On top of the family crest on your sword, the game (though it might've been the expansion storyline, it's been too long for me to remember) has a couple moments of reminiscence back to Jin's late father who compares Clan Sakai's role to that of the lightning in a storm, and the avalanche that topples a mountain. This is to contrast their military prowess to the more administrative role of Clan Shimura, the family of Jin's uncle. Jin's father is actually much more ruthless than Jin ever was as the ghost, even cutting down civilians to flush out rebels, so in a way less overtly stated by the game's narrative, Jin is more a middle ground of two extremes than merely rejection of one. He was raised with kindness and love, and that kindness drives him to protect what he loves and destroy everyone that threatens them. He's very much both a soothing breeze and a fleet-crushing typhoon in one man.
I enjoyed this, this is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for when I finished the game last year, but it's still nice to come across now that some time has passed. Great analysis, you made some interesting observations about storytelling specific to video games, and did well highlighting how the small decisions Jin has to make throughout the game ties into the very big one at the end. I agree with you btw, sparing his uncle makes more sense thematically, but it was a difficult decision to make!
This game came out of nowhere in 2020. With the PS5 looming on the horizon just a few months off, nobody was expecting Sony to be delivering a major exclusive title for the PS4 at that point. And it's just astonishingly good, the stealth mechanics and combat mechanics both have rewarding depth and fluidity, it does open world better than pretty much any other game, and the story is really compelling.
Hmm the Ghost of Tsushima story seems to be a counter argument to the beware who fights monster unless you become a monster type of story. Personally I say that Jin didn't forsake his honor but trade his honor that was base on loyalty to family and glory for a honor based on serious to the people.
Jin initially defined his honor on protecting his people when they could not protect themselves. He never really broke his code. He rose above the twisted ideals of the samurai that seem to be more about showmanship then protecting and honoring your people.
I LOVE GoT, 100% it twice (second time with the DLC). I realize that it's complete historical fiction, and thein-game portrayal of the samurai are essentially the fascist propaganda version of Japan's warrior class that has been idealized since WW2, but the game is wildly engrossing despite me recognizing this. I enjoy the story, but I really wish Jin had rejected his samurai heritage because he'd come to realize that the samurai class was not actually an entity that existed for the benefit of all, but just another moderately less oppressive version of the Mongols. The game constantly shows us corrupt samurai leadership and arrogance, and mongol enemies that allude to how the samurai and mongols aren't so different. Ultimately Jin never seems to recognize the oppression of the samurai themselves, he just thinks they should do a better job ruling over others. He doesn't give up being a samurai so much as the rest of the samurai class just label him as having lost his honor, despite him doing everything he can to save the lives of his people. Having Jin willingly abandon his samurai heritage specifically because he has no faith in the samurai as a ruling class would have added to my enjoyment of the game, at least.
Really enjoyed the review, although I am mainly a point and click/side scroller fanboy. You've convinced me to branch out into 'the 21st century', thanks.
Great analysis. I personally found the other ending way more satisfying, though. Granting his uncle his wish to die according to his code shows that Jin has not fully forsaken the ways of the samurai, but rather sees the ghost as a necessity and burden to save the people of tsushima. It really highlights his conflict between traitor and guardian. Completely cutting ties with his heritage, so the other ending, doesn't fit Jin's character.
The Spare Ending does make sense because when you honor Lord Shimura, you validate everything Shimura and the Shogun preach about. You allow them to believe that The Code of The Samurai is right and you are wrong. You also are doubling back on everything you did up to this point especially being the Ghost meaningless. The Samurai are wrong, stubborn and need to evolve. The Ghost and The Mongols are showing that. Until Jin became the Ghost, The Samurai were pretty much doomed to extinction solely because they refuse to use Unconventional Tactics when the most sensible thing to do is use Unconventional Strategies when you are heavily outnumbered and outmatched. The Samurai study Sun Tzu’s Art of War as Jin even states during the Ryuzo story and yet, none of them acknowledge the wisdom he wrote about regarding Unconventional Warfare which is why The Samurai have failed Tsushima. The Ghost is right.
My main issue with the game is that it doesn't really give you the "choice" to either stay honorable or "go Ghost." I made a point, outside of the scripted tutorial backstab section, to never backstab anyone, and do all combat up front, and honorable. But then, in the cutscene where the Mongolian leader is questioning your uncle in his cell, he STILL mentions how "your nephew is being dishonorable, stabbing my soldiers in the back." So it's a bit of a false "choice" You're basically railroaded down the path of dishonor, at least according to bushido. And while I personally am fine with that, I do find it annoying that they give the impression it will matter if you do/don't follow bushido, when it actually doesn't.
@@ezeziel1498 no you smartass, i'm talking about the way the game actually presents the duality in the mechanics. they clearly set it up like it's some kind of choice, a Renegade/Paragon kind of thing. Even going so far as to save a triggered cutscene for the first time you do a non-bushido kill, outside of the mandatory tutorial one. you flash back to young Jin training, and being taught that lesson about why what he did is "bad" Which I'm fine with, but if the game seems to make a point to frame it as an option, implying the player could in fact, NOT go down that route, but they make their game harder, then it's annoying when they railroad you along that plot line. Don't give your players the illusion of a choice in playstyle, and then so blatantly make it apparent that what they choose doesn't make any difference in the narrative.
A big point of the game is that clinging to rigid honor at the expense of lives is not worth it. It's not really meant to be a choice. Jin respects the teachings of his uncle as much as what he's learned from his experiences against the mongols, and he's willing to bend to protect what truly matters. But the people who are judging him, the samurai where all this "honor" talk comes from, they only think in extremes.
On top of the family crest on your sword, the game (though it might've been the expansion storyline, it's been too long for me to remember) has a couple moments of reminiscence back to Jin's late father who compares Clan Sakai's role to that of the lightning in a storm, and the avalanche that topples a mountain. This is to contrast their military prowess to the more administrative role of Clan Shimura, the family of Jin's uncle.
Jin's father is actually much more ruthless than Jin ever was as the ghost, even cutting down civilians to flush out rebels, so in a way less overtly stated by the game's narrative, Jin is more a middle ground of two extremes than merely rejection of one. He was raised with kindness and love, and that kindness drives him to protect what he loves and destroy everyone that threatens them. He's very much both a soothing breeze and a fleet-crushing typhoon in one man.
I enjoyed this, this is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for when I finished the game last year, but it's still nice to come across now that some time has passed. Great analysis, you made some interesting observations about storytelling specific to video games, and did well highlighting how the small decisions Jin has to make throughout the game ties into the very big one at the end. I agree with you btw, sparing his uncle makes more sense thematically, but it was a difficult decision to make!
Really appreciate it fella, that means alot ! Thanks for the kind words 🙏
This game came out of nowhere in 2020. With the PS5 looming on the horizon just a few months off, nobody was expecting Sony to be delivering a major exclusive title for the PS4 at that point. And it's just astonishingly good, the stealth mechanics and combat mechanics both have rewarding depth and fluidity, it does open world better than pretty much any other game, and the story is really compelling.
Hmm the Ghost of Tsushima story seems to be a counter argument to the beware who fights monster unless you become a monster type of story.
Personally I say that Jin didn't forsake his honor but trade his honor that was base on loyalty to family and glory for a honor based on serious to the people.
Jin initially defined his honor on protecting his people when they could not protect themselves. He never really broke his code. He rose above the twisted ideals of the samurai that seem to be more about showmanship then protecting and honoring your people.
It would seem that James is to in-depth analysis of video games what Rowan is to in-depth analysis of TV and film.
This was a beautiful video thank you 😭
Thank you for the support 🙏
Always means alot
@@paradox555666 np thanks for making a amazing video
I LOVE GoT, 100% it twice (second time with the DLC). I realize that it's complete historical fiction, and thein-game portrayal of the samurai are essentially the fascist propaganda version of Japan's warrior class that has been idealized since WW2, but the game is wildly engrossing despite me recognizing this.
I enjoy the story, but I really wish Jin had rejected his samurai heritage because he'd come to realize that the samurai class was not actually an entity that existed for the benefit of all, but just another moderately less oppressive version of the Mongols. The game constantly shows us corrupt samurai leadership and arrogance, and mongol enemies that allude to how the samurai and mongols aren't so different. Ultimately Jin never seems to recognize the oppression of the samurai themselves, he just thinks they should do a better job ruling over others. He doesn't give up being a samurai so much as the rest of the samurai class just label him as having lost his honor, despite him doing everything he can to save the lives of his people. Having Jin willingly abandon his samurai heritage specifically because he has no faith in the samurai as a ruling class would have added to my enjoyment of the game, at least.
Really enjoyed the review, although I am mainly a point and click/side scroller fanboy. You've convinced me to branch out into 'the 21st century', thanks.
Great analysis. I personally found the other ending way more satisfying, though. Granting his uncle his wish to die according to his code shows that Jin has not fully forsaken the ways of the samurai, but rather sees the ghost as a necessity and burden to save the people of tsushima. It really highlights his conflict between traitor and guardian. Completely cutting ties with his heritage, so the other ending, doesn't fit Jin's character.
The Spare Ending does make sense because when you honor Lord Shimura, you validate everything Shimura and the Shogun preach about. You allow them to believe that The Code of The Samurai is right and you are wrong.
You also are doubling back on everything you did up to this point especially being the Ghost meaningless.
The Samurai are wrong, stubborn and need to evolve. The Ghost and The Mongols are showing that. Until Jin became the Ghost, The Samurai were pretty much doomed to extinction solely because they refuse to use Unconventional Tactics when the most sensible thing to do is use Unconventional Strategies when you are heavily outnumbered and outmatched.
The Samurai study Sun Tzu’s Art of War as Jin even states during the Ryuzo story and yet, none of them acknowledge the wisdom he wrote about regarding Unconventional Warfare which is why The Samurai have failed Tsushima.
The Ghost is right.
I had given up on playing this game because I had heard it was just another boring open world game. This may have convinced me to try it!!
Every time I play ghost of Tsushima I put on Shinkenger opening theme makes it more epic
I love ghost of Tsushima it’s really awesome and badass
My main issue with the game is that it doesn't really give you the "choice" to either stay honorable or "go Ghost." I made a point, outside of the scripted tutorial backstab section, to never backstab anyone, and do all combat up front, and honorable. But then, in the cutscene where the Mongolian leader is questioning your uncle in his cell, he STILL mentions how "your nephew is being dishonorable, stabbing my soldiers in the back." So it's a bit of a false "choice" You're basically railroaded down the path of dishonor, at least according to bushido. And while I personally am fine with that, I do find it annoying that they give the impression it will matter if you do/don't follow bushido, when it actually doesn't.
Guess you missed the GHOST in the title then…?
@@ezeziel1498 no you smartass, i'm talking about the way the game actually presents the duality in the mechanics. they clearly set it up like it's some kind of choice, a Renegade/Paragon kind of thing. Even going so far as to save a triggered cutscene for the first time you do a non-bushido kill, outside of the mandatory tutorial one. you flash back to young Jin training, and being taught that lesson about why what he did is "bad" Which I'm fine with, but if the game seems to make a point to frame it as an option, implying the player could in fact, NOT go down that route, but they make their game harder, then it's annoying when they railroad you along that plot line. Don't give your players the illusion of a choice in playstyle, and then so blatantly make it apparent that what they choose doesn't make any difference in the narrative.
A big point of the game is that clinging to rigid honor at the expense of lives is not worth it. It's not really meant to be a choice. Jin respects the teachings of his uncle as much as what he's learned from his experiences against the mongols, and he's willing to bend to protect what truly matters. But the people who are judging him, the samurai where all this "honor" talk comes from, they only think in extremes.
Shame its not one XBox