Japanese History Expert Reacts to Ghost of Tsushima

[@KaeMcSpadden]

Sucker Punch, the developers of this game, did such a good job on this game that they became official ambassadors for the real life island of Tsushima.

[@lauraazure6462]

Honestly I agree 100% I hope they make another one with even more weopon options like a spear but even if they don't it would still be an awsome game

[@duckwitbuckethat5931]

Yea of tourism I think

[@KaeMcSpadden]

@@duckwitbuckethat5931 thanks to this game, more people are aware of the history of Tsushima and are interested in checking out the island since the game had so many beautiful sites.

[@fernosbonos5394]

god damn, for an infamous devs in the past they actually do these impressive projects that gets high regards.

[@KaeMcSpadden]

@@fernosbonos5394 it’s incredible how much research and details they put into this game. And the whole country of Japan was very happy with how this game turned out and how respectful it was to their culture and history.

[@v0rtexbeater]

In the japanese dub, they do use Bushi, but the subtitles still say "samurai" presumably because that's a more recognizable word in the west.

[@useruser6240]

Didn't know that.

[@_Booker_DeWitt]

I'm playing it in Japanese and was wondering why I never heard "samurai" when the subtitles say it. That's cool

[@Kaweebo]

They also never use the term “katana,” instead using the word “Tachi” as katanas did not become the official sword of the samurai until after this era.

[@flare9612]

Beat me to this explanation. Hence the game didn't say Dub or Sub, but rather, "Cinematic experience", because they know things will get lost in translation

[@bobsaget6845]

Not really true, the Japanese dub keeps many anachronisms. Although in many contexts the main characters refer to themselves as 武士 bushi, many villagers call Jin "お侍様” Samurai-sama. The localizers I assume just decided to roll with it.

[@arbknight12]

"It doesn't look like anyone has any magic attacks." No one tell him about the talisman that can summon a bolt of lightning when you do a Heavenly Strike

[@natchu96]

Well at least that's mostly postgame fun. The supernatural vibes that can be found in a first playthrough basically amount to hallucinogenic drugs and freak coincidences of weather. EDIT: And the drug thing ain't frequent, or in the DLC expansion's case serves a main plot point.

[@eddieb1995]

You can actually improve that to get multiple lightning strikes with the chance activation talisman that increases the chances of effects happening. With full resolve, you feel like Thor just spamming heavenly strike

[@rottensquid]

The heavenly strike and the dance of wrath are both technically magical. That's the point of them. It's the same with the charms that make fresh arrows magically appear in your quiver. But it's a subtle kind of magic, not the kind that hits you over the head. I think what makes Ghost such a great game (one thing) is that it uses such a light touch with its fantastic elements. They're steeped Japanese folklore, or at least, the flavor of Japanese folklore. And they're very subtle. I find that with the fantastical in fiction, less is usually more. I'm not as into these games where you can summon giant spirit animals, where castles are the size of skyscrapers, where everyone you meet is wearing magical armor, where there's so much fantasy, and so little baseline reality, that the fantastical becomes routine.

[@natchu96]

@@rottensquid Eh, the Dance of Wrath quest is set up in such a vaguely mystical manner that you can actually maintain plausible denial and insist it's some sort of elaborate visual stunt. The attack itself is extremely doable if a bit fast, but if you can put up with action movies you can put up with that. Basically everything is so low-fantasy you can come up with some barely believable physical explanation for it, like the lightning just being weirdly consistent coincidences, though the ammo returning is a bit of a hard sell, but again; nobody ever seems to run out of ammo in action movies unless it feeds into a cool development either, and those are generally considered grounded long as nothing provably supernatural is in the story.

[@rottensquid]

@@natchu96 Yeah, I see what you mean. The "magic" in the game is mystical without being necessarily magical. There's a sweet spot where it's not actually possible in the real world, but it's not "magic." I love that spot. Back when I was a kid, that's what "the Force" was, before it explicitly became telekinesis, mind-reading, and other forms of routine fantasy magic.

[@Thatdeal79]

The DLC Ikki Island showed the Samurai Code at least in this fictional game setting of Japan wasn’t even real. Yeah Jin’s uncle lived by the code but the rest of his family didn’t when he wasn’t supervising them.

[@juanvillalpando5387]

Finaly someone said it

[@kirank287]

True

[@morningsstar]

So while the shogun declared that jin sakai is a traitor

[@Thatdeal79]

@@morningsstar it’s because Jin’s uncle & some of his comrads were honor over victory & nonsense like that.

[@samuraijackoff5354]

Each samurai clan had different ideals. Since Shimira was the top jito he was expected to be better. In story he wanted the Jin to not be like his warmongering father.

[@winklenator]

I really liked how Ghosts of Tsushima respected the lethality of the blade. A lot of games with combat have these damage sponge as enemies and it makes no sense when tied to reality

[@kirank287]

True. I really liked that as well

[@PainKillersUS]

My favorite game mechanic. Harder difficulty = 1-2 hit kills for enemies and 1-2 hit deaths for the player. Faster combat, smaller dodge and parry timers, its perfect. Hate when its a game like Resident evil where harder = enemies with more HP, enemies with increased damage, enemies with increased speed, and player with reduced ammo...

[@silorion9967]

​@@PainKillersUSThis is exactly what disappointed me about Sekiro. I thought it was going to be the whole "parry or die in one hit thing" for every enemy, but it kinda...wasn't.

[@snakesghost7817]

I had to stop playing Assassin's Creed Odyssey because of this. I am saying this as a huge fan of the series. Man that game sucked...

[@scalderiso]

Playing on hardest difficulty is intense

[@fireblast133]

from how I understood it, Shimura is the lord of the island, and he is technically only answerable to the Shogun on the mainland. He has his own code of honor he follows, and he has taught the main character Jin to follow this code, as well as his own men. The story kind of follows Jin coming to a realization that his Uncle's way of honor, will not be successful against the mongol horde. The mongols are willing to stoop to any low for victory. Jin's the one to realize he can't stay rigid in his ways to win, and his only way to success is to bend like a reed. So, really, it's not a widespread concept of bushido, but the Lord's will that brings this honor code. And the leader of the Mongols may be mistakenly thinking all warriors here would be samurai and follow this code.

[@ivanlim3180]

Uh no, it is just another Westerners' own romantication of samurais having honor code when in reality it isn't, even major Japanese like Shogo had debunked this on KZbin. Samurais take any necassary tactics to kill their enemies, whether brutal stregths or stealth assassinations. Kyoto itself was an old capital where major assassination happens to change the course of history and its rulers.

[@fireblast133]

@@ivanlim3180 I understand the likelihood of the western romanticization. But what I’m trying to do is at least try to explain how it’s happening in a way that would fit with history. If Lord Shimura is the in game source of the code of honor that shouldn’t be there, it can make a lot of sense. Jin growing up mostly under Shimura would also leave him believing that code of honor until it’s proven inefficient. The various clans following it to a degree. There’s definite examples these other clans are putting a bit of a show on for Shimura. Consider how they approach things without his eye on them. They’re more open to the way of thinking Jin is going along throughout the game than Shimura’s. Sneak attacks, ruthlessness, etc.

[@kaelhyun2401]

@@ivanlim3180 Uh I think the fact that the Lead Designers were recognized as getting things right by actual historians from Japan says they got things right more then you think

[@ivanlim3180]

@@kaelhyun2401 Uh nope, some historians from Japan even said Tsushima at that period does not even have katanas. Katanas do not exist at that period yet, and swords are not main weapons used by Japanese at war at all. There is no so-called code of honour among Samurais, and even some Kendo masters on KZbin questioned the combat stances portrayal in the game. Sucker Punch might get the atmosphere and Tsushima island correct, but other aspects are not quite accurate, especially Lord Sakai's obsession with Samurai's honour in battle and despise stealth attack, that is purely Hollywood typical portrayal of East Asians in movies, this trope has existed for a long time until now, even some Westerners think that East Asians are really that obsessed with honor. So far the only game that depicts East Asians more accurately in games, is Sleeping Dogs. That game portrays Hong Kongers more accurately than how GoT portrays Japanese.

[@kaelhyun2401]

​@@ivanlim3180 Yeah no someone needs to remind you that Historical fiction is a thing and anachronism are acceptable. For example a person survives when history says they died? They faked their death! Records back then were a lot worse then they are now. it's just to bad that Ubisoft doesn't seem to understand that this when it comes to storytelling they just want unnecessary deaths of cool characters and are totally okay with tech that even now we have trouble with (Syndicate's line launcher) Meanwhile Ghost is over here touching on little-known shit like the fact that Egyptian artifacts were found on Japan after the Mongol Invasion, The Historical Name that Ninja's used for the Grappling Hook, or the fact that Ninja tended to adapt and used a lot of explosives. Jin is supposed to be the Proto-Ninja but you insist on Historical accuracy but Historical Fiction is a sandbox not a 1 to 1 road map

[@NCore_._]

4:04 The fact that the game uses the term "Bushi" when the game audio is in Japanese and that you caught on to it is just the little details that makes me appreciate this game.

[@monopolizedopamine]

I think the game rounds out pretty accurately because it doesn't end conclusively, just with Jin's story. There is an ongoing presence of mongols post game on top of knowing Jin can't lead the Japanese and the only other equally viable character, Ryuzo, is dead.

[@SkullivanBones]

Its cool the expert actually caught onto the kurosawa vibes as that was a huge inspiration for the game to the point that they added a kurosawa mode xP

[@jacobpruett9204]

This game embodies a quote by Mark Twain about creative storytelling, "Get your facts first. Then distort them as you please." Tsushima was conquered by Mongols, there was a code of Bushido, there were Samurai in Japan. They just distorted the timeline for when all these things were present to tell a compelling story about the conflict of Honor and Victory.

[@anasshahid224]

Ghost of Tsushima is an absolute masterpiece, the story, gameplay all are top notch, Jin is a really intriguing protagonist, the feel of being a samurai, the world is so beautiful and colorful, it’s so much fun just riding around on your horse, one of my all time favorite games 👏👏👏👏

[@kirank287]

Samee. It's one of my favorite games. I will always love this game

[@henrikaugustsson4041]

Absolutely. The story is so powerful. Jin basically sacrifices his soul for his fellow man, committing unforgivable sins in order to drive the invaders from his homeland and save mainland Japan by turning the enemy’s tactics against them, spreading fear among their ranks. If he didn’t cast aside his honour and break all convention, becoming an outlaw hunted by his own family, all of Japan would be doomed.

[@SILENTASSASSIN12]

Jin is not a samurai anymore, he is the GHOST.

[@nathanielroffel4304]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but this game takes place in the late 1200's; and the idea of the lord's Bushi having the recognition as the Samurai caste, and the establishment of the Bushido Code, are both placed within a hundred years or so of that period.

[@RandalReid]

He mentioned the anachronism @ 0:25 and 3:51

[@quiotu]

Yeah, Sucker Punch has openly admitted that they took the more common tropes from the Edo period and injected them into the Kamakura period, purely because it was the most visually well known way to depict bushi. The armor, the katana, the haikus, the code... all of this was taken from a more romanticized period in Japan in order to make a good story about the Ghost. It's not authentic, but the story and the care given to the setting was enough that not even the Japanese cared... it's currently sold over a million copies there. It's a pretty large feat, very few Western games can claim that.

[@revbladez5773]

​@@quiotu And I hate it for that. If you make a 13th century game, then make a 13th century game, fuck peoples expectations, defy them when those expectations are wrong.

[@kirank287]

@@quiotu True

[@henrikaugustsson4041]

It doesn’t really matter. Most people wouldn’t know what Bushi are, and the honour code thing is also something heavily featured in Japanese story telling and culture (even though it’s largely manufactured). So basically, Sucker Punch made a Japanese story set in Japan, and changed the name of the bushi class into something more widely known, the successor to the bushi class, samurai.

[@JackC11111]

If he is an expert on Japanese ghosts you should have him react to the online mode.

[@samp2185]

Underated comment here

[@tejasviroyal8977]

Exactly. The Ghost of Tsushima Multiplayer has Oni, Tengu, the mention of Shinto Gods and lots of inspired elements from Japanese and Mongol mysticism, mythology & folk tales.

[@samikalastaja]

And Nioh & Nioh 2.

[@javyassassin13]

Fr

[@shinobiqueenv6583]

Fun fact: There is a Kurosawa mode you can play in, where its black and white, a bit grainy, etc. Its a completely different experience!

[@rovosunny1687]

This game was a gem 💎 can't wait for the second one

[@kirank287]

Samee

[@kirank287]

I still love this gamee 😌❤️

[@henrikaugustsson4041]

Game of the decade, for me.

[@josuerestrepo1476]

Is* is not a dead person

[@christophermartin6852]

The term "samurai" comes from the Japanese word saburau, meaning "to serve," and was first used in A.D. 702 to describe mid-to-low-ranking court administrators and, later, armed imperial guards. Their title was mostly metaphorical, referring to their loyalty to the emperor.

[@rawdog1999]

The tern "subaru" comes from the Japanese word saburau, meaning "lesbian vehicle".

[@muge2]

@@rawdog1999 LOL

[@blzahz7633]

It's nice to hear some history behind the game setting - I'm one of those people that plays games casually, so I just "teehee sword swishy-swushy" everything without actually thinking what's going on.

[@fabiomiller9711]

Another Comment may have already said this but one thing I love about the game is that Sakai Jin is supposed to be the embodiment of the typhoons that destroyed the first mongol fleet. So it’s almost a mythological version of events where the storms were one lone samurai. His default sword kit is even called “the storm of clan Sakai”

[@aguywithgames3135]

It seems like a lot of focus was given to Lord Shimura, the ONE character that believes in this “honor code” wholesale and would absolutely force others to do the same. Should probably have added the rest of the cast or even Jin’s father in the Iki Island expansion DLC just to showcase how far removed from reality Shimura’s beliefs actually are.

[@HeyyyJude]

Jin’s status as samurai was removed by the Shogun because of his behavior. Jin’s father believing differently goes hand-hand with what Jin’s told about his dad and that he’s unorthodox. Shimura comes off as a teacher’s pet and tells on people when they don’t follow the rules 1-to-1.

[@kirank287]

@@HeyyyJude Yes

[@austynmartinich7619]

@@HeyyyJudeThe Shogun did that based off the request of Shimura, not because of an overlying sense of honour. I think it’s reasonable to assume Shimura would do that

[@henrikaugustsson4041]

Shimura is supposed to represent the samurai as a whole in the game, with the Sakai clan being a bit more pragmatic and honourably flexible. Shimura is there to show us that the Japanese islands are doomed to fail against the mongol invasion unless Jin stops them, because he’s the only one willing to sacrifice his beliefs for the greater good, who also has the skills to prevail. It is heavily implied that the samurai fell because they were unwilling to change in order to adapt to the mongol tactics. Jin would rather poison the enemy than risk his own soldiers lives, but Shimura would rather they all die and lose than resort to low tactics. The reason Shimura and his army are even remotely successful is due to the mongols fearing Jin, as they believe the samurai of Tsushima to all be dead, and the story of a murderous samurai ghost out for vengeance is true, which makes them afraid when the face a small army of samurai.

[@laufert7100]

Glad you noted the similarities with Kurosawa as it's a really big inspiration! There's even a whole "Kurosawa mode" where the game is black and white and mimics the appearance of his films

[@takoshihitsamaru4675]

Something that should be noted is that Jin's family sword is referred to as the Sakai Storm. This is a very deliberate name considering what happened to the invading force of Mongols. As far as the rest of the history in the game, Sucker Punch made clear from day dot that they would be deliberately taking liberties with historical accuracy in order to fuel the Samurai aesthetic and inspired vision of Kurosawa, rather than actual Japanese military history and traditions. I think it treads the line of fact and fiction, cool over correct perfectly, and the absence of any overly supernatural elements is a welcome choice in the game's writing.

[@Julio_Gomes]

Yes, and it is the same even with the game's visuals, towing the line between graphical realism and fidelity, and art. From one perspective, especially from the ground, tsushima is dense with realistic terrain, formations and nature, and it feels like the graphics of any AAA game. But when you look at the island from atop a huge cliff, or just notice the colors and enviroments you realize how the game is made to look like a painting. The vibrant colors magically changing from place to place, the smoke painting the skies like moving ink, everything feels like a genuine japanese painting. It's incredible to look at, two styles of graphic desing, completely different yet successfully realized in a single game. It's fucking remarkable.

[@HeadHunter697]

I've made this point before with one of my friends, Jin is guided by the wind, so you could say he literally is the divine wind that saved Japan

[@braize6279]

Nah I'm going to say that's a stretch. Storms, especially tsunamis, are very common in Japan. Just because an item is called a storm, and a storm wiped out of fleet, doesn't mean that they are related. Especially since the name came way before they even knew about the Mongols. It doesn't fit at all to relate to the name to the Mongol fleet

[@takoshihitsamaru4675]

@@braize6279 Except we have the benefit of knowing that this is a piece of entertainment media, made by people who 'did' know about the Mongols as well as how the game would end, so is it _really_ that hard to believe Sucker Punch would use the name Sakai Storm as a sort of fun easter egg for those gamers who know the story of the invasion?

[@penguintaco9038]

The fact that this game didn't win Game of The Year is criminal

[@BlackPlatinum]

So Jin was correct the entire time 😂

[@sirlothric6357]

You know they did well in their goal when someone who didn't know the game was designed around Kurosawa films says it feels like a Kurosawa film

[@GTRyan35]

The armour that the main character wears is a mosh mash of 300 years. The helmet especially is definitely sengoku in some scenes and a lot of the clothes and styles don’t seem to be in period. But it still looks like a decent game.

[@pleasekillyoursef]

I think the issue is that this game was ispired by movies that mostly take place in the Edo and Sengoku period, wich is much later on

[@henrikaugustsson4041]

It’s not really a problem.

[@pleasekillyoursef]

@@henrikaugustsson4041 id say the game would be better if they had sorted it out, but its not a big problem

[@Cowboybrian01]

I really appreciate how the developers handled the intersection between fun gameplay and the historical context.

[@kirank287]

I will always love this game so much

[@QuestionableLifeChoices]

i always felt jin's ghost ways were both necessary AND more moral than the honorable way; choosing your own sense of honor over the lives of literally the entire island is not just dishonorable but selfish. glad to know that for this period in history, my instincts about that actually aren't wrong lol

[@depresespres4214]

Haikus are in this game even though they wouldn’t be invented for another 400 years makes me lol

[@kirank287]

Still a beautiful addition

[@revbladez5773]

Having stuff that would not be around for hundreds of years is somewhat of a theme in this game.

[@yuuyake3770]

Short poems had existed even well before the setting of the game, referred to as waka in the Japanese dub and localisation

[@h0y715]

I think in recent study starting to find out what actually happened during the Mongol invasion, at least the first invasion there was no record of such storm we described as Kamikaze. If my memory doesn’t fail the first one happened around November which is off for typhoon season. The bakufu of that time intentionally abandoned Iki and Tsushima island to scout out what kind of tactics Mongols uses in order to prepare for the main island defence. The mongols as much as they prepared they still had logistic problems due to current Japanese sea has and defence war is far easier than invading naval attack. The history we knew as the record of Genkou was based on some script written by monks which they tried to get reward from Bakufu trying to convince them the storm was summoned by the prayer they made. So the record we based the study on were highly biased. Back then there were no such thing as samurai code nor the warriors were not so honourable as we liked to glorify on films and stories.

[@user-hj8dq8zn8l]

The interesting part is that Kamakura samurais were certified badass.

[@antiherogrindviolence]

And you can change the visual effects on GoT the Kurosawa cinematic to pay homage for the great work of samurai movies. Its really cool!

[@connerdorn3341]

It finally makes sense why Jin's blade is called The Storm of Clan Sakai, I never knew that it was a reference to the storms that took out the mongol fleet.

[@braize6279]

Nope. The mongols haven't even sailed for Japan yet during this game. Not to mention that Jin's sword was handed down to him, meaning it was named even farther back. There's no relation to the name of the sword and the Mongol fleet

[@connerdorn3341]

@@braize6279 I'm not saying the characters named it after the storm, I'm saying the developers named it that as a fun reference. Since a storm took out the mongols in real history, it's a reference on the developers part.

[@HeadHunter697]

Kinda disappointed they didnt show him any of the mythological stuff, I was pretty excited to hear his opinion on The Heavenly Strike, whether or not its an actual myth.

[@kirank287]

I love this game so much

[@MOONWOLF7395]

If i remember correctly, at the end of the game Jin comments on how bad the weather is getting or that a bad storm is coming. I thought that was a neat nod at what happens to the mongols after tsushima.

[@revbladez5773]

Odd that he did not mention that katana is completely inaccurate in this game. It should be a tachi, which the Japanese voices even acknowledge, not once referring to it as a katana.

[@henrikaugustsson4041]

Do the western voices talk about katana, though? I don’t recall, or do they just say sword? I mean, the game call it katana, yes, but I don’t recall much “talk” about katanas.

[@pl0xie494]

​@@henrikaugustsson4041They mostly say sword, I don't even remember hearing anyone saying katana ingame

[@henrikaugustsson4041]

@@pl0xie494 That's my experience as well.

[@braize6279]

What? I've never once heard their swords referred to as "katanas" in this game, unless I missed it. What's actually odd, is you mentioning something that didn't happen

[@revbladez5773]

@@braize6279 No, you are the one who is mentioning something that did not happen. I never said that the game calls them katanas.

[@nejiefelipe]

ghost of tsushima is such a masterpiece, you can see they put a lot of effort on giving the player that kurosawa duel feeling through the entire game... 🥲

[@iLxthul]

Wondering why Nioh is not being shown to him yet.

[@mitkokatrandviev9912]

Ohhh yeah nioh (1 & 2) would be very interesting for some of these guys, especially with 2 containing some real historical figures and landmarks

[@stewhv94]

To me, this game expertly captures the experience of what it would be like to live inside a Kurosawa film. And for that it’s possibly the best samurai game to date.

[@demontrav1918]

So cool that they mention the Kurosawa inspiration

[@kirank287]

I still love this game so much. It will always be one of my favorite games

[@eagle162]

The Mongols were beaten back the first time after landing in the mainland a storm did not happen in the first invasion that is a myth, no Japanese record mentions this, there is one record on the Mongols side that talks about that however that was later and even the record says it was a lie. In the second one a storm did happen but only after months of battles, the Japanese defenders winning all of them, the storm was an excuse to deny rewards since they have problems paying them the first time, the word Kamikaze was a name added in later. Bushi was a generic term for warrior,samurai(or saburai during that time) was for warriors of high status.

[@kirank287]

Yep.

[@thedisconnect5769]

As one of the writers said "its a tale of historical japan told in the way of world events shifting toward the meiji restoration" I.E Its a theory of what it would have been like had the meiji reofrmation happened much much earlier and the system of samurai and shogun was set up for them to be retainers.

[@mikek7660]

I frickin love this game so much

[@whitexicano2597]

He knew it was the Mongols just from that horn? Nice. What an amazing job it must be being prof of Japanese studies

[@mog398]

A lot of people here complaining that this guy isn't Japanese. Dr. Crandol has a PhD in Asian literature and culture. He seems to be perfectly qualified to speak on this subject. I'm English - I know very little about England in the middle ages, but if a person from a different country got a PhD on medieval England, I wouldn't question their knowledge.

[@BonusEggs4Sale]

5:57 No giant enemy crabs here!

[@naturaldisastergames]

I'm not an historian expert but a quick search on Encyclopedia Britannica says that the honor code that later would become Bushido began during the late Kamakura Period (1192 - 1333) of Japanese history. The Mongols invaded during 1274 and 1281. Considering that Bushido isn't actually mentioned in the game, I don't think its unfair to say that the way the characters act and talk in the game are not representative of the actual time period. I'm sure the game definitely takes liberties with histories somewhere, but i dont think that's one to point out.

[@tejasviroyal8977]

If he is an expert on Japanese Mythology the he should be reacting to the Ghost of Tsushima Multiplayer. It has Oni, Tengu, the mention of Shinto Gods and lots of inspired elements from Japanese and Mongol mysticism, mythology & folk tales.

[@daezondario]

Kinda wish this was a longer video

[@SILENTASSASSIN12]

My favorite thing about this game is that the main character chooses to be The Ghost. Not a samurai. He will become something more than a mere soldier to both the people and the mongols. He will become a MYTH.

[@SILENTASSASSIN12]

Jin chooses to be a shinobi. 🥷🏻

[@kirank287]

Made me love the game even more

[@huskytzu7709]

the beautiful thing about this game is that Jin is embodiment of the storm. he is the Kamikaze.

[@grayfullbuster2622]

This was really interesting, maybe if you can get a hold of him again maybe have him look at some footage from Ghostwire: Tokyo

[@tztpandagamingyt6327]

They had a samurai come on I think and said it doesn’t matter about honor in that part of history or something

[@theinvinciblebbtha]

This game I played man! This game was amazing!

[@Kevin-qp6ow]

A shame they didnt show him the visual filter that turns it into a Kurosawa film style experience.

[@valmanway3800]

In 13th century, Kamakura period, Those Samurai's(a.k.a Bushi) was far away from decent shinny knights. They were pretty much brutal, Very barbaric like, might solves anything and those who has no might means no honor to them. They did not much care about to take lives if they have a chance to kill someone, and so, they were feared by everybody. Their favorite combat style was like, mounting on a horse and shoot an arrow in very closed range to a foe, which was pretty deadly, but also pretty risky and requires skill issue to attempt

[@fluidthought42]

Hell even knights weren't all that chivalrous during the medieval period, as they were typically just goons on the lord's payroll to keep the peasant class in line. East and West, divided by miles but not by human nature...

[@dirtydirtyshisno7284]

@@fluidthought42Sounds like American cops lmao

[@kirank287]

Learned something new

[@Wile_E._Wolf]

​@@fluidthought42my understanding was that chivalry came about during a more-recent period and was primarily only amongst those with "significant" positions. The reasoning was that advancement in armour at the time meant that two knights could potentially be facing each other on a battlefield one week, then the next they could be attending the same gala together (it wasn't frequent that knights were dealt mortal blows in battle). Politics and convenience dictated that one should be honourable and adhere to rules in order to make their political and social lives more convenient.

[@Karznax]

@@fluidthought42 The samurais also had a tradition of "testing" their new swords by cutting down innocent civilians. It's called "Tsujigiri." Look it up.

[@automaticwriting4220]

I love this game. Thank you SP, can’t wait for GOT2

[@kirank287]

Me too

[@darrenklein6090]

Wow, I wish I was a professor of Japanese mythology living in the Netherlands.

[@ryancornwell8563]

The mongols already took the island in a large battle at the beginning and Jin takes out a large majority of the mongols there but they still have a continued presence

[@MrJueKa]

Depending on my personal mood, I fight foes face-to-face or in the so-called stealth combat style and both work very well in this game and are a lot of fun, which is exactly how it should be in a game like this.

[@whims5301]

This guy needs to have a look at Nioh 1 and 2. Those games have a butt load of actual Japanese history and mythology in them.

[@kaelhyun2401]

This game has alot of actual History in it this guy just seems knowlageable in the small stuff Go watch Gaigin Goomba's video on this game and on the Yokai in NiOh

[@pony-chan9638]

You should have him React to "Trek To Yomi" Given his Expertise in Mythology

[@yairhadar777]

More of this pls

[@MrScrawnjuan]

They actually have a Black+White Kurosawa mode in the game

[@sreeshnelp]

Randomly clicked on this video and I see Leiden University! Proud to be studying there hahah!

[@solairedude7119]

The code of honor thing is more a personal value that Shimura has and wants Jin to be a part of, cuz Jin's dad is known as the "Butcher of Iki" for a reason.

[@revbladez5773]

If that is the case, then why does an order to kill Jin come all the way from the Shougun? If that is the case, why does this scene exist, where even a foreigner is aware of the honor code? kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6q6nHWYi66Bn9ksi=Fivm6RntHeRDhALw&t=274

[@solairedude7119]

@@revbladez5773 Well Jin disobeyed the Jito and was rallying commoners against their opposition, so the Shogun likely saw this as a potential problem to be killed.

[@revbladez5773]

@@solairedude7119 Explain my other point then.

[@jamtime4978]

Although bushido wasn't properly refined until the 16th century, most experts believe that the fundamentals of the code were just built upon from beliefs that existed as far back as the 10th century.

[@revbladez5773]

It was not properly refined until 19th century, after samurai were gone. While Tokugawa Bakufu did adopt Neo-Concucianism as its primarily ideology and heavily pushed it all over the country, having a single code which every single samurai follows never existed.

[@PainKillersUS]

Truly one of my all time favorite games. I am so excited for the second one! I believe it is going to cover the mainland invasion of japan. Though since that invasion didnt go too fancy for the Mongols I am sure they will spruce it up a bit. But I am very excited for it! they are working on it, they just need to come out and announce it already!

[@kirank287]

Same. I will always love this game

[@misterkite]

It's a shame they didn't have him react to the japanese dub.. because they indeed use bushi constantly.

[@nozenkyuzero]

i think the "honorable" samurai happened after the sengoku period i think

[@johnsonle9440]

Fujin must have play a role back in the mongol invasion

[@yuruem2thereturn44]

Tsushima is the size of Chicago IRL and the size of Grayslake ingame

[@demon6937]

There is a Kurosawa mode in the game which you play in black and white

[@antoniousai1989]

Rules are created when they are necessary. People were cutting heads to test the swords, not exactly the romanticized idea of honor and Bushido you could think of

[@fabiomiller9711]

With how much love for Japanese history Ghost of Tsushima has filled me with, I’d love to see the same company make similar games based in other historical settings. Imagine a game like Ghost where you play as an ancient Indian or Ancient Greek with similar combat and stuff

[@revbladez5773]

Shame that most of the history in this game is terribly inaccurate.

[@fabiomiller9711]

@@revbladez5773 then again if games adhered to historical accuracy 100% it just wouldn’t be fun.

[@revbladez5773]

@@fabiomiller9711 This game does not adhere to it even 50%. It is likely well below even that. Tell me: What does the game lose by having a katana instead of tachi (katana did not even exist in the 13th century)? What does the game lose by not having a greater focus on horse archery (the primary method of combat for both samurai and mongols)? What does the game lose by not having a single Chinese, Korean or Jürchen in the game (who were most of the invasion force, Mongols were the elite)? What does the game lose by not having more period-appropriate armor (while it has some of it, many, especially late game ones, are 16th century, not 13th)? What does the game lose by having haiku (17th century, the word is 19th century) instead of renga, which is more period appropriate? Nothing of value, that much is for certain.

[@fabiomiller9711]

@@revbladez5773 what does it gain by having all of those? You and maybe three other people notice and care. At the end of the day the game is fun, if the game is fun if might make people think ancient Japan is cool and if so they’ll learn more by watching videos and in turn learn all the things you mentioned. And to answer your points made 1) katana is more recognizable and the developers have even stated they weren’t going for accuracy but to replicate the Kurosawa samurai film. 2) the horse was used as travel and they probably didn’t have time or money to flesh it out but honestly you got me beat I’d love to see a more fleshed out horse combat. 3) would more enemy factions really have added that much? More types id agree but I’d also wager the devs didn’t have enough time to flesh that out either or purposely left more factions out in hope for a sequel covering the second mongol invasion

[@revbladez5773]

@@fabiomiller9711 The game is more historical accurate as a result, people who do not notice will not care, people do notice will appreciate. As a result, there is effectively no reason to not do so, as nothing is lost, only the opposite case something will be lost. 1. Average person cannot even tell a difference between tachi and a katana. Again, a case where not doing so is pointless because anyone who can tell the difference will appreciate it, anyone who cannot will still just think it is a katana. The Japanese voices even call it a tachi. And besides, the "it is more recognizable"-argument is effectively like putting M16s and AK-47s in a WW2 game simply because they are more recognizable than anything from that conflict. 3. No, I am not talking about more factions. Chinese, Koreans, Jürchen and Mongols were all part of the same faction, the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty of China. Effectively none of the sailors were Mongols, they had been steppe nomads until only a few decades ago and so knew basically nothing about sailing. Sailors were primarily Koreans. For the ground forces, Mongols were only really the elite of the army, the horse archers. The foot soldiers were primarily Chinese, Koreans and Jürchen. It is actually something that quite shocked the Japanese, since for them, their elite, the samurai, were basically their whole army. While the invasion is generally called Mongol invasion, the term is somewhat inaccurate. More appropriate term would be Yuan invasion.

[@sethradomski2638]

He should react to the Samurai in For Honor

[@theoneandonly138]

That was a great catch on the time period and when honor really came into play.. But in this game the Khan says his name is Khotun Khan, cousin of Kublai, and grandson of Genghis.. so it does take place a bit later in a made up timeline.. I assume

[@quiotu]

Kublai Khan would've been the current Emperor in China. It's more than likely the idea was Khotun was sent to be Kublai's right hand and conquer Japan in his name. While the setting and the attack itself is correct at the time, none of the characters in the game itself are historical, including Khotun. Clearly a way for Sucker Punch to have liberties with the game and not end up stepping on the toes of any historical figure.

[@isaacerickson2383]

I loved this game, truly one of the best to come out in the last 10 years or so in my opinion. Its story and gameplay are rivaled only by its visual beauty which is substantial as one of the most beautiful games I have ever played. If only more games were as polished and well made as this one, I think the Video game world would be in such a better state. Now days games have to promise these massive things and don't focus on the basics, and that's why we get games that are ultimately disappointing after fans wait years for their release.

[@kirank287]

Same. I will always love this game

[@redstorm8373]

The game is absolutely based on Kurosawa films. It even bas a Kurosawa mode.

[@leodjondo3489]

Play the game with japanese voice. They use bushi to refer as samurai.(but the mongols do shout samurai)

[@marcoesteves5555]

Man took being a weeb to a whole new level

[@_n0va_762]

I know that the timeline of samurai and warriors in the game is historically inaccurate but I feel like it was intentional so the story is easier to follow :)

[@michaelmorrigan614]

“Very expensive armor” actually it was given to him for free by a widow lol

[@Nezukoberserk5]

Im so hyped for Ghost of Tsushima 2 !!!❤❤

[@kirank287]

Me too, but it won't be for a while

[@Icekaiser]

I plat this game its peak(first)

[@skogstjuven]

Honor is a fool's prize. Glory is of no use to the dead.

[@colefasan9849]

Now I have to go back and play it again

[@B1G_ChUnG5]

If you change the game play language to Japanese they actually do use the word “bushi”. Which is why I prefer to play this game with subs instead of dubbed. Also sounds more natural.

[@levidavis1093]

This guy would've been disappointed if he saw the mythic combat powers that you can unlock by completing the Mythic Tales quests. Lol 😅

[@jordanyoung1836]

It's been a while since I've commented on this

[@UsagiEN]

and no one cared about you lol

[@jordanyoung1836]

@@UsagiEN whoa...what's with the disrespect...there was no need for that...it's just been a while...it's good to be back though

[@anojj1897]

​@@jordanyoung1836 ignore negative people in internet and in life

[@jordanyoung1836]

@@anojj1897 okay, i understand

[@UsagiEN]

@@jordanyoung1836 lol

[@nunuonroad9969]

This guys great, hope we see more of him

[@mirzaputra64]

Certified weeb

[@Seriouspup]

part 2 please!

[@manwiththeplan300]

Or it could be true, and the samurai covered it up by saying it was a storm when the guy called himself a storm. And they used a play on words to describe the event. So that way, the samurai could still look good..

[@rottensquid]

Accuracy is all very well, but it's important that historical accuracy doesn't take the place of story. The whole point of the game's story is the conflict between adherence to tradition and the simple fact that such adherence would lead to the end of that tradition. It asks the question, what is the point of "honor" if it can't protect society from the honorless? The conflict deconstructs the concepts of honor, finding where breaking them costs the hero, and finding where honor itself is little more than the tool of the Shogun to maintain the loyalty of his people, even at the cost of their lives.The story transcends historical fact, and speaks to human nature, using elements of history as needed. Had it been strictly accurate to the period, it wouldn't have had all those complex, nuanced thematic layers.

[@badfoody]

Samurai obsession with honor is more about self improvement, and treating your enemies properly none of that fancy nonsense that anime and games vomit out

[@thedisconnect5769]

To be honest, I dont think many samurai at the time they were active warriors did follow bushido. It was the shinsen-gumi that actively promoted a lifestyle of "aku soku zan" "Swiftly slay evil" and the three tenants of Bushido live up to pretty much the same ideals. A lot of people point toward an anime called kenshin a side character says it but in reality it was another member of the shinsen-gumi who made it famous named Okina Soji. I mean it existed, it just I dont think is mentioned very much around the time the concept was birthed until the meiji reformation happened and they idealized it to try and galvanize virtue of only killing criminals and punishing those who do evil to have the citizens police other citizens as government agencies werent very big at the time. In otherwords its only popular as a concept of propoganda

[@TheGhost-7002]

Why didn’t you show him the opening? It’s arguably the only part of the game that is semi historically accurate?

[@revbladez5773]

Not really it is not. 1. Both the samurai and Mongols were primarily horse archers. Horse archery is absent not only in the opening but it is also basically an afterthought in the game. The types of horses both samurai and Mongols used were not particularly big or strong and thus poorly suited for charges, yet a charge is the first thing you do. 2. The thing that surprised the samurai the most is that they had foot soldiers (who were mostly Chinese, Koreans and Jürchen, also absent in the game) fighting in formations and the mounted Mongols only as the elite of the army, whereas for the samurai, their elite was the whole army, as they viewed warfare as the business of the warrior class. They would later adopt the same ideas in the form of Ashigaru but here it was something new to them, but also absent in the game.

[@TheGhost-7002]

@@revbladez5773 Semi-Historically accurate. The Battle of Komoda Beach is the only real historical event in the game. Roughly 80 mounted Samurai lead under the Jito of Tsushima, So Sokikune, fought a defensive battle against the overwhelming military strength of the Mongol Empire. The warrior band was wiped out.