18 Minutes of Ghost of Tsushima Gameplay

Last Updated: May 15, 2020

Yesterday, Sony held a special State of Play video presentation focused entirely on Ghost of Tsushima, the upcoming PS4 action-adventure game from Sucker Punch Productions.

This 18-minute gameplay video provides an extensive look at Ghost of Tsushima and its protagonist Jin, including exploration, combat, customization, the Photo Mode, and more. While other gameplay details and footage had been released in the past, this was the first time we really got a solid idea of what Ghost of Tsushima will be like.

Ghost of Tsushima features a mechanic called the “Guiding Wind” as you explore, allowing you to be guided to your intended destination in a way intended to be less obtrusive and more thematically fitting than traditional waypoints. Similarly, the game uses other visual cues to guide you, such as smokestacks that indicate people in need of help and friendly foxes that will guide you to shrines.

(Jin is shown petting the fox in thanks after it leads him to a shrine, but whether or not you can pet the fox at will is unknown. Either way, it’s a cute detail.)

When it comes to combat, you have two primary options. Jin can fight as a samurai, facing his opponents head-on. He can also fight as the “Ghost,” employing stealth, deception, and dirty tricks to give himself the upper hand in combat. You will be able to choose how to approach situations and which combat style to favor.

Customization involves using Charms for special combat effects, developing combat Techniques, and changing the appearance of Jin’s armor. There also is an elaborate Photo Mode that lets you adjust the wind, particle effects, and much more to create your perfect photo or video.

That’s good, because one thing that really stands out from this gameplay footage is that Ghost of Tsushima is a gorgeous game with beautiful landscapes to explore. You’ll also have the option to choose between English and Japanese dialogue, and a special “Samurai Cinema” mode transforms the game with a black-and-white film grain filter to emulate old samurai movies.

Ghost of Tsushima was delayed from its original June release date, but it’s still not far off. You’ll be able to play it on July 17, exclusively for the PlayStation 4.