Sucker Punch is a studio known for iconic PlayStation titles such as Sly Cooper and Infamous. Their latest offering is Ghost of Tsushima. Set during the Mongol invasion of Japan, Ghost of Tsushima has players taking on the role of a samurai who must learn new ways of combat to deal with a novel threat. On the 9th of July 2020, the Environmental Art Lead of Sucker Punch, Joanna Wang, revealed more info about the world of Ghost of Tsushima.
As has been previously revealed, Ghost of Tsushima is a game about a samurai who must defend his people against the incoming Mongol invasion. To do this, he develops stealth techniques. Hence, players will be able to switch between direct combat and stealth gameplay styles. A previous State of Play presentation demonstrated how important the natural environment is in Ghost of Tsushima. The wind can be used as a navigational aid, and animals can lead you to interesting places and items.
Joanna Wang gave more info about Ghost of Tsushima on the PlayStation Blog. The setting of the game is based on the real Tsushima island. Although Tsushima island-inspired Ghost of Tsushima‘s world, Sucker Punch did not aim to create an identical recreation of it. As Wang explains:
Our version of Tsushima is not a 1:1 recreation of the real-life counterpart — it’s a love letter to all of its parts. We took essential elements of the island, mixed with some inspirations from mainland Japan, and built this unique world for Ghost.
The wind plays an important role in how Ghost of Tsushima’s world feels.
Wang also revealed more info about the wind in Ghost of Tsushima and the important role it plays. Although the wind can guide you, it also serves to heighten the “samurai movie” aesthetic of the game. According to Wang:
Imagine a classic samurai movie scene, two samurai warriors standing in a grass field, raising their swords and staring at each other, both perfectly still, holding their breath waiting for the next move. Behind that stillness is a world of motion. Grass is waving, leaves are flying through the air, cloth is blowing in the wind, and rain is coming down from the sky tapping every surface. As tension increases, we want our world to reinforce that feeling, static versus movement, and lead you to have that true cinematic moment.
It is clear that Ghost of Tsushima is Sucker Punch’s most ambitious project yet. As Wang reveals, the map consists of three regions that encompass over forty biomes and varying environments. The game will allow players to explore “lush forests, cross boggy swamplands, and enter into frozen mountainous landscapes”. Images of Ghost of Tsushima demonstrate how beautiful the environments of the game are.
Arriving during the tail end of the PS4‘s lifespan, Ghost of Tsushima might very well be the console’s swan song. It is set to be released on the 17th of July 2020.
