Aidan Lane

This game has been carefully crafted to tell one of the most intricate and powerful stories in the past millennium. Young or Old, good or bad, everyone must give this game a try. Ghost of Tsushima provides 100+ hours of content excluding the new Iki Island expansion and the multi-player, which provide an extra 15h and 80h respectively. The combat can be learned instantly, but is never dull. As The Ghost, Jin Sakai (the character you play as) has access to battle tactics and weaponry you wouldn't expect from a samurai, and helps provide multiple ways to engage any encounter. If you don't enjoy or have trouble with combat, the game offers options like easy mode, and even a less intense combat setting to aid those who are new to this genre. However, if you're up for a challenge, the game also provides a lethal difficulty where every blow struck against you is fatal. This paired with curses you can apply to yourself in New game + provide one of video games most challenging experiences. If combat doesn't please you, know that every single detail of the scenery in this game has been hand crafted to look astonishing, and seriously feels like you are playing a painting. The developers responsible for this beautiful game deserve praise for their work. Some may argue that the game makes little room for imagination, and they would be right. However, the point of this game is to tell the story of The Ghost, and to honor those who lost their lives in the Battle of Tsushima. The length of this game could prove too much for some, but those that stick it through to the end are rewarded with one of the most well crafted conclusions in video game history. I am a firm believer that the stories found in video games trump those found in movies because you as a player get to experience it firsthand. The engaging combat, absolutely beautiful scenery, and riveting story makes this game one to be remembered, and sits in my top 3.