broad consensus about the charm of Ghostwire Tokyo's world. When it comes to the gameplay and mission design, they aren't being called completely broken, so it may just be a matter of how much someone is willing to put up with potentially repetitive gameplay in favor of a richly detailed world. For gamers that place a higher emphasis on immersion and atmosphere, it looks like Ghostwire Tokyo could be a perfect fit.
Ghostwire Tokyo will be coming to PC and PS5 on March 25.