Published on: 04/02/2022

Ghostwire: Tokyo announces release date, integrates Japanese theme, culture to gameplay

Ghostwire: Tokyo release date has been confirmed online and is set to be available on March 25, 2022 as an exclusive offer for PS5 and Microsoft Windows.

PlayStation has provided updates about the long-awaited game on their official Twitter account as well as the first extended gameplay preview, behind the scenes, and a special presentation from the publisher, Bethesda Softworks, on a video premiere earlier on Thursday at 2 pm Pacific.

Ghostwire: Tokyo is a first-person supernatural action-adventure video game developed by Tango Gameworks. This is the studio’s third time working with Bethesda after successfully releasing the fan-favorite survival horror game series, The Evil Within.

Ghostwire: Tokyo plot story

The title is deemed authentic by many after its gameplay preview. The game is set in Tokyo after an occultist, Hannya, cast a spell that causes almost everyone in Tokyo to disappear and an army of malicious spirits are now walking the streets of Tokyo.

These mysterious paranormal threats are called The Visitors. These creatures take on forms like a child in a yellow raincoat, a bride, the scissor-wielding Kuchisuke, and other entities.

The story follows the main protagonist, Akito, in the fallout of the vanishing. Akito wakes up with an unknown voice in his head and strange powers. Apparently, Akito has been possessed by a mysterious spirit named KK who is giving him access to mystical abilities.

The two need to work together to solve the truth behind the disappearances and KK has his own hidden agendas.

Ghostwire: Tokyo combat, progression system

Ghostwire: Tokyo puts much emphasis on combat and less stealth. Although, players will be given the chance to either proceed with stealth or guns blazing in taking down foes and completing mission objectives.

In doing so, the players are provided with traditional weapons, mystical abilities, and even bow and magical talismans which can expand the combat options further.

Ghostwire: Tokyo uses an RPG progression system where players will unlock new abilities and upgrade Akito’s skills on a skill tree. Progression later in the game will allow Akite to have more magical attacks and add more ways to go around Tokyo. One of which is the ability to grapple on flying Tengus allowing access to rooftops.

Some Bethesda fans or avid gamers might notice that this traversal option looks similar to Bethesda’s Dishonored.

Drawing inspirations for Ghostwire: Tokyo

Ghostwire: Tokyo is heavy with Japanese culture and folklore for everyone to enjoy. Starting from the settings, the paranormal threats are inspired by the Japanese urban legends and ghost stories. The game combined these traditional Japanese aspects with Japan’s advanced technological environment.

Director Kenji Kimura, producer Masato Kimura, and concept artist Kenta Muramatsu spoke to WIRED about the inspiration behind Ghostwire: Tokyo.

They added that the game was also influenced by Western works from Valis by Philip K. Dick and Passage by Connie Willis. There is the work of Japanese writer The Blossoming Flower Dies, Reality in a Dream by Chohei Kanbayashi, and so forth.

“The way these books utilize the understandings of things such as the spirit, the soul, the mind, the conscious and unconscious, and death are close to what I myself have felt,” Kimura said.

When asked further about traditional Japanese values the game has such as shrines, temples, and other significant cultural locations it is all part of the inspiration.

“But when you actually go there and see how they look from different angles, that is all part of the inspiration for creating the art within the game,” Muramatsu explained.

Blending traditional and modern aspects together has helped the developer to immerse players within the game by taking Tokyo, and packing it in their own ways for people to enjoy.