# Ghost of Tsushima - my thoughts while I play (open spoilers as I progress)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-of-tsushima-my-thoughts-while-i-play-open-spoilers-as-i-progress/1016059
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [March 24, 2025, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-of-tsushima-my-thoughts-while-i-play-open-spoilers-as-i-progress/1016059 "2025-03-24T20:56:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [March 24, 2025, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-of-tsushima-my-thoughts-while-i-play-open-spoilers-as-i-progress/1016059/1 "2025-03-24T20:56:01Z")
I’m about 9 hours into this game and really enjoying its vibe. I think of it as a “putz around and do stuff on the map” type of game, mixed in of course with some real missions/levels that have been good so far.
No one can beat the past two Zelda games for open world design, but I think GoT is an excellent open world game. It communicates a lot of information to the player without resorting to sticking big arrows on the map pointing.
Let’s see, I am still in the first main area. I’ve leveled up my sword/armor once or twice. I am using the Samurai Armor I got during a mission when I am in battle and the traveler cloak I got somewhere when I wander the map(it expands the fog of war more).
I have encountered a couple “red” cities under Mongol control that I actually can not free. One was totally empty, no good or bad humans in it. Weird.
I did one blue mission that got me a Heavenly Strike attack. Do these use my “resolve” as fuel of sorts? It’s massively powerful.
In terms of equipment, I have throwing knives, sticky bombs, and even got some fire arrows recently.
It’s got a great mood and I really appreciate how modern it is in terms of user-friendliness. I never am clueless about what to do or where to go, though I did have to do the classic “search the circular area on the map” more than once, and one time it was really dark.
Fun game so far. I have yet to progress my gold story-missions much past the first couple of phases. I will, but I’ve been enjoying walking/riding around and finding things to do.
Oh, runs excellent on Steam Deck. I’d say 99% of the time it is at least 30FPS or better, with just an extremely occasional slow moment, sometimes while mounting my horse and taking off fast. Seems like a great PC port.
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2025, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-of-tsushima-my-thoughts-while-i-play-open-spoilers-as-i-progress/1016059/2 "2025-03-25T01:10:55Z")
When it comes to these types of games I’m a bit of a completionist. And as with many of these types of games if you do all the side quests you will be very strong by the end of the game. The one thing I bypassed were the archery challenges which I found to be frustratingly impossible on console. Maybe it’s easier on PC.
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2025, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-of-tsushima-my-thoughts-while-i-play-open-spoilers-as-i-progress/1016059/3 "2025-03-25T02:25:53Z")
> [@Loach](#):
>
> When it comes to these types of games I’m a bit of a completionist…
I won’t be doing 100% of the stuff, but I do tend to stop at any interesting thing along the way.
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2025, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-of-tsushima-my-thoughts-while-i-play-open-spoilers-as-i-progress/1016059/4 "2025-03-25T02:55:53Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#):
>
> > [@Loach](#):
> >
> > When it comes to these types of games I’m a bit of a completionist…
>
> I won’t be doing 100% of the stuff, but I do tend to stop at any interesting thing along the way.
Most of the side quests are interesting in their own way. Some of the challenges can get a bit tedious.
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### Author:  [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-of-tsushima-my-thoughts-while-i-play-open-spoilers-as-i-progress/1016059/5 "2025-03-25T15:49:12Z")
Something you can do if you find you’re having trouble with the Bamboo Strike, as I was, is to remove the time limit in the Options menu.
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2025, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-of-tsushima-my-thoughts-while-i-play-open-spoilers-as-i-progress/1016059/6 "2025-03-25T21:55:02Z")
I’ve only encountered about three of these despite wandering around. I need to pay better attention.
I have been doing some story missions today and just saved and quit after getting the grappling hook. I’m hoping actually this will help me _up_ cliffs, not just down. Love this game, but I have been going up and down cliffs a lot. It’s slower than needed and I even have the “roll out of your jump” option when I land hard.
Anyway, fun game.
I didn’t realize this would be of the Assassin’s Creed variant. This is a lot better than the AC games I’ve played, though. I played AC 2 and its two sequels, along with Black Flag(game 4).
What I like about Ghost is that when I fail in following someone or in a stealth mission, it has been very generous and only putting me back a little bit instead of, you know, total mission failure and all the way back. Amen!
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2025, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-of-tsushima-my-thoughts-while-i-play-open-spoilers-as-i-progress/1016059/7 "2025-03-27T19:32:03Z")
I freed the Uncle today, having done as many side-quests as I found. I did two “blue missions”, which are like legendary stories. Got an attack and an armor.
I would say this feels like a major segment done. I just saved and quit with what looks like some access to the northern region.
16 hours so far.
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2025, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-of-tsushima-my-thoughts-while-i-play-open-spoilers-as-i-progress/1016059/8 "2025-03-28T15:08:52Z")
Yes, Act II just appeared on screen.
I kind of really like this game a lot, maybe even love it. It’s the best Assassin’s Creed game I’ve played…and it isn’t one.
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2025, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-of-tsushima-my-thoughts-while-i-play-open-spoilers-as-i-progress/1016059/9 "2025-04-05T18:06:20Z")
I finished Act 2 of the game and the final major couple of missions of that were two of the best sequences, action wise, I’ve played in a game in a very long time. Maybe ever.
I had decent expectations for this game, but it has really surpassed them. It’s a high quality game in almost all areas. I could easily see someone getting to 70-100 hours in it, though I doubt I will. I’m at about 30 hours and don’t know how long Act 3 lasts.
Anyway, if you were unsure about this game, get it. It’s great. I paid under $40 and I bet soon it will be even cheaper.
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### Author:  [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2025, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-of-tsushima-my-thoughts-while-i-play-open-spoilers-as-i-progress/1016059/10 "2025-04-05T18:31:36Z")
Did you do Iki Island, or are you saving it for last like I did?
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-of-tsushima-my-thoughts-while-i-play-open-spoilers-as-i-progress/1016059/11 "2025-04-05T18:36:58Z")
I have not touched it. I’m not sure if I’ll do it or stop after the main game. I’m liking the game, but can’t decide if I want another region, etc.
Definitely not going there now, though.
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### Author:  [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2025, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-of-tsushima-my-thoughts-while-i-play-open-spoilers-as-i-progress/1016059/12 "2025-04-05T18:38:47Z")
It’s difficult. The enemies are hard to kill before taking out the shamans.
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [April 5, 2025, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-of-tsushima-my-thoughts-while-i-play-open-spoilers-as-i-progress/1016059/13 "2025-04-05T18:45:25Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#):
>
> I have not touched it. I’m not sure if I’ll do it or stop after the main game. I’m liking the game, but can’t decide if I want another region, etc.
>
> Definitely not going there now, though.
Don’t. It’s designed to be done later. If you are a low level it will be difficult to impossible to do.
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2025, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-of-tsushima-my-thoughts-while-i-play-open-spoilers-as-i-progress/1016059/14 "2025-04-12T16:09:06Z")
I just finished the main game. 37 hours to the end.
I chose to kill the Uncle as it seem to fit the story best.
I am going to quit, but leave it installed. Might come back to DLC.
Does the DLC have its own main narrative or just sidequests?
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### Author:  [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2025, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-of-tsushima-my-thoughts-while-i-play-open-spoilers-as-i-progress/1016059/15 "2025-04-12T16:10:40Z")
Iki Island has its own narrative.
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2025, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-of-tsushima-my-thoughts-while-i-play-open-spoilers-as-i-progress/1016059/16 "2025-04-12T16:14:05Z")
Thanks. I’ll play one or two other games, then come back. I need a break.
Best looking games I’ve played:
Breath of the Wild & Tears of the Kingdom
Witcher 3
Read Dead 2
Ghost of Tsushima
I wish I could go back to 1985 and show kid me how great games look today.
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### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2025, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-of-tsushima-my-thoughts-while-i-play-open-spoilers-as-i-progress/1016059/17 "2025-04-12T17:50:08Z")
Since it hasn’t been mentioned, the sequel is set to be released later this year. It doesn’t appear to be a direct sequel, there will be new protagonist and it’s set a bit later. There will be guns. It’s call Ghost of Yotei.
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### Author:  [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ghost-of-tsushima-my-thoughts-while-i-play-open-spoilers-as-i-progress/1016059/18 "2025-04-12T17:54:45Z")
> [@Loach](#):
>
> Since it hasn’t been mentioned, the sequel is set to be released later this year. It doesn’t appear to be a direct sequel, there will be new protagonist and it’s set a bit later. There will be guns. It’s call Ghost of Yotei
Yeah, I saw that. Chances of it running on my Steam Deck are 50-50.
Hope it’s great.