It took Assassin's Creed Shadows getting delayed for me to play Ghost of Tsushima, and it's already surprising me like Red Dead Redemption 2 did
Sep. 27, 2024Now Playing | My strict tastes have held me back from great games before, so I’m challenging myself once again - even without Shadows
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We’ve all been there. Everyone is talking about the hottest new game – or in this case, a stone cold classic – and you just can’t bring yourself to care. TV static droned between my ears the first time I heard ofRed Dead Redemption 2, and as someone with absolutely zero interest in the whole outlaw cowboy fantasy, I let that absolute masterpiece of a game pass me by untiljust a few months ago. My self-ascribed stubbornness has a tendency of keeping me from greatness that way – and I don’t want it to happen again.
I was relying uponAssassin’s Creed Shadowsto challenge my rigid tastes further still. I’m a horror and fantasy hound through and through, so the whole shinobi-samurai action hero shtick never really appealed to me. Still, as I told myself back when the game was first announced: if any franchise could change my mind about how much fun it would be to swashbuckle about with katanas in bulky ancient armor, itwouldbeUbisoft’s iconic stealth series. But now that it’s beendelayed to the new year, I’ve decided to take a stab at a certain game that’s been sitting in my Steam library for months now. After just two hours, I’m glad I did.
On my dishonor
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Taste is a funny thing. I’ve always prided myself on being the kind of person who makes their mind up about things pretty quickly, because I know exactly what makes my brain tick and what does not. At least, that’s what I’ve been thinking this whole time, especially when it comes to action archetypes that just don’t speak to me. But after misjudging Arthur Morgan unfairly all these years, I’ve come to realize that perhaps going out of my comfort zone is necessary.
And wow, what a shot this is. Where Red Dead Redemption 2 took a while for me to warm up to, the deliberately slow, languid pacing of those introductory missions, I’ve been immediately taken by Ghost of Tsushima. Choosing my experience mode is the first thing that piqued my interest. I went with Samurai Cinema for an English-subtitled Japanese adventure, which feels closer in line with the cinematic tone I’m expecting. Already, those expectations are being met.
I really have to thank Ubisoft for this gift. If Shadows hadn’t been delayed to Valentine’s Day, I’d probably have let Jin sit on ice for quite a while longer. I don’t know when I’ll be able to finish Ghost of Tsushima – in any case, hopefully before February – but I’m proud of myself for pushing the boat out just that inch further in the name of experimentation. That, and the pride of Clan Sakai.
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