Microsoft has decided that they no longer want to release their games on Playstation platforms, and this is a big deal because Starfield is one of the most anticipated games in the company’s history. It’s an epic sci-fi RPG that will be available on Xbox and Windows platforms, so it’s likely that you won’t be able to play it. This is a huge disappointment because Starfield is one of the most popular games in Microsoft’s history.
Bethesda’s swansong game on the PS5, Ghostwire Tokyo, is a lot of fun to play. ..
Akito, a young man, is trying to find his sister Mari after she goes missing in Tokyo after a paranormal attack. KK, a friendly spirit, helps Akito during the game. ..
Akito’s literal soulmate isn’t entirely selfless, however, as he needs Akito to battle the various supernatural forces that have taken over the city. This seemingly impossible task is made possible thanks to the powers that KK imbues Akito with, including a set of elemental attacks which comprise of wind, water, and fire. As well as these, Akito is armed with a spiritual bow that is capable of firing spirit-bursting arrows, and there are talismans scattered around the city that give him extra powers, such as the ability to halt enemy attacks with a powerful stun move. ..
Akito’s abilities can be upgraded as you level up. As such, your attacks can be made stronger, and you can pick up additional skills that can open up new gameplay possibilities.
Combat in the game can be a lot of fun, but it can be a little tricky at first. You have the option of sneaking up behind your enemies and purging them with a powerful move. Still, you will need to be careful as they can often stay in one place for a long time.
There are many enemies in the game, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. There are boss fights too, including a giant spirit cat that isn’t so easy to take down, and everything climaxes with a battle with the game’s main bad guy, Hannya.
Akito and KK’s strong dialogue is one of the game’s strongest points. They communicate with each other throughout the game, and their conversations never become boring. The Japanese voice work lends the game some authenticity, but as they don’t speak English, you will need to get used to the game’s subtitles (unless you’re well-versed in the lingo). ..
The graphics in the game are excellent. You can choose between different performance modes, but whichever one you choose, the game will remain a visual treat. I preferred the Quality (resolution) mode, despite the drop in frame rate, because the ray-tracing elevated the visual experience with its reflective lighting both on and off the ground. However, with the bright neon colors and the overall level of detail in the city, you will still get a next-gen graphical experience in one of the game’s performance modes. ..
Despite the game’s lighthearted tone, it’s actually a pretty scary game. I found myself getting really scared during some of the more intense side missions, where I had to help spirits pass over into the other side. In one such mission, a spirit was inexplicably trapped within a bathroom cubicle and I had to search the surrounding area to find loo roll for the compromised ghost. Only after he had wiped his phantom butt could he safely migrate over into the afterlife!
Side quests are a great way to level up quickly, but you don’t have to do them if you don’t want to. There are a lot of these optional missions, and while they’re rarely unpleasant, they tend to be quite similar in nature. They help keep you engaged in the game world, so if you want to prolong your experience past the 12 hours it takes to complete the main story, you might want to add a few of them to your list. ..
The game runs smoothly and is easy to control. Combat is well-defined and responsive, and the triggers on the PS5’s controllers are a lot of fun to use. I had a great time playing this game, even though some of the tougher enemies were a bit too hard for me.
The game has its flaws, but they’re relatively minor. The biggest issue I had was with the map, which became confusing because of all the icons. Tracking down my objectives was also a bit tricky because of this, but it wasn’t a major problem. Another issue I had was during some of the fight scenes; the game would forget I was in battle and turn my character towards the direction of a nearby side quest. This only happened twice, but it still took away from my enjoyment. ..
Ghostwire Tokyo is a well-made game with a lot to do. It’s not the largest game world you’ll find, but it has plenty of content. The gameplay is fun, and it’s not a bad game by any means. ..
