Ghost of Tsushima: Legends will officially be getting an anime adaptation, and guys, this is how you start the year with a bang! Of course, this news may not be as groundbreaking as, say, the long-awaited announcement of the release of GTA 6. But still, fans of Ghost of Tsushima, and otakus everywhere, are over the moon at the anime adaptation of the beloved game.

Despite the game’s popularity, there are surely still a number of people who have never played it, or heard of it. Certainly, it would be hard for such people to be psyched about an anime adaptation. However, we strongly believe that everyone, especially anyone with an anime bone in their body, should be hyped. Here’s why.

All hail the return of Takanobu Mizuno!

In 2021, Disney Plus released the first season of the animated anthology series, Star Wars: Visions. The very first episode, “The Duel,” was directed by the super talented Takanobu Mizuno. Since then, the director’s name has been on the lips of a lot more fans. 

With a limited catalogue to his name, there’s not much of Mizuno’s work for viewers to check out right now. However, the quality of his direction is undeniable, and that’s what’s got his fans excited. One of them wrote on X, “Ghost of Tsushima anime? Takanobu Mizuno’s direction will be legendary!” Get familiar with his work, and you’ll see why you should be excited that he’s behind the Ghost of Tsushima: Legends adaptation.

An action-adventure with a sick plot

Set in 1274 during the Mongol invasion of Japan, Ghost of Tsushima: Legends follows protagonist Jin Sakai. Jin is a skilled samurai who fights to reclaim his home, Tsushima Island, and comes to be known as “The Ghost” as the story progresses. This epic action-adventure story is set in a massive open world, filled with lush landscapes, ancient shrines, and war-torn villages.

There’s a lot to love about Ghost of Tsushima. Since its release on PlayStation in 2020, the game has amassed a large number of fans, simply because it’s just that good. From its story, to the characters and smooth gameplay, it’s no surprise that it has become wildly popular. With such great source material, expectations are high, and we have a good feeling that they will be met.

We’re in good hands

The Ghost of Tsushima: Legends anime is a huge collaborative project by multiple companies. It is set to be co-produced by Crunchyroll and Aniplex, with music for the soundtrack provided by Sony Music. Aniplex has produced anime like Demon Slayer, Solo Leveling, and Sword Art Online, among many iconic staples. Aniplex as well doesn’t play, especially with big projects like this.

But undoubtedly, one of Ghost of Tsushima’s biggest selling points, besides the story and gameplay, is its visuals. If the anime’s visuals manage to be as breath-taking as the game’s, then viewers are in for a treat! Ghost of Tsushima anime will be released exclusively on Crunchyroll sometime in 2027. Evidently, there’s still a lot of waiting to do. However, the anime promises to be quite the hit among fans of the game and otakus, and it will be worth the wait.

Before fans rallied around Assassins Creed: Shadow, another samurai game that took the world by storm. Ghost of Tsushima.

Released in 2020, the Sony game features Jin Sakai, a samurai who endeavors to protect the titular island during the first Mongol attack on the area. Ghost of Tsushima depicts a moral quandary as its lead character tries to survive. Either follow the code of his samurai brethren or use more duplicitous means to save the island’s inhabitants. Similar to Assassin’s Creed, players can implement head-on attacks or stealth combat in their gameplay. The game is known for its authenticity, particularly because of its collaboration with Japan Studio. 

The popularity of realistic series such as FX’s Shōgun has brought more interest to the period of Japan and in turn, given rise to projects such as this. Now, those who aren’t necessarily gamers will have access to Ghost of Tsushima in the form of a feature film.

Does Ghost of Tsushima have a release date?

Currently, details regarding the release of Ghost of Tsushima are sparse. Production of the film was announced back in 2021, but there have been no significant updates since then. The only intriguing news is that the film may be helmed by John Wick director, Chad Stahelski. The filmmaker got his start in stunts, which gave him a unique perspective in making action movies. He partnered with his former The Matrix star, Keanu Reeves, in these films which have yielded massive success.

Stahelski’s involvement in the film has also contributed to rumors that Hiroyuki Sanada will be involved in some capacity. Sanada appeared all too briefly in John Wick 4 as the proprietor of The Continental Osaka. The actor may also be a likely choice because he was a creative force behind Shōgun. He served as a producer on the samurai series and portrayed cunning daimyo and eventual Shōgun himself, Yoshi Toranaga. While it may lean into typecasting, seeing Sanada in any film is always a treat. Unfortunately, these are only rumors, but We Got This Covered will continue to follow any details regarding the release of Ghost of Tsushima.

Selling a staggering 117 million units over the span of a decade has turned the PlayStation 4 into one of the most successful game consoles in history.

Sony owes a great deal of that success to a string of exclusive, highly-acclaimed titles that steadily made their way to the market during PlayStation 4’s lifetime. What may have initially started as a series of lukewarm games with no real vision (e.g. The Order 1886, inFAMOUS Second Son, Killzone Shadow Fall) soon turned into a maelstrom of hype for the Japanese entertainment company through projects like Bloodborne and Uncharted 4.

Some of these have since claimed spots in the list of the best games of all time, often ending with aggregated Metacritic scores of 90 and above. So, in case you’ve missed out on what could arguably be one of the greatest console generations in the medium’s history, or just wish to reminisce about the good old days, here are the top 10 PS4 exclusives ranked from worst to best.

10. Death Stranding (2019)

Death Stranding might be a bit of a controversial choice. I never met a fellow gamer who was mildly entertained by Hideo Kojima’s latest game. You either love Death Stranding with all your heart, or you hate it with a fiery ion. To those who love this title, Death Stranding is a gaming experience unlike any other. To those who hate it, it can be little more than a “walking simulator.” If you find yourself among the ranks of the former, however, you probably think that Death Stranding is one of the most innovative games out there. And hey, you’re probably right.

9. Horizon Zero Dawn (2017)

I found my time playing Horizon Zero Dawn to be incredibly frustrating. At first glance, this will come off as just another generic open-world action-adventure title. You know, the kind that companies like Ubisoft churn out these days regularly without breaking stride. But if you give it just a little more time, then Zero Dawn’s brilliance will begin to dawn on you, and you’ll get addicted to its incredibly versatile combat and electrifying boss battles.

8. The Last Guardian (2016)

This 2016 title from Fumito Ueda certainly deserves all the praise it receives and then some. Many in the industry cite Ueda as a huge influence on their craft, and it would be no overstatement to suggest that his work style reminds us of the conventional auteur types in other mediums like cinema. The Last Guardian comes on the heels of Shadow of the Colossus, which is one of the most artistic games in history. The title was initially supposed to come out on PlayStation 3, but the infamously difficult hardware compelled Ueda and the rest of Team Ico to push it back and target PlayStation 4.

7. Ghost of Tsushima (2020)

If word of mouth and player reception are anything to go by, Ghost of Tsushima is probably among the top 3 successful PlayStation launches over the past decade. The story of Tsushima might feel undistinguished at times, but the gameplay and satisfying combat more than make up for it in the long run. Besides, the ending packs a heavy emotional punch, lifting the characters up considerably. And so, I’d say with some measure of certainty that Ghost of Tsushima is definitely one of the best PlayStation 4 games out there. At the very least, it’s among the foremost to scratch that Samurai itch for you.

6. Uncharted 4 (2016)

The story of the legendary Nathan Drake comes to a conclusive and satisfying conclusion in this troubled fourth installment in the Uncharted franchise. Troubled because Naughty Dog went through hell and back to make it work in time after Amy Hennig left the project, with Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley coming in to pick up the pieces in 2014 and attempt to release a functioning game by 2016. Uncharted 4 is a technical marvel, and the somewhat overhauled level design works exceptionally well in the context of the franchise’s former outings.

5. Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020)

After years of speculation and hearsay, Final Fantasy VII Remake was unveiled to the world during Sony’s 2015 E3 press conference, turning that 90-minute showcase into one of the most memorable moments in the history of the retired expo. There was simply too much hype floating on the wings of Final Fantasy VII and its legacy as one of the most influential games of all time, but Square Enix ended up delivering on the improbably high expectations and turning the remake into one of the most acclaimed titles in the eighth generation.

4. Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018)

Spider-Man is no stranger to the interactive medium thanks to a string of successful adaptations across the years, but none of them have managed to capture the spirit of what makes the character and his superpowers fun in a video game as much as this 2018 PlayStation 4 exclusive by Insomniac does. Move across New York City, web your enemies up, and relieve the tale of the friendly neighborhood webhead. And if you’re not satisfied by then, then the two sequels, Miles Morales and Spider-Man 2, will continue to build on the first game and deliver an even more impeccable experience.

3. Bloodborne (2015)

In many ways, Bloodborne was the first proper console exclusive in the eighth generation. After two years of uncertain releases casting a long shadow over the prospects of these new, burgeoning consoles, FromSoftware came forward with another banger and shattered industry expectations. Bloodborne is not just a great PS4 game; it is among the best video games in history. Our only regret is that after almost 8 years, Sony or FromSoftware have shown no interest in a PC port or a remaster. A very perplexing disinclination in and of itself, especially when talking about a medium that’s currently so engrossed with the idea of re-releasing with a fresh coat of paint any older game it can get its hands on.

2. God of War (2018)

2018’s God of War was a complete reinvention of Kratos both as a video game protagonist and a character. Santa Monica embarks on a journey across the Nine Realms in Norse Mythology and gives the series’ titular God of War a new mantle as a father. You once again get to meet gods, battle heroes of myth, and alter the fate of the entire world, all wrapped in a blanket of neatly trimmed iconic moments and addictive gameplay loops. Some might describe God of War’s level design as outdated, but we have another word for it, and that is “precise.”

1. The Last of Us Part II (2020)

As one of the most controversial game releases in history, The Last of Us Part II is an odd and baffling enigma, but no one could rightly deny that it’s an absolute masterclass in gameplay design and craftsmanship. Even after three years, you’d not have an easy time of it trying to find games that push the envelope in technical like The Last of Us Part II does, and for that reason alone, the folk at Naughty Dog deserve all the praise we could heap on them. And here’s the thing; even the story and characterization are laudable for their meticulous sharpness and emotional potency. I know itting as much will earn you a burning at the stake in certain communities, yet I’m still willing to die on this hill. But that, as they say, is a whole different conversation.

In an alternate universe, perhaps the prospect of a film based on a beloved video game would generate unrestrained excitement rather than the cautious anxiety we tend to react with. Indeed, game-based screen adaptations have a long history of falling on the unfavorable side for critics and audiences alike. And while the likes of The Witcher and Arcane have begun pulling the pendulum back in a big way, we still have a long way to go until we’re completely comfortable getting excited about such projects.

But one such project is generating a specific brand of hype from a lead role hopeful; indeed, Andrew Koji, who just made his turn as The Father in the action comedy Bullet Train, is crossing his fingers for starring in the Ghost of Tsushima film, based on the Game of the Year-nominated action-adventure title of the same name.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Koji revealed his love for the game and the confidence that he believes he could bring to the lead role of Jin Sakai, who players take control of in the game.

I’m going after Ghost of Tsushima — that’s what I’m going to do. I would love that. I think I can do a really good Jin Sakai. I can bring my own spin to it. I’ve played [the video game] twice now. I was thinking about it because [the adaptation has] been on the horizon, all the team talking about it. It would have to stand by itself, because the game’s so good.

The game follows the aforementioned samurai on a mission to protect Tsushima Island from Mongol invaders. Players control Sekai across an open world, engaging in combat either directly or via stealth tactics.

It will be a while before we see Ghost of Tsushima ride onto the big screen, but for those of you looking for some kind of benchmark, the last bit of news we got about it was April 12 of this year, when Takashi Doscher was revealed as the film’s screenplay writer.

The world of gaming has changed so much since its humble origins, and fans have never been shy about calling out what they don’t like in modern gaming. On Twitter, gamers are congregating to discuss and confess their most regrettable video game purchases.

In particular, games have been heavily affected by large corporations treating the medium as a business more than entertainment. You don’t dare bring up Electronic Arts with a hardcore gamer, or you’ll be hearing for days about their alleged misdeeds.

The Twitter discussion began with a simple tweet, and its call to arms has been answered with thousands of responses.

Starting off, EA’s mishandling of the Star Wars Battlefront 2 launch led it to getting plenty of mentions, with the infamous “pride and accomplishment” Reddit comment still fresh in the minds of players.

Another EA property was mentioned many times, Battlefield 2042. It may have gotten half-decent reviews from critics, but audiences were scathing in their reviews.

There were also some hot takes, with one calling Ghost of Tsushima their most regrettable. Yes, the game that swept awards ceremonies. Each to their own.

Nintendo didn’t get off scot-free either, with a wildly controversial take calling out Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

And no, Sonic, you’re not innocent either in some people’s eyes. Sonic Boom for the Wii U got slapped by fans.

Fight Club had a video game, which might be news to some people. Fittingly, people did not talk much of the Fight Club video game.

To quote philosopher Natalie Wynn, “maybe all critique itself can do is allow you to sketch the bars of your own prison”. Gamers will undoubtedly continue to make regrettable purchases, as often as filmgoers do with going to see bad movies.

It’s the Russian roulette nature of entertainment that makes it so, well, entertaining. Where would any artform be without absolute crap to even the scales?

As one of the fastest-selling PlayStation exclusives to date, it’s hardly surprising that Ghost of Tsushima is getting the movie adaptation treatment at Sony. According to a new report, Chad Stahelski’s film has now found a lead writer in the form of Takashi Doscher.

Per Deadline, Doscher has signed on to write the screenplay for the spiraling live-action adaptation of the first-party Samurai video game. Helming this ambitious new project is Chad Stahelski, known for his work as the director of 2014’s John Wick, which essentially launched the Keanu Reeves-led action movie series. Peter Kang, a developer at Sucker Punch, will also be overseeing the cinematic venture as its executive producer, with from the studio and PlayStation Productions serving on the producer board, along with Alex Young, and Jason Spitz’s 87Eleven Entertainment.

As for Doscher, the creative is known for his work on a number of small feature films, including 2019’s Only, and 2018’s Still. While that portfolio is ittedly lacking in renowned credits, it appears that Sony Interactive Entertainment is keen on bringing untapped talent for its expansive efforts in the cinematic domain.

Ghost of Tsushima tells the story of a warrior named Jin Sakai. As the last remaining member of Clan Sakai, Jin leads a samurai offensive against an invading army of Mongols led by Khotun Khan. The assault doesn’t move forward as planned, leading to a massacre of the samurai. Jin survives and returns to the island of Tsushima, where he plans to thwart the Mongol usurpers with the help of old allies and new acquaintances.

The PlayStation title came out in 2020 to unanimous acclaim from critics and audiences, and went on to sell 2.4 million copies in the first three days, making it one of the fastest-selling first-party titles from Sony. The movie adaptation will mark the second collaboration between Sony Pictures and PlayStation Productions after Uncharted came out earlier this year and became the fourth highest-grossing film of 2022.

With February drawing to a close PlayStation has shared with s their next lineup of titles that will become available for free with a PlayStation Plus hip this March.

March will see a pair of PS5 titles and PS4 titles available for players to try out including some big-name titles, including Ghostrunner, ARK: Survival Evolved, Sonic Team Racing, and Ghost of Tsushima: Legends.

Ghostrunner and Ghost of Tsushima Legends are both available for subscribers to play on PlayStation 5. Those on PS4 can play ARK, Sonic Team Racing, and Ghost of Tsushima Legends which is there for players on both consoles.

For those who like fast-paced freerunning action Ghostrunner is the perfect game for you. In this title, you’ll be tasked with dashing around a 3D world at a fast pace taking out waves of enemies with just a samurai sword.

Ghost of Tsushima was a massively popular single-player game but with Legends, you can partner up alongside your friends. The multiplayer release sees players get in on the Ghost of Tsushima action in a cooperative format alongside friends. In March you can play this on both PlayStation consoles with a Plus subscription.

Sonic Team Racing is a classic title that any PS4 gamer will want to take advantage of next month. The game has familiar characters from the iconic series paired up with kart racing fun.

Finally, the last game you can pick up for free this month is the open-world survival hit ARK. Those who haven’t yet played the game will find a ton of content to explore.

March is the perfect month to bolster your PlayStation library and finding a new game is made easy with this collection of gems.

We’re getting a new update about an Ghost of Tsushima movie from its director. Based on a popular PlayStation videogame of the same name released in 2020, PlayStation Studios announced earlier this year that the director of the film would be Chad Stahelski would be helming the adaption.

Stahelski, who previously helmed all four John Wick films, is now saying he just wants to “do it right,” according to an interview with IGN.

“We just want to do it right,” Stahelski said on the “green carpet” premiere of The Matrix: Resurrections in San Francisco over the weekend. “You know how video game adaptions can go. “So we’re taking our time and doing it right. We’re working very closely with the game developers to make sure we stick to what’s great about it.”

The open world game, which follows the quest of samurai Jin Sakai during the first Mongol invasion of Japan, was highly acclaimed by critics, for the most part, and a hit with videogame fans. Drawing influences from stories about feudal Japan, such as the films of Akira Kurosawa, like Seven Samurai and Sanjuro, it is perhaps a better suited videogame title than most in of adapting it into a movie.

The Ghost of Tsushima production crew is reportedly still working on the script, Stahelski added, and that thus far he expects fans of the game “would be happy with what we’re working on.” The director also said his multiple play through of the game is what intrigued him to the project in the first place.

It’s unclear if the original videogame English voice actor for Jin, Daisuke Tsuje, will reprise his role for the movie, since Stahelski said “We haven’t gotten that far yet.”

No release date of the film has been set, but be sure to check back right here for all your latest Ghost of Tsushima movie updates.

New leaks suggest Netflix could have ambitions of branching out into the world of gaming. The streaming platform, which already has deep ties to the industry thanks to shows based on the likes of Castlevania, Resident Evil and Monster Hunter, is rumored to be gearing up to announce a new service not dissimilar to Microsoft’s Xbox Game , i.e., a subscription-based offshoot code-named ‘N Game’.

While nothing official pertaining to such a venture has been revealed thus far, further evidence suggesting exactly that is on the cards has recently surfaced thanks to a further investigation carried out by data miners. Sharing their findings over on Twitter, Steve Moser details several images discovered in the app’s backend, including those depicting PlayStation hardware and Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima.

Naturally, this has led many to conclude that Netflix has entered into some form of partnership with Sony to deliver an alternative to Game which could also potentially see the former gain access to the latter’s library of big-name franchises for future live-action or animated spinoffs.

All conjecture at this point, of course, though it’s worth noting that Sony has already licensed out two major intellectual properties. Director Ruben Fleisher’s Uncharted movie starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg is scheduled to open in theaters next year, while HBO’s The Last of Us series, yet to receive an air date, will star Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as central characters Joel and Ellie respectively.

As for Netflix‘s supposed role to play in the lucrative gaming market, we’ll assuredly learn more in the weeks and months ahead, but until then, let us know what you make of these developments in the usual place below!

Eager to see off the PlayStation 4 era with a bang rather than a whimper, developer Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima stands among an extensive list of first-party titles that serve as further proof that Sony is the go-to platform holder for first-class exclusives. Set in 1274 amidst the Mongol invasion of Japan, Jin Sakai is one of few remaining uncaptured or killed samurai in his homeland of the titular Tsushima and will stop at nothing to free whatever is left of his people from the aggressors. Released back in the summer of 2020, critics and fans alike agreed that the open world action-adventure made for a worthy bookend to the PS4’s lifecycle but some, such as Stryder HD, believe one key ingredient was still missing. In a video published earlier this week, the YouTuber revealed the fruits of their latest labor, replacing Jin’s likeness with that of Hollywood star Keanu Reeves, and you can check out the eerily convincing deepfake for yourself above. While obviously an unofficial alteration, perhaps Reeves’ appearance here feels so natural because of his documented history not just with films set in the Far East, but video games, too. Besides starring in the likes of 2013’s 47 Ronin – a fictionalized of the real-life masterless samurai – the actor most recently lent his voice and visage to CD Projekt RED’s Cyberpunk 2077. As Johnny Silverhand, Reeves inhabits the the mind of player character V as a technological ghost, guiding them on their quest to dismantle the malevolent Arasaka Corporation. Despite garnering heavy criticism for its numerous bugs, wide-reaching technical issues and instances of cut content, Cyberpunk 2077 will undoubtedly be ed for its portrayal of an iconic character such as Silverhand and, for that matter, picking the perfect man for the job. As for Ghost of Tsushima, if you’ve yet to play it, see here for WGTC’s review.

Few games manage to meet the wild expectations set by the hype train that precedes them, often leaving players feeling underwhelmed when they finally get their hands on a new title and find that it’s essentially the same thing they’ve played so many times before. I tend to assume the latter, instead, so when a truly special game comes along, I can be unexpectedly swept off my feet and treated to a mind-blowing journey. And that’s exactly what Ghost of Tsushima has achieved by masterfully melding every facet of its gameplay, story, and visuals into a gorgeous, gripping adventure unlike anything I’ve ever played. It has not only exceeded my expectations for what AAA games should be – it has redefined them altogether. Ghost of Tsushima centers around samurai Jin Sakai during the first Mongol invasion of Japan. When the majority of his clan is killed during the initial attack, Jin is forced to regroup with scattered survivors and build a new army to fight back and save their home of Tsushima Island. And while there is a wider story of war and widespread destruction, this is largely a personal tale of Jin grappling with survivor guilt, familial insecurity, and the realization that saving his people may come at the cost of his core principles. It’s easily among modern gaming’s most compelling narratives, and it’s made even better thanks to stellar writing and voice acting, which includes options for English or Japanese languages. Whereas a game like Assassin’s Creed often loses me early on with a seemingly endless number of faces, names, and locations to memorize in order to understand its larger plot, Ghost of Tsushima is easy enough to follow, despite introducing dozens of meaningful ing characters from various clans and ways of life. This is mostly because the story doesn’t burden you with history lessons woven into needlessly lengthy conversations. You learn what you need to know through simple, realistic dialogue from memorable and relatable characters who aren’t there to bog you down in hours of exposition. Instead, that exposition is sewn into the fabric of the experience during every moment of gameplay. We personally witness the outcome of the Mongol invasion through homes turned to ash, displaced survivors in scattered camps, beaches littered with dead bodies, and invading ships sailing the open waters on the horizon. Tsushima Island is a ravaged place, and we’re forced to endure and survive while we assist those left standing alongside us. And yet despite all of the chaos and destruction, the island may be the single most beautiful locale in any game I’ve ever played. The attention to detail is staggering, and I found myself consistently overwhelmed by the way thousands of vibrant leaves ride the wind, or how a sunset casts just the perfect light on dense, wide-stretching fields of pampas grass, which sway realistically in the breeze on a stormy afternoon. It’s an unrivaled masterpiece in visual artistry that has to be seen to be believed, and I’m blown away by developer Sucker Punch’s ability to bring this world to life with so much exquisite detail. I’m thankful that the game has made the most of such a stunning world by almost completely doing away with a HUD outside of combat, giving you the opportunity to remain fully immersed in the island’s breathtaking eye candy. The choice to eschew a mini-map and traditional waypoint system altogether allows navigation to feel more pure, calling upon the player to look to nature to guide your way. Golden birds fly by tempting you to follow them to secrets, smoke in the distance gives clues as to where encampments might be, and gusts of wind subtly guide you in the direction of your selected objectives. Such contextual navigation is so captivating that going back to old-fashioned open-world mini-maps in other games is going to be a drag. This dedication to making everything feel organic and cohesive reaches to the game’s story and quest structure, too. Optional missions are usually relatively quick, self-contained stories, and they only occasionally amount to a simple enemy encounter or fetch quest. They’re typically thoughtful, intimate tales of love, loss, and moral ambiguity that have Jin directly connecting to his people through his service, and they act as important world-building tools that reveal the devastating effects that the Mongol invasion has had on the residents of Tsushima Island. Ghost of Tsushima uses the remainder of its exploration, resource collection, and upgrading to further create a sense of time and place by expanding on the authenticity of Japanese and samurai culture. Jin’s multitude of historically accurate armor sets and weapons visibly improve upon upgrading, lending a sense of credibility to their newly acquired extra defense or damage capabilities. Even something as basic as leveling up your resolve – a resource that builds during combat and allows you to heal or perform special abilities – requires you to visit special places, stack bamboo shafts, and slice through them just as samurai did while training so many years ago. You can stop at peaceful spots like river banks and hilltops to reflect and craft haikus that provide you with headbands to wear, or you can climb treacherous mountain cliffs to find shrines which grant you charms to augment your abilities. Maybe you’ll be greeted by one of the game’s many adorable foxes, and follow it to a statue that you can pray at to earn additional slots to place those charms, or a bird will lead you to a hot spring that raises your maximum health. The game respects your time all the while, having none of these smaller events take more than a few minutes to complete so that you can get on with more pressing matters – like bloodshed. Years of training in the ways of samurai has taught Jin to fight with a code of honor, but with limited resources and people, he’s faced with the realization that he either has to learn to fight dirty or die at the hands of the invading army. Early on in the game, an otherwise unwinnable scenario forces you to learn the ways of stealth and assassination. It serves to complicate Jin’s lifelong internal struggle with his own mixed emotions toward samurai ideals, but in of gameplay, it grants you access to a sizable suite of new tools and options with which to take on your foes should you wish to stick to the shadows. Luckily, Ghost of Tsushima is pretty liberal with how you handle objectives. With the exception of a few forced stealth sections, encounters throughout the game are littered with opportunities for you to tackle them however you see fit. You can waltz in and engage a hoard of Mongols head-on like the badass samurai you’ve always been, or you can slink around slitting throats and shooting arrows from afar like the ghost you’ve learned to embrace. You can even combine elements of both by using your katana along with tools like smoke bombs and throwable kunai to get the upper hand in large crowds. While I found a healthy balance between the two gameplay styles, I definitely enjoyed active fighting a good deal more due to the utter thrill of parrying, dodging, and visceral katana slices. The combat feels like an entrancing dance as you weave together light and heavy attacks that result in sprays of blood and gurgling victims, all while Jin remains precisely as calm and calculated as you’d expect a samurai to be. It’s both visually and tangibly mesmerizing, and I never grew tired of the gory spectacle. Four quickly swappable stances — you’ll unlock these one-by-one as you progress through the game — give you an advantage against different types of enemies. As you get more comfortable with the controls, it becomes a breeze to switch to a water stance to give you the leg up against shielded Mongols or take on a stone stance so you can better handle a swordsman. Considering the large variety of enemy variations, switching between stances becomes more and more imperative as the game wears on, leaving you with little choice but to adapt or suffer the consequences. That said, Ghost of Tsushima isn’t a prohibitively difficult game on its normal difficulty, but combat still requires patience, knowledge of your foes, and mastery of your expansive kit. You’d be forgiven for initially feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of different attacks, upgrades, and tools at your disposal, but they’re doled out slowly as your journey unfolds so that you have time to learn one thing before another is provided to you. It’s worth praising, too, how the developers managed to fit such an extraordinary amount of actions on a controller with limited buttons while still making them all feel intuitive. I completed the story and every additional goal Ghost of Tsushima has to offer in approximately 40 hours, and I’m still playing it just to take in each and every little detail Sucker Punch has included in its marvelous recreation of Tsushima Island. In a generation filled with exceptional titles, I can’t think of another experience that has been this consistently enrapturing and authentic, managing to be a remarkable achievement in every category in which games are judged. It’s a lovingly-crafted adventure that transcends its medium to be a shining example of video games as art and it’s a hell of a swan song for the PlayStation 4.

This review is based on the PlayStation 4 Pro version of the game. A copy was provided by Sony Interactive Entertainment.

These days, PlayStation Plus subscribers get all the fun when it comes to free games. However, this July, Sony was kind enough to discount over a dozen amazing titles on the PlayStation store to just $5 or less. They’re available to any player with a PSN , so make your move while these amazing deals last. First up, we’ve got Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor. Awarded the title of Game of the Year by many when it first came out, this open-world sandbox effort puts players in the shoes of a ring wraith. In an attempt to avenge your murdered family, you hack and slash your way through Sauron’s army of orcs – and it’s quite a ride. Another game which players can now at a low cost is the deluxe edition of Dragon Age: Inquisition. An equally acclaimed title, this one sets you loose in a sprawling world populated with monstrous dragons, each of which must be slain. As a word of warning, though, the game is quite difficult. Expect less God of War or The Witcher and more Dark Souls and Monster Hunter.  Elsewhere, PSN s will be able to play the astoundingly well-crafted Little Nightmares. The game is, as its title suggests, little. Clocking in at just a few hours of gameplay, it’s nowhere near as big as some of the aforementioned outings but don’t let its small size fool you, as this horror experience offers not just stunning graphics, but hauntingly-tense gameplay, too. With the long-awaited samurai slasher Ghost of Tsushima finally releasing exclusively on the PlayStation 4 this month, there’s no shortage of great games to enjoy. But should you find yourself too low on cash to enjoy a newly-released AAA title, these discounts offer a perfect and, more importantly, affordable alternative and below, you can find the entire list of all 21 discounted games. 1. Dragon Age: Inquisition Deluxe Edition – $5 2. Contra Anniversary Collection – $5 3. Little Nightmares – $5 4. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – $5 5. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor: Game of the Year Edition – $5 6. Ruiner – $5 7. The Wolf Among Us – $4 8. Nex Machina – $5 9. Sundered – $5 10. Star Wars Battlefront: Ultimate Edition – $5 11. Rayman Legends – $5 12. The Technomancer – $4 13. Don’t Starve: Console Edition – $4 14. Mother Russia Bleeds – $4 15. Broforce – $4 16. Batman: The Telltale Series: The Complete Season – $4 17. This War of Mine – $5 18. Payday 2 – $5 19. Just Cause 3 – $4 20. Life is Strange: Complete Season – $4 21. Octodad: Dadliest Catch – $4 Tell us, will you be dishing out the cash for any of these titles? If so, let us know which one by commenting below.