The classification of motion role-playing video games usually results in comparisons between titles with overlapping mechanics. Particularly, similarities in fight issue and open-world exploration can result in the query of whether or not Ghost of Tsushima shares elementary traits with the Souls sequence. This comparability hinges on inspecting core gameplay components.
Understanding the similarities and variations affords players readability when deciding on titles aligning with most popular gameplay kinds. The problem, fight system, and world design of every sport contribute to distinct experiences. These elements considerably affect participant engagement and general enjoyment, notably for these acquainted with both style.
The next sections will delve into the particular gameplay mechanics, issue scaling, and narrative construction of Ghost of Tsushima to find out the validity of drawing parallels to video games throughout the Souls subgenre.
1. Stance-based fight
The wind whispers via the bamboo forest, carrying with it the echoes of metal on metal. In Ghost of Tsushima, fight will not be merely a matter of hacking and slashing; it’s a calculated dance, a lethal ballet orchestrated by shifting stances. This core mechanic instantly begs the query: does this nuanced system draw the title nearer to the brutal, demanding fight of the Souls lineage?
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Adaptation and Enemy Kind
Every stance Stone, Water, Wind, and Moon is tailor-made to particular enemy archetypes: swordsmen, defend bearers, spearmen, and brutes. The effectiveness of a given stance towards its corresponding opponent is crucial for victory. Understanding and shortly switching between stances turns into paramount, harking back to the strategic weapon-switching present in Souls titles, although the direct parallel is extra tactical benefit versus survival.
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Parry Home windows and Precision
Whereas exact timing is required to parry assaults, the window for profitable parries is mostly extra beneficiant than in Souls video games. The penalty for mistiming is much much less extreme. This distinction considerably impacts the general issue and the inherent strain felt throughout encounters.
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Stamina Administration Absence
A defining attribute of Souls fight is the ever-present constraint of stamina. Every motion, from attacking to dodging and blocking, consumes stamina, forcing gamers to rigorously handle their assets. Ghost of Tsushima lacks this restriction, permitting for extra aggressive and steady assaults, a freedom not often afforded within the Souls universe.
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Offensive Focus
The stance system finally encourages an offensive model of play. By successfully using the proper stance, gamers can break an enemy’s guard and shortly dispatch them. This contrasts with the often-defensive, reactionary model prevalent in lots of Souls encounters, the place endurance and calculated aggression are key to survival.
In conclusion, the stance-based fight in Ghost of Tsushima, whereas strategically deep, presents a essentially completely different expertise than the demanding, stamina-driven fight of the Souls sequence. Though tactical depth is current, the general expertise tilts towards a extra accessible and empowering strategy, additional distancing it from the punishing issue so central to the Souls identification.
2. Open-world construction
The wind-swept plains of Tsushima Island stretch endlessly, a stark distinction to the interconnected, labyrinthine pathways that outline the landscapes of Souls video games. This elementary distinction in world design carries vital implications for the general expertise, impacting exploration, encounter design, and the sense of development. Whereas each provide huge territories to traverse, the character of that traversal and the aim it serves diverge considerably.
In Souls titles, the world serves as each a stage and a personality in itself. Every space connects to a different in intricate methods, usually looping again upon itself to disclose shortcuts and hidden paths. Exploration is rewarded with not solely objects and upgrades but in addition a deeper understanding of the sport’s lore and the interconnectedness of its world. Ghost of Tsushima, however, embraces a extra conventional open-world construction. Jin Sakai can freely roam the island, discovering aspect quests, collectibles, and Mongol outposts at his leisure. Whereas visually gorgeous and full of actions, this open world lacks the intricate degree design and deliberate problem placement attribute of Souls video games. The core gameplay loop revolves round clearing targets and liberating territory, reasonably than deciphering the secrets and techniques of a decaying world.
In the end, the open-world construction of Ghost of Tsushima, whereas offering a way of freedom and exploration, differentiates it considerably from the tightly designed, interconnected worlds of Souls video games. This distinction straight influences the pacing, issue, and general sense of participant company, reinforcing the excellence between a sprawling open-world journey and a intentionally difficult, interconnected motion RPG.
3. Story-driven narrative
The load of expectation rested closely upon Jin Sakai, not merely as a samurai, however because the final hope for Tsushima. The narrative unfurls with deliberate readability, chronicling Jin’s transformation from a noble warrior sure by custom to a determine embracing unconventional ways in a determined combat for his homeland. This storyline acts as a driving drive, pushing gamers ahead with a compelling sense of function. It presents a stark distinction to the customarily fragmented, lore-heavy narratives prevalent within the Souls sequence, the place the participant’s motivation is commonly extra intrinsic, pushed by a need to beat private challenges inside a decaying world. Ghost of Tsushima lays naked its stakes early, offering clear targets tied on to the destiny of its characters and setting.
In Souls video games, the narrative unfolds like an archaeological dig, requiring gamers to piece collectively fragments of knowledge scattered all through the surroundings and merchandise descriptions. The overarching plot is commonly obscured, encouraging private interpretation and fostering a way of thriller. Ghost of Tsushima, whereas containing optionally available aspect tales and lore components, maintains a central narrative thread that’s simply accessible and understood. This distinction in narrative supply impacts participant engagement profoundly. Ghost of Tsushima prioritizes emotional funding in its characters and their struggles, whereas Souls video games emphasize atmospheric world-building and cryptic storytelling.
The emphasis on a transparent, character-driven narrative in Ghost of Tsushima considerably distinguishes it from the extra ambiguous and lore-focused narratives of Souls video games. Whereas each provide compelling tales, their strategies of supply and the ensuing participant expertise differ considerably. This distinction kinds a key argument towards categorizing Ghost of Tsushima throughout the Souls subgenre, regardless of shared components of fight and exploration. The narrative’s function in shaping the participant’s motivation and the general tone of the sport reveals a elementary divergence in design philosophy.
4. Accessibility focus
The katana glinted beneath the Tsushima solar, a logo of each energy and precision. But, the power to wield it effectivelyto actually join with the sport’s world and its challengeshinged not simply on talent, but in addition on accessibility. Whereas Souls video games usually embrace a “git gud” philosophy, erecting a excessive barrier to entry that checks gamers’ resolve, Ghost of Tsushima consciously lowers that barrier, striving for a wider viewers. This divergence in design philosophy profoundly impacts the core query: does it actually belong in the identical class?
Quite a few options contribute to this focus. Customizable issue settings permit gamers to tailor the fight expertise to their talent degree. Beneficiant parry home windows present a extra forgiving timeframe for deflecting assaults. Stealth mechanics provide different approaches to fight, enabling gamers to bypass difficult encounters altogether. These components work in live performance to create an expertise that’s difficult but approachable, inviting gamers of various talent ranges to immerse themselves in Jin Sakai’s journey. The guiding wind mechanic, providing mild nudges towards targets, additional reinforces this sense of inclusivity. Souls titles, by comparability, revel of their obscurity, usually leaving gamers to navigate intricate degree designs with minimal steerage. The sensible significance lies within the sheer variety of gamers who can take pleasure in Ghost of Tsushima‘s narrative and world, a direct consequence of its accessibility focus, one thing usually not mirrored within the Souls video games, which frequently attraction to a devoted and seasoned core of gamers keen to embrace a extra brutal, trial-and-error studying curve.
In the end, the dedication to accessibility in Ghost of Tsushima kinds a major level of departure from the Souls system. Whereas echoes of difficult fight and exploration might resonate, the aware effort to broaden its attraction units it aside. The absence of punishing mechanics and the provision of help underscore a elementary distinction in design priorities, reinforcing the argument that these video games, whereas sharing superficial similarities, cater to distinct participant bases and provide essentially completely different experiences. The “Souls-like” label, subsequently, turns into a simplification, one which obscures the deliberate accessibility measures that outline Ghost of Tsushima‘s distinctive identification.
5. Decrease issue ground
Whispers of difficult fight usually swirl round motion video games, inevitably resulting in comparisons. When Ghost of Tsushima entered the world, the query arose: did it share the notoriously steep studying curve and punishing issue related to Souls video games? The fact, nevertheless, reveals a deliberate design alternative to determine a decrease issue ground, a aware effort to welcome a broader viewers, subtly pushing it away from alignment with the Souls class.
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Customizable Problem
In contrast to the fastened issue present in most Souls titles, Ghost of Tsushima affords a number of issue settings. Gamers can modify the problem to go well with their talent degree, making a extra accessible expertise. The presence of “Straightforward” and “Regular” modes straight contradicts the Souls sequence’ fame for unwavering harshness. This flexibility permits gamers to have interaction with the narrative and world with out being perpetually overwhelmed by fight, one thing the Souls video games not often provide.
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Forgiving Fight Mechanics
The parry system, a vital aspect of fight in each Ghost of Tsushima and Souls video games, presents a major distinction. Ghost of Tsushima‘s parry home windows are extra beneficiant, permitting for larger leniency. Missed parries usually are not all the time punished with instantaneous dying, granting gamers an opportunity to recuperate. This forgiving nature reduces the strain and frustration usually related to Souls fight, the place a single mistake can show deadly.
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Useful resource Abundance
Souls video games are infamous for his or her shortage of assets. Therapeutic objects are restricted, forcing gamers to rigorously handle their consumption. Ghost of Tsushima, however, supplies extra considerable assets. Therapeutic is available, lowering the penalty for taking injury. This distinction alleviates the fixed nervousness of useful resource administration, permitting gamers to give attention to exploration and fight with out the concern of operating out of significant provides.
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Stealth Choices
The Souls sequence not often emphasizes stealth, usually forcing gamers to confront enemies head-on. Ghost of Tsushima, nevertheless, affords sturdy stealth mechanics. Gamers can make the most of stealth to keep away from fight altogether, bypassing difficult encounters or thinning enemy ranks earlier than partaking straight. This selection supplies another strategy for many who discover the fight too tough, additional decreasing the problem ground and separating it from Souls sport design.
The decrease issue ground in Ghost of Tsushima, achieved via customizable settings, forgiving mechanics, considerable assets, and stealth choices, considerably differentiates it from the punishing issue of Souls video games. This aware design alternative ensures broader accessibility, putting it extra firmly throughout the realm of open-world action-adventure reasonably than the area of interest subgenre outlined by unrelenting problem.
6. Parry timing home windows
The rhythmic clang of metal echoed throughout the battlefield, a symphony of defiance towards overwhelming odds. Within the midst of this chaos, the parry emerges as greater than a mere defensive maneuver; it is a testomony to talent, timing, and the warrior’s connection to the blade. Inspecting the precision demanded by these timing home windows in Ghost of Tsushima is crucial to understanding if it shares the demanding DNA of Souls video games, the place a fraction of a second can decide victory or dying. These home windows straight affect the perceived issue and dictate the participant’s fight strategy, forming a bridge between accessibility and punishing realism.
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The Generosity Issue
In Ghost of Tsushima, the margin for error in executing a profitable parry is demonstrably extra lenient than in Souls titles. This generosity stems from a barely longer window of alternative to deflect an incoming assault. This interprets to a extra forgiving expertise, permitting gamers to recuperate from minor miscalculations and preserve the offensive. In Souls video games, such leniency is a uncommon commodity, changed by punishing precision that calls for near-perfect timing and anticipation. Subsequently, Ghost of Tsushima distinguishes itself by offering a security web, mitigating a number of the potential frustration discovered within the unforgiving panorama of Souls fight.
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Threat Versus Reward
The trade-off between danger and reward is central to the design philosophy of each Ghost of Tsushima and Souls video games, however the steadiness tilts otherwise. In Ghost of Tsushima, a profitable parry usually results in a major offensive benefit, permitting Jin Sakai to shortly retaliate with devastating counters. Nevertheless, the results of failure are sometimes much less extreme, offering a chance to reposition and regroup. In distinction, a mistimed parry in a Souls sport continuously ends in substantial injury and even rapid dying, amplifying the strain and demanding unwavering focus. The chance is greater, however so is the potential reward for mastering the timing, making a cycle of intense problem and hard-earned triumph. Ghost of Tsushima opts for a much less punitive mannequin, emphasizing a sooner, extra fluid fight model.
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Accessibility Implications
The extra forgiving parry timing in Ghost of Tsushima straight enhances its accessibility, enabling a broader vary of gamers to have interaction with its fight system. The shorter and extra brutal parry timing in souls sport is commonly off placing. Much less skilled gamers can nonetheless benefit from the satisfaction of deflecting assaults and executing counters with no need to grasp the exact timing required in Souls video games. This design alternative aligns with Ghost of Tsushima‘s general emphasis on making a compelling narrative expertise that’s approachable and fascinating for a wider viewers. In contrast, the exacting parry necessities of Souls video games function a filter, attracting gamers who revel within the problem and are keen to speculate the effort and time essential to grasp its complexities. This accessibility issue performs a vital function in differentiating the 2 kinds of sport.
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The Rhythm of Fight
The nuances of parry timing inevitably affect the general rhythm of fight. Ghost of Tsushima, with its extra beneficiant home windows, encourages a proactive and aggressive model of play. Jin Sakai can swiftly transition between offense and protection, making a flowing and dynamic fight expertise. Souls video games, however, foster a extra deliberate and methodical strategy. The demanding parry timing necessitates endurance, commentary, and calculated aggression, emphasizing a cautious dance of evasion and counter-attack. The differing rhythms spotlight the distinction in design priorities: the fluidity of samurai motion versus the strategic depth of survival towards overwhelming odds.
In the end, the evaluation of parry timing home windows illuminates a key distinction between Ghost of Tsushima and Souls video games. Whereas each incorporate parrying as a central mechanic, the differing ranges of precision, danger, and reward contribute to essentially completely different fight experiences. The extra forgiving timing in Ghost of Tsushima enhances its accessibility and promotes a faster-paced, extra fluid model of play, whereas the demanding precision of Souls video games fosters a extra deliberate and difficult fight rhythm. The sword strokes might seem related, however the underlying dance strikes to a special beat.
7. No stamina administration
The absence of a stamina gauge in Ghost of Tsushima stands as a stark distinction to the defining mechanics of Souls video games. The Souls sequence, infamous for its punishing fight, inextricably hyperlinks each motion to a restricted pool of stamina. Dodging, attacking, blockingall important for survivalconsume this useful resource, forcing strategic choices with every motion. The omission of this constraint in Ghost of Tsushima essentially alters the fight expertise, distancing it from the strategic useful resource administration that lies on the coronary heart of the Souls subgenre.
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Fight Aggression and Circulate
The warrior in Ghost of Tsushima faces no synthetic barrier to aggression. Assaults can chain seamlessly, dodges executed repeatedly, and blocks maintained with out concern of exhaustion. This freedom fosters a relentless, fluid fight model far faraway from the deliberate pacing demanded by stamina administration. Within the Souls universe, a single mismanaged dodge can depart one susceptible, a testomony to the strategic weight positioned on every motion. The absence of this constraint in Ghost of Tsushima reshapes the fight panorama.
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Strategic Depth versus Motion Focus
Stamina in Souls video games creates a deep layer of strategic decision-making. Useful resource conservation turns into paramount, dictating when to assault, when to defend, and when to create distance. This strategic aspect influences each encounter, remodeling every battle right into a calculated dance. With out stamina as a limiting issue, Ghost of Tsushima shifts its focus in direction of response time, stance switching, and enemy exploitation. The strategic depth of useful resource administration cedes floor to a extra visceral and action-oriented expertise.
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Accessibility and Participant Empowerment
The removing of stamina streamlines the fight system, making it extra approachable for a wider viewers. The barrier to entry lowers, permitting gamers to instantly have interaction in fluid and dynamic fight with out the preliminary frustration of mastering useful resource administration. In Souls video games, the stamina gauge acts as a gatekeeper, demanding endurance and follow earlier than the total potential of the fight system could be realized. Ghost of Tsushima, by eliminating this hurdle, prioritizes accessibility and rapid participant empowerment.
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The Warrior’s Burden
Within the Souls sequence, the stamina bar could be interpreted because the bodily embodiment of the participant character’s wrestle. Every motion takes a toll, emphasizing the warrior’s fragility and the brutal nature of their world. The shortage of stamina in Ghost of Tsushima presents a special interpretation of the warrior’s functionality. Jin Sakai, unburdened by such limitations, strikes with an virtually superhuman grace and energy. This distinction displays a shift in narrative emphasis, from the determined wrestle for survival to the heroic liberation of a homeland.
The selection to omit stamina administration from Ghost of Tsushima represents a elementary divergence in design philosophy. It simplifies the fight system, prioritizes accessibility, and shifts the main focus in direction of motion and response. Whereas each franchises discover themes of battle and perseverance, the differing approaches to stamina replicate completely different interpretations of the warrior’s journey and the challenges they face. This distinction, a seemingly minor tweak, considerably contributes to the separation between Ghost of Tsushima‘s identification as an action-adventure sport and the Souls sequence’ defining traits of strategic issue.
Often Requested Questions
The mists of Tsushima conceal many secrets and techniques, however none so debated because the true nature of its problem. Does it stroll the trail of the samurai, or tread the unforgiving soil of a Souls-like realm? These questions echo amongst gamers, every in search of readability amid the conflict of metal and the windswept landscapes. Right here, a number of the most urgent inquiries are addressed, in search of to separate reality from conjecture.
Query 1: Is Ghost of Tsushima actually as tough as a Souls sport?
The tales of unforgiving trials inside Souls video games are well-known. Ghost of Tsushima actually presents problem, demanding talent and adaptation. Nevertheless, its issue stays adjustable, providing choices that mood the expertise. In contrast to the unyielding hardship usually present in Souls titles, Ghost of Tsushima supplies a measure of management, permitting gamers to tailor the severity of their journey.
Query 2: Do the fight mechanics share core similarities with the Souls sequence?
Each place emphasis on calculated strikes and well-timed parries. But, a refined gulf exists. The Souls universe usually punishes recklessness with swift and brutal effectivity. Ghost of Tsushima, whereas demanding precision, affords larger leeway, providing wider parry home windows and elevated alternatives for restoration. The elemental vocabulary might echo, however the rhythm speaks a special tune.
Query 3: Does Ghost of Tsushima emulate the cryptic storytelling present in Souls video games?
The narrative threads of the Souls sequence usually lie buried beneath layers of lore, demanding diligent exploration and interpretation. Ghost of Tsushima, in distinction, presents a extra direct and character-driven story. The stakes are clear, the motivations clear. Whereas optionally available lore enriches the world, the central narrative stays accessible and emotionally partaking, a departure from the deliberate obfuscation usually embraced by the Souls system.
Query 4: Are the open-world environments structured equally?
The interconnected, usually labyrinthine ranges of Souls video games distinction sharply with the sweeping expanses of Tsushima Island. The previous emphasize exploration rewarded with shortcuts and lore fragments; the latter, a extra conventional open-world construction considerable with aspect quests and collectibles. Every serves a novel function, influencing pacing and a way of discovery. One whispers of secrets and techniques; the opposite, a name to liberation.
Query 5: Does Ghost of Tsushima demand the identical degree of stamina administration as a Souls sport?
The brief reply is not any. In Souls video games, stamina governs each motion, forcing fixed useful resource administration and strategic decision-making. Ghost of Tsushima omits this aspect, permitting for extra aggressive and fluid fight. This elementary distinction in design philosophy considerably alters the participant expertise, buying and selling useful resource administration for a extra rapid and visceral model of play.
Query 6: Does the “stance” system perform equally to weapon selection in Souls video games?
Whereas each present tactical choices for confronting numerous enemy varieties, the comparability falters upon nearer inspection. Weapon alternative in Souls titles usually dictates playstyle and influences character construct. The stance system in Ghost of Tsushima affords particular benefits towards explicit foes however doesn’t essentially alter Jin Sakai’s core capabilities or fight choices in a major long-term method.
In the end, the query of whether or not Ghost of Tsushima shares the soul of a Souls sport rests on the interpretation of particular person experiences. Whereas echoes of demanding fight and sprawling landscapes might resonate, the underlying design philosophy distinguishes it. The previous seeks to problem and perplex; the latter, to immerse and empower.
With these variations clarified, maybe exploration into its narrative depth needs to be subsequent.
Navigating Tsushima
The shores of Tsushima provide magnificence, hazard, and a path to mastery not like some other. Although not a Souls realm, the island calls for respect, technique, and unwavering focus. Success hinges not on brute drive, however on skillful adaptation and a profound understanding of its intricacies.
Tip 1: Embrace the Stance System: The katana turns into an extension of the soldiers will, fluidly shifting between kinds tailor-made to every Mongol menace. The Stone Stance shatters the resolve of swordsmen, the Water Stance flows towards shield-bearers, the Wind Stance pierces the defenses of spearmen, and the Moon Stance overwhelms the brutish onslaught. Neglect this dance of adaptation, and discover oneself overwhelmed by the tide of battle.
Tip 2: The Artwork of the Parry: A single misstep can show deadly. Mastering the parry will not be merely blocking; it’s anticipating the blow, assembly drive with precision, and creating a gap for swift retaliation. Persistence and commentary turn out to be important instruments within the warrior’s arsenal, turning protection right into a devastating offense.
Tip 3: Discover Past the Horizon: Tsushima rewards the curious. Hidden shrines, forgotten tales, and highly effective upgrades lie scattered all through the island’s numerous landscapes. Deviating from the primary path unveils invaluable assets and strengthens the warrior’s resolve.
Tip 4: Honor and Ghost: The samurai code dictates honor in fight, a convention fiercely upheld. But, the invading drive is aware of no such restraint. Mastering the artwork of stealth, placing from the shadows, and using unconventional ways turns into essential for survival. Embrace each paths, honoring custom whereas adapting to necessity.
Tip 5: Commentary Precedes Motion: The Mongol conflict machine will not be a senseless horde. Every soldier possesses distinctive strengths and weaknesses. Earlier than partaking, observe their formations, determine their vulnerabilities, and adapt the strategy accordingly. A single second of preparation can flip the tide of battle.
Tip 6: Gear Issues: Jin Sakai’s armor and gear provide greater than mere safety. They improve particular talents, empowering the warrior to concentrate on sure fight kinds. Experiment with completely different combos to find the loadout that most closely fits the person playstyle, tailoring the gear to match the challenges forward.
Mastering these classes, the trail to liberation turns into clearer, the percentages much less daunting. Tsushima affords a trial not of not possible odds, however of skillful adaptation. Via calculated technique and unwavering focus, the warrior will prevail, not as a Souls-borne hero, however because the Ghost, a logo of hope amidst despair.
With the information understood and ingrained, it’s time to conclude this lengthy evaluation and summarize the factors.
The Ghost’s Path
The query, “is ghost of tsushima a souls sport,” has guided a journey via fight mechanics, world design, narrative construction, and accessibility issues. Stance-based fight, whereas strategically deep, lacks the stamina-driven constraints of Souls titles. Tsushima’s open world, a sweeping panorama of liberation, differs considerably from the interconnected labyrinths of Souls environments. The narrative of Jin Sakai, a transparent and character-driven story of sacrifice, stands in distinction to the cryptic lore and fragmented tales usually discovered throughout the Souls universe. A decrease issue ground and extra forgiving parry home windows additional distance it from the punishing challenges that outline the Souls subgenre. The shortage of stamina administration completes an image of variations.
Although whispers of Souls-like components might linger, Ghost of Tsushima carves its personal path. It stands as a testomony to a special type of problem, one among skillful adaptation, strategic considering, and the unwavering resolve to guard a homeland. The echoes of inspiration might resonate, however the closing tune belongs to the Ghost, a definite hero solid within the fires of Tsushima. Gamers are left to discover Tsushima, figuring out what to anticipate, figuring out that though there are similaries with the soul sequence, it supplies its personal identification.
