Review for Ghostwire: Tokyoan immersive sim from the makers game series so scary that I can’t even mention its name without collapsing from sobbing, which landed this morning. Publisher Bethesda Softworks did not provide Kotaku with early access, because duh, so we’re experiencing the game and its press cycle, along with the rest of you. So far, opinions are all over the place.
As of this writing, Ghostwire: Tokyo To be sitting at position 75 on Metacritic. Critics seem drawn to its setting — a repeat of the bustling Shibuya ward, where most of the population has mysteriously disappeared, replaced by souls trapped among the realm — and its absolute attention to detail. On the other hand, the story, starring two main characters (one person, one spirit), doesn’t seem to be going well. And the open world itself is hampered by the paint-by-number design that has largely contributed to the wave of open-world fatigue. Meanwhile, some people like the simplicity of its simple combat toolkit; others crave a little more depth.
We will have our own thoughts on Ghostwire: Tokyo in due time. In the meantime, here’s what everyone else is saying:
“In spite of Ghostwire: Tokyo maybe a fitting metaphor for a typical first-person shooter, it doesn’t feel like a game at all. The controls felt so sluggish and unwieldy that I switched controllers because I thought something was wrong. The camera’s acceleration and deceleration at its maximum helps, but it’s not a silver bullet. There’s also a range of offensive abilities that are much shallower than you might expect in a modern shooter. How shallow? Well, you already know all the powers. The three I listed above. That’s it.” – Justin McElroy
“I absolutely love the combat mechanics in Ghostwire: Tokyo. It’s a combination of three types of elemental damage, along with melee and archery attacks. … Some battles take place in a pocket space style. They are not entirely from this world or another. Space is warped, with items changing to block your path. This usually happens for larger story missions or side quests. … I am counting and counting forty hours and one hundred percent ready to do it all again. I haven’t had the pleasure of playing a video game in a long time and I don’t want it to end.” – Annette Polis
“Shibuya itself is a sight to behold. … Ghostwire: Tokyo mix together a number of different sub-branches and styles, riffing on Cyberpunk 2077point of view, YakuzaJapanese neon lights and signage, and Shin megami tenseipost-apocalyptic taste. However, it suffers from ‘Ubisoft sandbox’ syndrome. The open world is like a checklist of activities and goals to put together a short campaign. What makes the exploration worthwhile are the numerous entertaining side quests. You will find souls who have not been able to go to the afterlife because some regret has tied them down. “- George Yang
IGN (7/10)
“However, it is combat, that motivates most Ghostwire: TokyoThe game’s gameplay and its elemental attack system offer a fresh take on long-range combat in first-person perspective – it just doesn’t go far enough to evolve it into something special. However, the presentation is excellent, from the hand movements that accompany the attacks to the way the enemy cores are revealed and then ripped apart using the ethereal cord. And while many enemies aren’t necessarily excited to fight, I like the idea of mixing the otherworldly and the mundane in their design. “- Cam Shea
The story’s shortcomings are disappointing considering the early potential of its gripping mysteries, but even this is not enough to detract from the story. Ghostwire: TokyoFight, set and build amazing worlds. … An important reason why combat feels so satisfying is because of how the enemy reacts to your attacks. You may be resisting apparitions that have some basis in Japanese folklore, but you are constantly tearing apart these digital blocks to reach the festering inner core below the surface. All the opposing designs feel like a reflection of Tokyo and its people, connecting the modern with the past.” – Richard Wakeling
“They don’t make as many games as Ghostwire: Tokyo anymore. Latest release from Tango Gameworks, the studio behind the scary [redacted] series, Ghostwire: Tokyo is a big budget action game with a very specific focus. It doesn’t get stretched with an unnecessarily large open world or superfluous online features. Instead, it offers something pure and simple: a combination of action, adventure and fear in a tight package that can be wrapped up in less than 20 hours.” – Andrew Webster
“Without even the slightest fall damage, [grappling and gliding are] A great way to go about. However, when your feet are on the ground, Ghostwire: Tokyo very little to inspire. … Although its combat system is fun, it becomes repetitive too quickly. The open world is full of hectic work and the story doesn’t go anywhere interesting. Excellent PS5 DualSense controller support, obsessive elements skipping and beautiful visuals, Ghostwire: Tokyo will have to go down as a failure. “- Liam Croft
“Basically, by killing every single citizen in the game’s opening cutscene, Tango has drawn himself into a small corner, since his role as Tokyo is inherently lifeless. To an extent effective — there’s an eerie beauty to exploring abandoned streets, your only company of clothes left over as populations disappear. But that’s not enough in the short term, and much of the responsibility lies with the fact that there simply isn’t much to do — and what’s there is really unappealing. “- Dominic Preston
“Ghostwire: Tokyo there is a really strong sense of ‘place’. You’ll want to spend time in its world, even if there’s not much to do or see in it. Combat is dynamic, but lacks any sense of progression or real power. Enemies are haunting, though lack the intelligence to really challenge. [Protagonists] Akito and KK make good companions, even as their adventure against the paranormal fades with time. Ghostwire: Tokyo feels like a throwback, and has an unmistakable pull to its action and presentation. Some of you will wish for more depth and variety, but others may just love the simplicity of soul hunting, summoning spirits and shooting magic bullets beneath the pretty Blood Moon. the beauty of Tokyo. “- Josh West
“It’s okay. It’s a good game.” – Greg Miller
