Summary
- Ghost of Tsushima's expected sequel should focus on cinematic aspects and a no-HUD option for increased immersion.
- Expert HUD mode in the first game offers a challenge, but a sequel could take it further by letting players remove the HUD entirely.
Ghost of Tsushima brought a Kurosawa-inspired vision to life, as protagonist Jin Sakai fought to protect the titular Tsushima Island from the first Mongol invasion of Japan. Jin's quest for vengeance in Ghost of Tsushima is a cinematic epic, and with the potential for a sequel seemingly being greater than ever, a follow-up should really focus more on these cinematic aspects.
There isn't any official confirmation of a sequel, but thanks to the success of Ghost of Tsushima's PC port, there is newly ignited hope for another chapter. Ghost of Tsushima is one of the most beautiful looking games in recent years, and its embrace of making every moment feel cinematic is hugely responsible. The beauty of Ghost of Tsushima easily makes one feel as though they're the lead in a classic samurai film, but a sequel could take this even further by completely foregoing the game's HUD.
Ghost of Tsushima 2 Allows a New Version of Legends to Get Off on the Right Foot
Ghost of Tsushima 2 feels like an inevitability at this point, and when it appears, it needs to ensure that its Legends mode starts in a good spot.
Ghost of Tsushima 2 Offering a No-HUD Option Could Be a Game Changer
Ghost of Tsushima Dips Its Toe Into Fully Immersive Waters
The first Ghost of Tsushima dabbled with a very minimal HUD option. As a way to give players an even bigger challenge, Ghost of Tsushima offers an Expert HUD mode that makes some small, but effective, changes that help the game's overall immersion.
- No labels for button prompts
- No stagger bar
- No low health icon
- No detection indicator
The first three on this list are minor changes and are fairly easy to get used to, but one of the biggest challenges Expert HUD gives players is getting rid of detection indicators. This makes it extra difficult to tell when an enemy has spotted Jin, but it also presents a far more exciting stealth challenge. Ghost of Tsushima's potential sequel already has a high bar to meet, and the in-game option to play without the HUD would be a perfect way for more hardcore players to really get that next-level immersion.
Looking at Ghost of Tsuhsima's PC Mods
Just two days after Ghost of Tsushima launched on PC, a mod was released that got rid of the HUD completely. This clearly shows that there is a demand for the option to play without any HUD, and this is a feature a sequel needs to offer at launch. Ghost of Tsushima is already an immersive historical game, but it would be thrilling to see developer Sucker Punch go above and beyond by fully putting players in Jin's shoes without assistance.
Even better, if it's already included as an option at launch, it could cater to a larger variety of players. Not everyone enjoys a hardcore challenge, and for good reason. It's hard. However, there are still plenty of players who get satisfaction out of truly testing their limits with minimal help, and Ghost of Tsushima is a perfect title to embrace these challenges. The Expert HUD feels like a test run, and Ghost of Tsushima 2 can do even better.
A Ghost of Tsushima Sequel Feels Imminent
Despite no official confirmation, there has already been plenty of speculation about Ghost of Tsushima's sequel. A game centered around the second Mongol invasion of Japan would be the natural progression for the franchise, and if that's the case, more cinematic combat is on the horizon. The cinematography and overall design of the game is jaw-dropping at times, and being as immersed as possible in that world is something many players would enjoy, and no HUD would make that possible.
There's no telling where Ghost of Tsushima's story will go, but there is one thing that remains certain. Sucker Punch will strive to bring another movie-worthy view of feudal Japan to life, and it will hopefully be even more immersive than the first time.
Ghost of Tsushima
- Released
- July 17, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
A storm is coming. Discover the expanded Ghost of Tsushima experience in this Director’s Cut. Uncover the hidden wonders of Tsushima in this open-world action adventure from Sucker Punch Productions and PlayStation Studios, available for PS5 and PS4. Forge a new path and wage an unconventional war for the freedom of Tsushima. Challenge opponents with your katana, master the bow to eliminate distant threats, develop stealth tactics to ambush enemies and explore a new story on Iki Island.
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
- Engine
- Proprietary
- Number of Players
- 2-4
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- How Long To Beat
- 25 Hours
- Metascore
- 83
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
