Tango Gameworks, most notably known for its work on The Evil Within series, is a Japanese game developer based in Tokyo. They are the masterminds behind this new behemoth of a title, Ghostwire: Tokyo and it is my pleasure to tell you that this game is fantastic! Bethesda Softworks was gracious enough to give us a preview of the game and provide the best look at core gameplay to date. Let's dive deep and see exactly what Ghostwire: Tokyo has to offer.

Gameplay

Players take control of Akito, a man caught in the middle of a spiritual undertaking and will stop at nothing to save his family. Akito is just an ordinary man but is guided with the help of his spiritual partner of mysterious origins, KK. The city of Tokyo is in desperate need of a savior and Akito is the city's last hope. Akito is granted many spiritual abilities to help him free the invading spirits' grasp on the city. 

The abilities we were able to encounter in the preview build were that of wind, fire, and water magic-based attacks. Akito performs various hand gestures to initiate the magic attacks and each of them can be used for different strategic purposes. The wind ethereal ability shoots rapid bursts of green energy and it allows you to charge the attack for quick subsequent multi-shots. The fire ability is a slower energy attack that deals much greater damage and can be charged to shoot a firebomb that will damage all enemies within the radius. The water-based ability is intended for close-quarter encounters and acts as a wave of energy that can push back enemies.

Along with these powerful energy attacks, Akito can also use an ethereal bow and arrow that functions just as you would expect. Some defensive skills include talismans that slow down enemy movements and others can provide cover for Akito to sneak around enemies or block their line of sight during combat.

The enemies throughout the game are awakened spirits of various types and attack patterns. Akito must attack the spirits to reveal their energy core to permanently destroy them. All spirits release energy that Akito can absorb to keep his ethereal powers fully stocked, similar to mana.

The action in this game is some of the best looking I have ever seen in an action RPG. The city is vibrant and with the ability to turn on ray tracing it can look truly stunning at times. The combat gives off an incredible majestic vibe that feels so unique and rewarding. The PS5 allows you to utilize the touchpad to perform certain hand gestures in the game so Akito can cleanse areas of negative spiritual energy. It's nice to see a game utilize the touchpad for something other than an additional button.

The world of Ghostwire: Tokyo is vast and the map is slowly revealed the more you explore. The streets of Tokyo will feel a bit condensed in some areas but it does open up quite a bit the further you go. Along with main objectives, Akito will also run into many side missions that can be completed at any time. On my playthrough, I noticed a great variety in these side missions, some of which task you with exploring the city and its skyscrapers. Some of them put Akito in the role of a detective to figure out what happened to a spirit in the location that they haunt. I loved the variety of side missions and hope the rest of them are just as unique.

There is a heavy focus on character progression in this game. With multiple skill trees, customizable cosmetics for Akito, and unlockable abilities make this action RPG packed full of content. The more you level up Akito, the more skill points you earn to perfect your playstyle. Leveling up spiritual abilities can allow you to fire energy shots faster or increase the damage of a charged attack. Other skills, such as gliding or core absorption, will help Akito traverse Tokyo quickly and also aid him in decimating enemies more efficiently.

Players will also be able to find and wear different prayer beads on their wrist that will give stat boosts to various skills and attributes. Clothing is also fully customizable, allowing you to completely change Akito’s look throughout the campaign. Along with that, the healing system in Ghostwire: Tokyo works in typical Japanese fashion, by eating delicious food. You can find food scattered throughout the open world as well as purchase some in the in-game shop. Food not only heals Akito, but it also gives him temporary stats boosts as well. I found a pretty large variety of food on my playthrough and I imagine there will be more to find throughout my time in Tokyo.

Expectations

Ghostwire: Tokyo has blown away all of my expectations! I wasn't expecting so much content packed into this title. The premise of the game is dark but it is carried out in a great mix of light-hearted flair and dramatic story elements. The plot has me intrigued and wanting to know more about the world of Ghostwire: Tokyo.

One thing I am a little concerned about is the performance on console. Ghostwire: Tokyo does give multiple options including a performance mode, which outputs the game in 1080p 60FPS. This was my preferred mode and I recorded our 20-minute playthrough in this mode. However, there are moments when I was up on the skyscrapers and looking down at the city that caused a bit of a drop for a moment's notice. It's nothing game-breaking but it is noticeable. Hopefully, this is something that can be patched before the final release of the game. Again, combat and exploration bring solid performance in this mode.

I am also hopeful that the game will provide a lengthy campaign and offer a decent amount of replayability with its varied side missions. Considering this is a AAA single-player experience, we have yet to see any details of post-launch content.

Verdict

Ghostwire: Tokyo is shaping up to be a fantastic addition to Bethesda’s catalog and will definitely give Tango Gameworks the recognition they rightfully deserve. Coming from the founder Shinji Mikami, who started his career in the early days of Capcom, this team is truly bringing their A-game to the table. We can not wait for the full release of this game. Be sure to look out for our full review closer to launch.

 Ghostwire: Tokyo releases March 25th exclusively for console on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.