Geek Preview – Ghostwire: Tokyo Looks To Be A Hauntingly Good Ghost Hunt

Now that the cat’s out of the bag, with Tango Gameworks and Bethesda‘s Ghostwire: Tokyo set for a 25 March release, there will surely still be some questions as to how the game plays. Thankfully, we had the opportunity for a hands-off preview of the game, and we came away impressed and eager to start saving Tokyo and its denizens.

Stepping into the shoes of a young Japanese fella named Akito, our introduction to the supernatural way comes via a fusion between our protagonist and KK, an experienced ghost hunter who has found himself becoming a spirit. The pair will undertake the challenging task of finding the truth behind the disappearance in Tokyo, and fight back against the Visitors using the technique of Ethereal Weaving.

At his disposal are powers that can hurt the Visitors, such as one that uses the element of wind to take blast holes in umbrella-toting, faceless foes or the various headless schoolgirls running about. Do enough damage, and their cores become vulnerable, and Akito is able to grab several of them at a time using the Ethereal Weaving to completely vanquish them.

You are not able to use your powers without limit, but destroying the Visitors will restore some of your charges. Akito will gain access to more weaponry as well, including a bow that can fire off damaging arrows that can knock down the opposition in Ghostwire: Tokyo. Movement will also be more flexible, seeing that there seems to be no fall damage, and great distances can be covered using the right skills.

Of course, at the centre of it all lies Hannya, the mastermind behind the crisis. Overcoming the odds and spoiling his plans will be the only way to save the people of Tokyo, as well as Akito’s own family. Clearing enemies, ridding areas of the ghostly fog, and absorbing lost spirits will not only make Akito more competent, but make Tokyo safer too.

That said, not all of the otherworldly beings in the game are enemies. Yokai will appear throughout Tokyo, with some acting as vendors, while others can be captured for even more power. Buying stuff from a Neko yokai will definitely not be the weirdest thing players will encounter in Ghostwire: Tokyo.

Akito and KK are not alone and will be joined by other allies that will help take down Hannya. There will be quests that will dive deeper into these individuals, and help flesh them out as characters as we save their lost loved ones. Side quests will be available for Akito to pursue, delivering more stories and rewards along the way.

Exploring Tokyo is not just about modern-day architecture either, the supernatural happenings may also transport players into other realms with interesting and crazy mechanics that will add even more to the experience in Ghostwire: Tokyo, balancing action with puzzle-solving elements.

Overall, it seems that the team over at Tango Gameworks has done a fantastic job in worldbuilding, with the atmosphere, action, and elements of this world conveying one of supernatural danger and charm. The music, though, deserves special mention for complementing the game’s feel, and is awesome to listen to even outside of the game.

Whether Ghostwire: Tokyo is able to keep the mystique and satisfying gameplay up for the entire duration of the game remains to be seen. However, based on the preview, the extra time spent polishing the game has been useful, and we cannot wait to jump in on 25 March.