Suffice it to say,Ghost of Tsushimagives players a sprawling story to enjoy and a vast island to explore. The amount of content on offer ensures that gamers get plenty of bang for their buck in a single playthrough. Those simply stopping after the tale ends, however, are doing themselves a grave disservice.
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In reality, Tsushima Island has far more to discover than players realize. Much of it is hidden so well that most people don’t even notice. Beyond mere Easter Eggs, diving back into this samurai adventure also reveals new gameplay mechanics and unlockable equipment. These goodies are just waiting to be found. All it takes is a keen eye.
10Cooper Clan armor
Although it won’t continue its stealth platformer series, Sucker Punch has always taken perverse delight in reminding gamers of the good old days withSly Cooper. This smooth raccoon previously popped up as an emblem inInfamous, and he’s referenced once again inGhost of Tsushima.
One of the moreelusive armor setsthat Jin can acquire belongs to the Cooper Clan. This is oddly appropriate since Sly’s family and their thieving exploits go back hundreds of years. Granted, his ancestor in feudal Japan was a ninja instead of a samurai, but it’s still a loving tribute and a meaningful milestone for those willing to search.
9Delsin’s headband
Next on the developer’s list of callbacks isInfamous. This superhero action franchise takes the form ofanother clothing item, albeit a smaller one. As he explores the island, Jin can find a mysterious headband known as the “Band of the Second Son.”
This obviously refers to Delsin Rowe, the protagonist ofInfamous: Second Sonand a wearer of such an accessory. Why they skipped over Cole MacGrath, the hero of the first twoInfamoustitles, is anyone’s guess, but it works as an unlockable nonetheless.
8The PlayStation table
The Easter Eggs don’t stop at Sucker Punch products. After completing the story, Jin stands in his new home. It’s a modest little place with equipment aplenty for his new life as an outlaw. On the table, though, are a bunch of origami pieces. While these may seem insignificant at first, a closer look reveals that they are all nods to other games,many of them PlayStation exclusives.
A few examples are the Leviathan Axe from 2018’sGod of War, a machine fromHorizon: Zero Dawn, one of the colossi fromShadow of the Colossus, and the titular lombax fromRatchet & Clank. Sure, it’s the folks at Sony stroking their own ego, but it’s also an amusing reminder of gaming memories.
7New Game Plus
This may seem obvious since New Game Plus is often unlocked by completing the campaign for the first time. It lets players experience a harder version of the game with all the abilities they’ve already accumulated, so of course, people don’t enjoy it in their initial playthrough.
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What makesGhost of Tsushimasomewhat unique – albeit for disappointing reasons – is the fact that it didn’t even have New Game Plus at launch. Only after fans voiced their desires did the developers put it in. They wanted to test their toys on more than just endgame busywork like Mongol encampments, and many weren’t able to do that when they first picked up the title.
6Animals follow you at certain pillars
Tsushima is home to numerous altars and other sacred structures, andJin pays homage to themto gain a variety of bonuses or to simply become more in-tune with his culture. A select few of these also come with a show.
If Jin interacts with certain pillars, a host of small critters like crabs and frogs will come up from the ground and gather around him. They may even move in a synchronized manner and follow Jin in their little formations. It’s hard to know what Sucker Punch was thinking with such a random inclusion, but it makes for an unexpected flourish of personality in an otherwise dour setting.
5Good boy
Dogs were always present in the game, but that’s about it. They simply wandered around the local villages, doing nothing to help or hinder Jin in his quest. That all changed when Sucker Punch released an update that let players recruit these adorable mutts as allies. Since said update came a few weeks after launch, millions of people missed out on this feature when they initially played through the story.
It doesn’t have much impact on the gameplay or narrative, but it’s hard to dislike anything that gives you a dog to bond with. These canine comrades were Man’s Best Friend all the way back in feudal Japan.
4Dynamic Weather
Players already know thatthe wind acts as a waypointinGhost of Tsushima. They also know that much of the story deals with whether to fight like a samurai or the Ghost. What gamers may not have noticed is that the weather also ties into their playstyle.
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If Jin approaches conflicts directly like an honorable samurai, the skies remain relatively clear. Opting for more underhanded tactics is a different story. As Jin stealthily takes out enemies and commits further acts emblematic of the Ghost persona, the island becomes more prone to storms and other foreboding weather effects. Not only does this let you marvel more at the environment, but it adds a potent visual atmosphere to the darker path.
3Extensive Photo Mode
When people buy a single-player game, they mostly focus on the solo gameplay. Photo Modes in video games haveonly recently come into the mainstream, so many players may not even consider it a feature in their overall experience. Those who invest their time into this Photo Mode will discover one of the most extensive examples of such a tool to ever grace the industry.
Players can change the environments, poses, clothing colors, filters, facial expressions, and other minute details that one wouldn’t even think of. The sheer number of variables that potential photographers can adjust is overwhelming, and they all exist in a mode that countless people likely haven’t touched.
2Bowing to the dead
Jin Sakai can do a lot of stuff, but his ability to bow doesn’t seem to serve much of a purpose. That’s why it’s not taught as a gameplay mechanic. Those who stumble on it, though, will find that it provides a small yet meaningful way of interacting with the island’s residents.
If Jin bows to a person, he or she typically bows back as a sign of mutual respect. What’s more is that he can also bow to the dead, lowering his head before a corpse in the same way he does for the living. He may even say a few words in lament to honor those who have fallen. It’s not much, but it takes a valuable step toward making these feel like real people rather than NPCs.
1Interacting with the Environment
By its very nature, gaming is fast-paced. Players are expected to think on their feet, complete the next objective, and react quickly to whatever obstacle comes their way. Unfortunately, this can easily cause them to miss the hard work that the developers put into the visuals, especially the smaller details.
People already know how gorgeousGhost of Tsushimais. One of the more subtle quirks, however, is Jin’s reaction. As players travel the island, the wayward samurai will occasionally run his hand through the flowing grass or interact with the environment in some other way. These animations don’t serve any gameplay purpose, but they fittingly make Jin feel like an extension of the island instead of just a video game character. It’s the little details that sell a living, breathing world, andGhost of Tsushimais chock-full of them.
