Last year saw the first of the timed PlayStation 5 console exclusives in Sony and Bethesda’s agreement, Deathloop. When Microsoft purchased Bethesda Softworks, and their parent company Zenimax Media, back in 2020, many speculated if their prior obligations would be affected. Needless to say it’s business as usual, as the latest title from Tango Gameworks just launched on March 25th! Tango Gameworks was made famous for its survival horror series, The Evil Within. As such, the studio is notorious for creating suspenseful encounters, creepy character designs, eerie atmospheres, and engaging storylines. Their latest release Ghostwire: Tokyo delivers on all counts while being a distinctive departure from their previous work.
Let’s dive into our full review of this new game from Tango Gameworks and Bethesda.
Paranormal Activity
Ghostwire: Tokyo kicks off with Hell breaking loose in the streets of Shibuya. All of Japan’s residents have inexplicably and spontaneously vanished. The Man in Hannya has locked away each person’s soul. Taking their place are the many Shinigami that haunt Japanese folklore. Shortly after surviving a motorcycle accident, the lone remaining human vessel, Akito Izuki, becomes possessed. The vengeful spirit, responsible for said possession, goes by the name KK. The two must work together to save Japan from its paranormal takeover, all while resolving their own personal vendettas. With KK on a path of revenge, Akito must fight for control, in order to ensure the safety of his younger sister Mari. The unlikely duo’s quest to stop The Man in Hannya from redeveloping society offers a touching narrative about friends, family, comradery, and loss; all while introducing supernatural Japanese folklore into the mix.
Finger Blasting Fun
As a result of The Man in Hannya’s supernatural shenanigans, the streets of Japan are littered with aggressive spirits, known in-game as walkers. Akito, while under KK’s possession, is able to harness and control KK’s spiritual powers. These elemental abilities act as Ghostwire: Tokyo’s main form of combat, and handle very much like a traditional first-person shooter. Each element is powered by ether, which acts as other-worldly ammunition. Akito is also granted a bow, later on, which essentially acts as his only tangible weapon. While Ghostwire: Tokyo feels very much like a first-person shooter, it is an action-adventure at heart.
Gun-less Gunplay
Initially, Ghostwire: Tokyo’s controls feel incredibly floaty. This can easily be remedied through the settings menu. Adjusting the deceleration speed to a higher sensitivity, that matches the acceleration speed, will result in much smoother camera movement. With this setting tweaked, mowing down the undead with Akito’s spectral abilities feels great! Swarms of walkers will swarm Akito, forcing some high-octane “gunplay”. The accuracy of his attacks is essential in maintaining his ether. When he inevitably runs out ether can be collected by performing actions in combat, such as melee attacks, as well as destroying the crystallized ether spread around the map. Crystallized ether can take the form of many inanimate objects, ranging from vending machines to full-sized vehicles. The back and forth trying to collect ether, while offensively evading enemy encounters, is an adrenal rush!
A Hazy Start To An Open-World
Initially, the city is plagued with toxic gas, denying Akito access to the majority of the map. The toxicity penetrating the map can become very difficult to see. Akito’s glide ability often lands him in uncharted territory, resulting in death. The surrounding fog can be cleared out by cleansing Torii Gates, which act as paths between Earth and the spirit realm. Once cleansed, these gates not only open up more of the environment but also grant stat boosts. These open-world areas also act as fast travel points, offering an almost instantaneous spawn from anywhere. These prove useful for those completing the optional side quests Ghostwire: Tokyo has to offer. The main story takes a linear path, however, the abundance of side missions diversifies the flow, by providing varied tasks for Akito and KK. Some missions are very forgettable, whereas others provide thrilling backstory for characters introduced in the main plot.
Collect-A-Spirit
Once Ghostwire: Tokyo’s map opens up, Akito is free to explore way more of the city. He will find a multitude of collectibles spread around every nook and cranny, making exploration essential for completionists. Every avenue is littered with different food items, which restore his health and can grant him temporary buffs. Obtaining paper fortune dolls known as Katashiro will allow Akito to collect unrested souls. These wandering spirits are found in alleyways, street corners, and high above rooftops. Once Akito’s Katashiro are full, he must deposit the collected souls via modified phone booths. Here they will be transferred to safety, and eventually to their original bodies. In addition to regular spirits, Akito can absorb yokai, such as kappa, which in turn will grant him Magatama. Magatama is used to unlock specific sections of the skill tree as well as unlock additional abilities.
Wild-Life Remains
KK’s abilities not only grant Akito his offensive abilities but also allow him to read the minds of animals. With all of humanity being sucked away, many aimless Shiba Inu roam the streets. Giving them dog food results in them digging up extra Meika, and occasionally leading Akito to hidden Jizo Statues. These statues grant a permanent SP boost to one of his elemental Ethereal Weaving abilities. All of Ghostwire: Tokyo’s shops and street vendors have been overrun by Yokai cats. There, Akito can spend the game’s in-game currency, Meika, to purchase items, upgrades, and additional Katashiro. Tanuki from somoto are also dispersed around Tokyo, transformed into different objects in disguise. It will require a keen eye to find all 25 of these well-hidden critters.
I Walk A Lonely Road
Ghostwire: Tokyo’s central location is Tokyo immediately following supernatural phenomena, resulting in human life vanishing. The Man in Hannya’s actions of shattering the barrier between life and death is evident. Scattered on the road are clothes. Left unattended are various vehicles lining the streets. Left on benches are purses and cell phones. The streets of Shibuya leave an eerie reminder that it was ripped from all life. The foggy dark desolate undertone, and a world full of spectral beings. When playing in Quality Mode, the PS5s HDR visuals and ray tracing abilities are something to marvel at. While playing in Performance Mode lowers the visuals, the gameplay becomes incredibly smooth.
Anxiety Ridden Audio
Much of Ghostwire’s eeriness stems from its sound direction. The ambiance of vacancy follows through most of the game. Passing through the city Akito will hear pop music fade through the empty city. While it’s all very fitting to the setting, the lack of music does leave a bit to be desired. Thankfully, what Ghostwire: Tokyo lacks in music, it makes up for in its audio. The trailing voices of wandering spirits heard in the background, generate a psychological effect of unease. When approached by enemies, each of Akito’s abilities are accompanied by satisfying visuals. Each spectral ability is matched to visual effects pertaining to said elemental property. For example, fire weaving results in heavy flames and ember particles surrounding, while filling the air with crackles from bursting oxygen. Enemies show burns, tears, and other forms of damage that directly correlate to the type of attack dealt.
A Spectral Splendor
Tango Gameworks’ made a name for themselves with their survival horror hits. Ghostwire delivers on all counts while being a distinctive departure from their previous work. Everything from Akito’s supernormal abilities to the creepy vacated Tokyo setting equate to a very well-rounded experience. While the inclusion of side missions slightly detracts from the plot’s sense of urgency, many of them provided enough to warrant their inclusion. Ghostwire: Tokyo was a pleasant surprise, and was a joy from start to finish. It’s a scary experience that even the faint of heart can handle.
Ghostwire: Tokyo is available now exclusively on PlayStation 5 and Steam. A digital copy of the game was provided for the purpose of review.
