Life ends with death! Or does it? As we've seen... Ghostwire tokyo as taught by Tango Gameworks. Particularly in Japanese mythology, death is considered merely a step into the next phase of consciousness, as one sheds one's physical presence.
Tango Gameworks uses this as the basis for a paranormal story in which you encounter Ghostwire tokyo It shows that not everything that returns from the afterlife is good. Has it ever been any different? Find out in our preview whether this can captivate players as much as the eerie fog in the game.
The eerie visitors
Ghostwire tokyo Unsurprisingly, the story takes place in the eponymous city in the heart of Japan. It all begins when an eerie fog envelops the city, opening a portal for the so-called Visitors to return to the physical world and claim the remaining souls. These opening minutes send a chill down your spine as you witness the sinister figures emerging from the fog: a headless girl in a typical Japanese school uniform, an elegantly dressed man without a face, and a mysterious child in a raincoat, seemingly skipping playfully through the streets, his laughter anything but joyful. Your interest is immediately piqued, and you eagerly follow the spectacular scenes unfolding on screen.
As a player, you take on the role of Akito, a seemingly randomly chosen man possessed by a presence known as KK. Both pursue their own agendas but must work together to achieve their goals. While Akito is searching for his missing sister, KK is determined to uncover the sinister events unfolding in Tokyo and thus save the lives of his family and the city's inhabitants. To this end, Akito benefits from psychic abilities granted to him by KK, while KK needs Akito's body to exist in the real world. It's a symbiosis that could mean life or death for both of them.
The roughly 10-hour* story doesn't feel quite so dramatic if you focus solely on the main missions. This is partly because Akito and KK have so much to talk about. They constantly comment on everything you see and experience in the city, including a barrage of Japanese terms. This means that some truly important details can easily get lost in the shuffle, especially since they're speaking in Japanese. While a German dub is available, it's best avoided for the sake of authenticity. Ultimately, what you have here is an interesting Japanese ghost story that explores and brings its myths to life in a captivating way. *You should definitely complete the side missions as well, as they meaningfully complement the main story and don't just send you on fetch quests or similar tasks. Instead, you can solve detective cases, track down various yokai, and easily double the playtime. According to Tango Gameworks, the side missions are even based on stories they've personally experienced.
I might have wished the story itself were a bit scarier, as initially suggested by... Ghostwire tokyo This was expected. However, it had already been clarified beforehand that the title would be classified more as an action-adventure game.
Satisfying gameplay
They also focused heavily on the gameplay of Ghostwire tokyo The gameplay is focused, and thanks to the PS5's features, it feels ingenious, powerful, and truly motivating. Rarely has it been so much fun to face one opponent after another.
As mentioned, these visitors roam all over Tokyo; you'll encounter them on almost every street corner, and they'll attack you immediately upon contact. Sometimes offensively, sometimes defensively, sometimes from a distance. This already demonstrates that you'll be dealing with a good selection of different enemy types, each requiring its own tactics and usually appearing in groups. And sneaking around them isn't always possible. This is especially true for the sometimes gigantic boss enemies, which easily rival those from... Elden Ring to keep up, but also for all the others who don't just follow rigid patterns, but constantly jump back and forth or suddenly appear in front of you.
Akito himself can defend and attack using supernatural abilities, mostly based on or inspired by elemental powers. While a relentless blitz will certainly lead to success at times, the true satisfaction lies in the skillful use of these powers. In classic fashion, they can be upgraded, transforming a simple fireball into a raging inferno. But defensive tactics like parrying and countering also feel fantastic, especially when you slow down your opponents at the right moment or see them crumble before your eyes with a powerful blow. Sparks fly across the screen, evoking memories of... the visual fireworks in return.
All of this can be further refined with talismans or prayer beads by slowing down or even stunning your opponents. Especially on higher difficulty levels, you have to think much more and combine your powers instead of just charging headlong into the fray. It reminds me a bit of... Project Zerowhere the camera alone eventually became useless and you had to combine additional powers to overcome evil. It's always a highlight when you can finally wrest the core from the visitors, which sends them back to the afterlife and grants you useful energy and resources.
The DualSense controller was also integrated in an absolutely ingenious way, which gives you using haptic feedback and adaptive triggers It lets you feel your powers up close. As you charge an attack, it becomes clear how the triggers work against you, increasingly forcing you to unleash them. At maximum levels, you can truly feel how powerful these attacks can be. This, combined with the sounds from the speaker, the overall soundscape, and the touchpad for drawing symbols, has rarely been a game so convincing in this respect. Ghostwire tokyo.
Sightseeing in Tokyo
Tokyo was chosen as the setting in Ghostwire tokyo The developers opted for a fairly straightforward sandbox environment. Completely shrouded in eerie fog, this can be gradually pushed back by summoning the torii shrines, thus revealing the map. Even in the first few meters, it becomes clear how much attention to detail has gone into the game world. All the intricate streets and narrow alleyways represent the Tokyo one imagines. Even the famous Shibuya Junction Or so one might think. You can enter shops, laundromats, and apartments, wander high above the rooftops, and explore even the smallest nooks and crannies. Even the afterlife and abstract worlds in the style of... The Evil Within They never fail to amaze one with what they can do Ghostwire tokyo It feels refreshingly different and also like next-gen technology.
You constantly learn more about Japanese mythology as you pass shrines or small places of worship, wander through cemeteries, or visit artfully designed parks. In contrast, you also encounter an ultra-modern metropolis with impressive architecture, enormous glass buildings, and landmarks. The poorer working-class neighborhoods and the subway network are also represented – a true sightseeing trip awaits you here.
The clothing of all those scattered across the ground, previously swallowed by the fog, offers a somewhat eerie sight. The outlines of people who, just moments before, were standing in these very spots, cycling, or talking on their phones, are clearly visible. The countless objects suspended in this liminal space also shimmer and float everywhere – a detail cleverly used to replenish one's resources.
Overall is Ghostwire tokyo This makes it a true PS5 showcase, one that, for a change, isn't held back by older hardware. This is also evident in... the six graphics and performance modes, delivering the desired gaming experience for everyone, from 4K resolution and ray tracing to 60 fps. And all this with near-perfect technical performance, without any annoying drops or similar issues.
