I'm almost done with the game.
Here are some of my thoughts/findings/opinions about the game, for those who read the reviews and are on the fence about buying the game:
While I do think that it takes some cues from other games — what open world game doesn't at this point? — I think it still has a very unique atmosphere and feel. It definitely stands out among more generic open world games like Ubisoft's usual output.
The open world is gorgeous and it's the star of the show for much of the game. It's certainly not there to just house repetitive side content.
Although there is some repetition, the locations you discover are quite varied. There are bandit camps, but there are also little shrines to meditate at, cool platforming challenges, some beautifully quiet moments.
And the world is full of random events, especially on the roads. Mongol patrols, supply caravans, hostage situations... very lively.
Combat is really not Assassin's Creed, you have much more freedom than they did. It's quite a unique combat system -- halfway between realism and a more action-based game like God of War, or even Sekiro depending on the enemy that you're fighting.
You're forced into combat at multiple points, particularly for boss fights. There's lot more combat in this than people realise — I certainly wouldn't call it a stealth game. It's more an action game with stealth elements. Some main story missions (and a couple of side quests) force you to be stealthy otherwise it's a game over. But there aren't many of these. For everything else in the game,
That said, you can still be stealthy when the option is there. There are plenty of camps to conquer and you can definitely go full stealth for those, or you can ignore stealth entirely if you want.
And it's quite a lonely game. There aren't many big settlements because everyone's on the run from the Mongols, who control most of the island. But the characters who you do meet are all nicely fleshed out.
There is a map screen that shows the whole map, but areas you haven't visited will be covered by fog. You do get markers for quests and points of interest that are nearby, but apart from that, you simply follow the wind.
There are also little birds to follow that'll lead you to secrets, and the world does a great job of leading you places through visuals alone. It's really well designed in that sense.
There are a handful of armour sets in the game that provide specific perks. Fortunately, all of them look very cool. The armour is also just one full piece — you don't have to mix and match to get the bonuses. This ain't no RPG, son.
You can wear any hat and mask with any armour, too. And all of the headwear is cosmetic only.
You also get armour that's dedicated to more stealthy ninja playstyles later on.
Lots of side quests - over 60 in total, most of which are dedicated to specific characters who also play a role in the main story. All of the main characters each have their own series of side quests that tell you all about them. By the end, I was invested in all of Jin's allies.
A lot of the side quests also have a detective-like feel to them, like the ones in The Witcher 3. You investigate shacks in the middle of nowhere and find clues that tell you what happened, that kind of thing.
While the worldbuilding isn't as detailed as something like Red Dead 2 imo, there are still lots of secrets to find and stories to piece together. Some of the bigger side quests in particular tell fantastic stories.
The Black and white mode, i.e. the Kurosawa Mode, is phenomenal. As a Criterion Collection cinephile, I've to admit it does a great job of capturing that japanese movie feel. Almost feels like a different game at times. Even the audio crackles like old movies — it's glorious. And to add to that, the mode features added grain and wind effects that perfectly complement the black & white visuals.
And the photo mode in this game simply outstanding. I've wasted so much time already recreating scenes from my favorite Kurosawa films with the photo-mode.
Lastly, I think the story feels very final when it ends. I'm not sure much more could be added on the island of Tsushima itself — I think a DLC would have to go off to mainland Japan or something.
That said, I do think there's scope for some kind of expansion. There are maybe two or three locations in the game where nothing really happens, and it made me wonder if they'll feature in a DLC or something. It's very tough to say.
Enjoy the game if you plan on getting it, it's terrific!
