Product details
The story unfolds in 13th-century Japan, showcasing breathtaking landscapes filled with wildlife—such as songbirds that guide you, crickets, and foxes that you can pet—alongside iconic torii gates and Shinto temples. You play as Jin Sakai, a samurai lord tasked with driving back the successful Mongol invaders led by Khotun Khan, the grandson of the legendary Genghis Khan, to reclaim your homeland and avenge the invasion.
To achieve your goal, you must confront difficult choices: uphold the honorable samurai code or act in a morally right way. As you transform from Jin, the steadfast samurai, into ‘The Ghost,’ you’ll gather a diverse group of allies and help them resolve their personal conflicts.
Your allies include:
- Sensei Ishikawa: A renowned samurai archer searching for his missing student.
- Masako: A grieving mother seeking vengeance against those who killed her family.
- Yuna: A thief who saves your life at the story’s beginning and will do anything to rescue her brother from the Mongols.
The Nitty Gritty
As you progress through the main storyline, side quests and NPCs provide guidance and encourage you to explore the beautifully rendered environments. There are moments of tranquility where you can simply enjoy nature.
In combat, you wield a katana for both defense and attack, among other weapons. You can choose from one of four classes and opt for single-player (for one or two players) or co-op mode (for two to four players). There’s also a multiplayer option available.
You can play in English or Japanese with optional English subtitles, though lip movements correspond to the English version. Additionally, you can enable Kurosawa mode, inspired by the iconic black-and-white films of director Akira Kurosawa, which captured the essence of the samurai era.
Side quests are referred to as Tales, consisting of standard real-life inspired narratives and Mystic Tales that delve into supernatural themes. The combat is primarily katana-based, requiring you to learn blocking, parrying, and dodging skills to avoid being taken down as easily as you can defeat enemies. Scoring high enhances your experience, rewarding precise gameplay.
There’s no traditional map displayed on the screen; instead, the game offers an immersive experience without direct indicators. However, you’ll find hints throughout the environment—the wind guides you in the right direction, and natural elements like smoke plumes, bird flights, and swirling leaves signal where to go.
Travel mainly by horseback, and use grappling hooks when you need to reach higher places or access distant locations.
What Weapons?
As you progress, you unlock various armors, costumes, and charms, many of which can be upgraded to provide benefits like reduced damage, improved health, or increased melee damage. However, head and face customizations are purely cosmetic.
- Katana: The traditional samurai sword that becomes more powerful as you find upgrades.
- Bows: Essential weapons of the era with different types offering unique effects on enemies.
- Stealth: While not a traditional weapon, stealth allows you to position yourself strategically for ambushes.
- Firecrackers: Use these to distract or decoy enemies while you sneak up on them.
- Smoke Bombs: These long-lasting distractions can help you evade or set up ambushes.
- Kunai: Originally tools for masons, they are now effective daggers and throwing knives for taking down multiple foes.
