Ghost of Tsushima - The Kurosawa game we always wanted

Jump to latest Follow Reply
invertedpanda

invertedpanda

Ars Tribunus Militum
1,844
Subscriptor
  • #241
    On to my NG+ playthrough, and I decided to do it in Kurosawa mode.

    My only complaints with Kurosawa mode is that you no longer can tell which power attacks are blockable or not, since you can't tell if the glint is blue or red, so you need to learn what the positioning of foes means for the attack type, or just dodge all power attacks.

    Also, you can't turn off the audio filter, but that's a minor gripe.

    Still a super cool thematic way to play.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Papageno
    invertedpanda

    invertedpanda

    Ars Tribunus Militum
    1,844
    Subscriptor
  • #243
    Mortus said:
    How necessary is it to do the side quest stuff if you plan to roll into NG+?
    Click to expand...
    It's not critical; I actually skipped a few because I already had the charms they rewarded (in some cases multiples already) and they weren't that great of a reward.

    I do suggest you do all the side tales for all the characters, though. They usually have good rewards and are really well done in general.

    For the most part I suggest the following: All side tails, all inari shrines, all fox dens, all hot tubs, all mythic tales. Also be sure to grab at least one of every charm (although some - like Fortune/Destruction - grab the duplicates too).
     
    P

    Papageno

    Ars Tribunus Angusticlavius
    8,834
    Subscriptor
  • #244
    invertedpanda said:
    On to my NG+ playthrough, and I decided to do it in Kurosawa mode.

    My only complaints with Kurosawa mode is that you no longer can tell which power attacks are blockable or not, since you can't tell if the glint is blue or red, so you need to learn what the positioning of foes means for the attack type, or just dodge all power attacks.

    Also, you can't turn off the audio filter, but that's a minor gripe.

    Still a super cool thematic way to play.
    Click to expand...
    Remind me, can one play with regular visuals but with Japanese audio + English subtitles?
     
    P

    Papageno

    Ars Tribunus Angusticlavius
    8,834
    Subscriptor
  • #247
    Quarthinos said:
    You could on the PS version. I'm pretty sure that's how I played it.

    For extra feels, you can turn on Kurosawa mode and the palette is B&W, too!
    Click to expand...

    Yes, I played through the main plot of (and recently bought the Iki Island expansion for) the PS4 version. My console was/is the Pro, bought in Fall 2018 to play RDR2.

    And yes I tried Kurosawa mode for about 10 minutes but that makes the combat exponentially harder what with no color cues, as @invertedpanda points out.
     
    invertedpanda

    invertedpanda

    Ars Tribunus Militum
    1,844
    Subscriptor
  • #248
    In thinking about it, I decided to also enable the Japanese language mode (with subtitles), and alongside Kurosawa mode it feels new, even after having played it twice already.

    And now I wanna binge samurai movies.. Which I probably will Sunday (my new weekly meds wreck me for 24 hours after taking em', so Sunday is my "fuck off I'm going to lay here and watch TV and sleep" day).
     
    • Like
    Reactions: crazy_ebot
    Artichoke Sap

    Artichoke Sap

    Ars Legatus Legionis
    11,374
    Subscriptor
  • #250
    NervousEnergy said:
    The sheer volume of content (fully voice-acted content, no less) in this game is astounding, and even after 25 or so hours of play I'm still gobsmacked by the visuals on a regular basis.
    Click to expand...
    Moreso than any other game I've played, this game keeps stopping me in my tracks to just look at it. So many times, I'd literally put the controller down and just say "...this game..." to my wife as we were playing.

    52676578482_dc864e727c_o.jpg
     
    • Like
    Reactions: nathan a., Evan E and crazy_ebot
    invertedpanda

    invertedpanda

    Ars Tribunus Militum
    1,844
    Subscriptor
  • #251
    Ended up turning off Kurosawa mode; I enjoyed the visuals, but the lo-fi audio filter ended up being annoying when audio peaked. I'm super-sensitive to some frequencies and get really uncomfortable when I hear them, and most of the characters hit those frequencies when yelling through that audio filter. If I could just disable that I'd be super happy.

    Anyway, decided to try a Way of the Flame build in NG+, and.. It's a LOT of fun :D

    I didn't care for most folks' WotF builds, so I came up with my own.

    Charm of Versatile Skills - Doubles effects of all minor charms if they are the only one of that type (Melee/stealth/etc) - Get this by maxing out Iki Island legend
    Charm of Blazing Flame - Boosts fire damage, heavy attacks spread fire to nearby enemies - Purchased from Baku the voiceless in NG+
    Charm of Fire Doctrine (stealth) - Boosts fire fear
    Charm of Fleet Foraging (Utility) - Chance to get ghost weapons back with melee kills (which this build lives by)
    Charm of Broken Barriers (Defense) - Boosts resolve gain when breaking someone's defense
    Charm of Steadfast Fire (Melee) - Increases the duration of Way of the Flame - Purchased from Baku the voiceless in NG+

    With this build your Way of the Flame lasts a significant amount of time (Versatile Skills + Steadfast Fire), and every 3-4 kills you'll get your oil spent back (thanks Fleet Foraging + Versatile Skills), so you can pretty much just run this perpetually.

    You can swap Broken Barriers if you want something else (as long as it's Defense or Ranged), same with Fire Doctrine if you don't want to scare enemies off (sub in Charm of Silence for more resolve is my rec).. And if you would rather be able to do more with Ghost Stance, pop in Charm of Ghostly Fury instead of Blazing Flame.

    I run it with the Kensai armor just for the boost to damage, but if you want to focus on fear you can easily run the Ghost armor, or any other armor if you want more combat/survivability/etc.
     
    C

    crazy_ebot

    Wise, Aged Ars Veteran
    185
  • #252
    (re)Watchin Blue Eyed Samurai on Netflix, and playing this game on PC, having played it on PS4, then again on PS5. I love the world geometry, sound, art design [edit, and lighting], and purposeful combat in this game. Very much looking forward to a sequel if it were to ever manifest, but in the meantime playing this game at 4k 120, and swapping back to RDR2 for much of the same, and then probably back to Horizon Forbidden West... well my third-person adventuring is sorted.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: NamelessMonster
    Tijger

    Tijger

    Ars Legatus Legionis
    11,319
    Subscriptor++
  • #255
    I've had to delay starting this game due to being too busy finishing other games but damn...this is a good game!

    I mean, sure, I knew the reviews were very good but it certainly has plenty of gut wrenching moments and I'm not even at the end yet (starting the attack on Khotun Khans' ship now). Very enjoyable, very rewarding and I'm also finding it a joy to walk and ride around it, the area around Omi village especially is breathtakingly beautiful.

    When I start my second playthrough (which I will, lol) I'm going to give Japanese spoken with English subtitles a shot, I hear that really changes things in terms of immersion and connection.
     
    P

    Papageno

    Ars Tribunus Angusticlavius
    8,834
    Subscriptor
  • #256
    Tijger said:
    Japanese spoken with English subtitles
    Click to expand...
    I tried this for a bit recently but didn't like the Japanese voice actor's timbre. The English voice actor (Daisuke Tsuji) whose face is also Jin Sakai's has a deeper, more resonant voice, and it sounds like he pronounces Japanese names/words correctly (he probably grew up speaking some Japanese at least).
     
    NervousEnergy

    NervousEnergy

    Ars Legatus Legionis
    10,548
    Subscriptor
  • #257
    Demento said:
    I think my only mistake thus far was to engage the DLC the moment I had the chance. One, it would have been a lot easier with Gosaku's armour and I struggled quite a bit. Two, I'm an invincible whirlwind of death now that I'm back to the main campaign difficulty.
    Click to expand...
    To be fair, you're an invincible whirlwind of death while wearing the travelers robe if you're halfway decent at critical parry and dodge. Unless you're at the highest difficulty it's not a hard game, and even then it's more tedious than hard. I loved that about it. Was afraid it was going to be Souls like but it was actually easier than JK:S.

    It'll be tough to resist buying a PS5 for the sequel. Though I thought the same thing for H:FW, and I resisted to the PC release. Hopefully they get it out in the next year or so - history has already written it, they just need to fill in the dramatic details.
     
    Tijger

    Tijger

    Ars Legatus Legionis
    11,319
    Subscriptor++
  • #258
    Ok, so I finished the main game (still got the Iki island DLC mostly to play through, started after the main game) and damn, this isnt a game if you want a happy ending, holy moly...I was a bit dumbstruck after the end.

    I'm still not sure what to think, I see fault in Jin as much as his uncle and dont get me wrong I think its an absolutely fine ending and good writing with very likely a realistic conclusion in feudal Japan but it does hit you a bit in the feels, doesnt it?

    In a way I'm glad they didnt took the easy/lazy way out and didnt give everyone happy endings which is so often the case, the endings of Masako, the Sensei and Norio felt pretty much right.
     
    Tijger

    Tijger

    Ars Legatus Legionis
    11,319
    Subscriptor++
  • #261
    Demento said:
    I thought after all the heartbreaks, it was cruel to not give him what he wanted. That's the "happy" ending. Unless there's actually a third way if you lose the fight. I didn't try that. Auto reload from save, or third ending?
    Click to expand...

    No third ending afaik, lose and its either game over or reload save.
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Demento
    You must log in or register to reply here.
    Jump to latest Follow Reply
    Jump to latest Follow Reply