Ghostwire: Tokyo is a spiritual adventure filled with action, adventure, and a surprising level of detail that teaches about real-life Japanese culture and history. The game is incredibly detailed, so much so that it almost feels like a class on Japan, and its stunning environments only help that. As players explore a Tokyo devoid of human life and haunted by malicious Visitors, they may find themselves ignoring the story and just taking in everything that Ghostwire: Tokyo has to teach them about the country.
In Ghostwire: Tokyo, a crazed cultist known as Hannya has shrouded Tokyo in a deadly fog that has caused all of its human residents to disappear. Visitors, born from their negative emotions, have taken over the city. In order to vanquish them and save his family, one survivor, named Akito, must defeat Hannya and close the gates between the physical and spiritual worlds. Ghostwire: Tokyo breaks from other FPS games' combat with a myriad of elemental powers and mystical artifacts. Even without it, however, it still feels stunning.
All of Ghostwire: Tokyo's details, from the big to the small, showcase Japan in a fascinating way. From ancient temples and historic landmarks to the clothes on the ground left by the former human occupants, the game gives players a surprisingly accurate look at Tokyo and the people that populate it. Most games focus on combat mechanics and story narratives, which Ghostwire still does, but the sheer amount of detail in its world (and the encyclopedic content locked away in its menus) sets it apart. For those curious about or fascinated by Japan, it's worth playing for that alone.
Ghostwire: Tokyo Showcases Japanese Culture
In Ghostwire: Tokyo, famous landmarks such as the Tokyo Tower and Shibuya Crossing are recreated in stunning detail. Although some of them go by fictionalized names for various reasons, they're still accurate renditions of some of Shibuya's most famous sights. Finding more of Ghostwire: Tokyo's Jizo Statues and shrines is itself an accurate representation of the Japanese urban sprawl that ties into gameplay systems, but it's only one of the reasons for players to explore the map and take in the stunning recreation of Tokyo that the game has to offer, which houses details at every turn. Even the clothing left behind by the Tokyoites spirited away by Hannya's deadly fog, although a small detail, are a reflection of the modern culture of the real-life city, often offering environmental storytelling moments for those who take the time to look.
Ghostwire also teaches players about Japan through its world-building. The world is littered with small notes that, although they don't contribute to the game in a major way, still build the world and offer an insight into its denizens' lives. Shrine priests and everyday citizens leave behind things like to-do lists or lists of holidays. KK's investigation notes, in addition to giving extra skill points, also build the lore and a sense of a real character by showing players Tokyo through his eyes. Players will need to get magatama in Ghostwire: Tokyo in addition to these skill points for the best upgrades, but the notes are worth hunting down for lore alone. His notes about the various supernatural phenomena of the city, such as the Sewer Kid note, all show classic Japanese legends in a modern setting. The sense of KK's character is also emphasized through his banter with Akito, as the two occasionally discuss mundane topics through the lens of a generational gap, offering even further interesting cultural insights on the game's environments.
Possibly the aspect of the game that showcases Japan and its culture the most, however, are the encyclopedia entries that offer extra details for just about everything. Whether it's a major holiday or a regional delicacy or snack food, Ghostwire: Tokyo offers in-depth explanations of almost every detail of the game's real-life counterparts. It's in many ways a cultural history lesson about Japan, and while the small details don't do anything to bolster the gameplay, they go a long way toward making the environment feel real. Ghostwire: Tokyo is an immersive supernatural experience that's worth playing, especially for anyone who loves Japan or wants to learn more about its culture.
