Why I Found Ghost of Tsushima Underwhelming After Playing It On PC

Expert Verified By

After hearing fans sing praises of Ghost of Tsushima for years, I finally jumped into the game on PC. Unfortunately, the story was mediocre, the open world was bland, and the solid combat couldn't stop me from feeling a bit letdown.

Story Highlight
  • Ghost of Tsushima is praised too much by the fandom.
  • The game has a mediocre story with a bland open world, which makes it pretty boring.
  • The only thing I found enjoyable in this game was the combat system due to the many stances and impactful animations.

Ghost of Tsushima is one of those games that almost every person praises. When a game is praised this much, people often tend to believe those opinions and mix up theirs with them. This is a natural phenomenon: if a massive community hates a game, you might never play it.

I have heard from so many people and seen so many threads online about how great Ghost of Tsushima is. Even Shinji Mikami had great words to say about it. However, when I finally played the PC Port, the game felt pretty underwhelming to me, and I found it overpraised.

Why it matters: Ghost of Tsushima has been released on PC after nearly 4 years, and thousands of people have tried it this year.

Mediocre Story And Bland Open World

Ghost of Tsushima Open World
Ghost of Tsushima Has A Gorgeous Open World, But It is Extremely Bland | Image Credits: Tech4Gamers

This game receives so much praise for its story, as it is heartwarming and emotional. However, to me, it didn’t really feel that great. Often, such types of generic stories are criticized, but Sucker Punch somehow got a pass.

I am not saying I didn’t enjoy the story—I actually did—as it was good enough to make me end the game. However, it was nowhere near as impactful as the fandom described it to be. 

Many might have enjoyed the story, and I did, too, but that doesn’t mean it has top-tier writing. If you want to witness the best storytelling, you should look toward games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Alan Wake 2.

While the story was mediocre for me, the open world wasn’t any better. I agree that it is one of the most gorgeous open worlds in the industry, but that’s about all the world has going for it.

This is the signature Ubisoft open world that everyone criticizes. The map is filled with checklist-style objectives, there are countless Mongol camps to take down, and the side quests in this world are very surface-level.

In my opinion, the open world felt completely flat, with the unique guiding wind system being one of the only few saving graces. It was enjoyable to ride my horse and take in the sights, but this open world lacked the substance that I wanted.

The Combat Is Solid, But The Stealth Is Bad

Carried By Gameplay
The Gameplay Is Still Fun | Image Credits: Tech4Gamers

I have to admit that Ghost of Tsushima has a pretty solid combat system. This is coming from someone who has put hundreds of hours into Sekiro. I enjoyed the game solely on the basis of the combat.

Of course, it doesn’t have the best combat in gaming history, but it was pretty decent. Switching between different stances to deal with the many enemies was enjoyable, wielding the terrifying Ghost Stance felt exhilarating, and the stand-off made the beginning of each fight cinematic.

I only wish the fights were a little more difficult, as I was just rapidly going through the game, even at the hardest difficulty. While the combat was great, stealth gameplay left a lot to be desired.

For a title that places a lot of emphasis on its character relying on stealth and hiding in the shadows, Ghost of Tsushima does little to make the stealth segments stand out. These are bogged down by very basic gameplay and often terrible AI.

It seems like Sucker Punch lifted the stealth right out of Assassin’s Creed, making it the most disappointing part of the combat.

Experience Ruined Due To Unrealistic Standard

Thanks to The Unrealistic Expectations Set Up By Fans, My Experience Was Ruined | Image Credits: Tech4Gamers

I would agree that the combat is fun and can make for an entertaining playthrough. So, the game is fun overall and can be enjoyable for almost every single person. However, I don’t understand the hype surrounding it.

If you have enjoyed a game, then give it a score based on your satisfaction level. If you only liked the combat and not the story, then why would you give it a solid 10? This would be an unrealistic standard that other people would inevitably follow.

Hence, I found myself impacted by the fandom’s praise for Ghost of Tsushima, even when certain elements were clearly weaker than they were made out to be.

If you haven’t played this PlayStation first-party title, I still recommend trying it. Be warned, however, that your expectations might be a bit too unrealistic. Ghost of Tsushima is very similar to an Assassin’s Creed title with a Japanese spin on everything.

Was our article helpful? 👨‍💻

Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔

Join Our Community

Still having issues? Join the Tech4Gamers Forum for expert help and community support!

Latest News

Join Our Community

104,000FansLike
32,122FollowersFollow

Trending

Artificial Intelligence: The New Frontier in Game Development

AI is rapidly solidifying its role as the ultimate partner of game developers, but what exactly is the role of AI in game development?

Rocket League: A Winning Blend Of Sports And Racing

Rocket League merges rocket-speed racing with soccer thrills, creating an exciting multiplayer gaming session you will never get bored of!

What We Know About the Upcoming Horror Game Slitterhead

Learn what is so far known about the game Slitterhead from the unique story to the uncanny possession mechanic and its implications.

What The Future Holds for Assassin Creed Franchise

The future of Assassin's Creed looks bright with much room for change and expansion. Let's discuss what's to come for the series.

The Idea Of Three Protagonists Was a Life Saver For GTA 5

GTA 5's story would have never been this interesting without the three protagonists and the twists and interesting moments they brought.