STACK #190 Aug 2020

REVIEWS GAMING

STACK

Out now at

GHOST OF TSUSHIMA

GENRE: ACTION ADVENTURE

PLATFORM: PS4

MULTIPLAYER: NO

“Wouldn’t it be cool to be a samurai, and do samurai stuff?”That was essentially the kernel of an idea that led to Sucker Punch’s extraordinary Ghost of Tsushima . It’s hard to talk about Ghost of Tsushima without first addressing the visuals. Put simply, they’re breathtaking. Spectacular. We spent much longer playing the

game to completion than we could have, simply as we kept stopping to take happy snaps! Ultimately though, you can have all the looks in the world, but no game to back it up. With a setting based on the feudal era

THE LONG AND WINDY ROAD Some help is given in finding collectibles, be it the guidance of helpful foxes, golden birds or your friend the wind. With a quick swipe of the DualShock’s touchpad, visible gusts blow in the direction to follow.

battles – and myriad collectibles. Ultimately, combat is the key draw here, and while sometimes rather tumultuous when half the Mongol army seems to be assailing you, patience – and strategy – rewards. Mongol groups generally contain several types of warrior, all of which you gradually become better equipped to deal with via technique and weapon upgrades. There’s much to learn, but it’s all introduced at an absorbable pace. Beyond the graphics and a wealth of gameplay to revel in, what makes Ghost of Tsushima such an utter joy to play is its refinement – it’s just eminently player-friendly. PlayStation may be set to unleash a new beast in the PS5, but Ghost of Tsushima proves that there’s plenty of life in the PS4 yet. We’ll say it again: breathtaking. AF

invasion of Japan’s Tsushima Island by the Mongols, there’s a lot of scope for action and depth, and Ghost of Tsushima delivers. You are Jin Sakai, one of few surviving samurai after the Mongol invasion. Commencing your quest with little by way of protection other than feeble gear and a whole lot of will, progression rewards via

F1 2020

GENRE: RACING

PLATFORM: PS4, XBOX ONE

MULTIPLAYER: YES

Where F1 2019 felt like you were holding on to the reins of a runaway wild stallion, the accessibility of F1 2020 makes for a much more anxiety- free experience. Yet, at the flick of a switch, the safety assist functions disappear and you’re left with a closer, more authentic experience that treats your car like the untamed, four-wheel engine of doom that you would expect from a Formula 1 machine. Accessibility really is the hallmark of F1 2020 . It means that younger F1 fans, or those wanting a more casual experience, can jump in and feel the thrill of the game without needing to invest significant hours in order to get there. There’s still all the brutality that you would expect from racing at this level, though. The margins for error are razor thin and the price for failure is incredibly high. With none of the assists on, straying

IT’S SCHUEY TIME! F1 2020 features the truly awesome Michael Schumacher, along with access to some of his classic cars, gear and his unique celebration – which players can use to customise their career or multiplayer avatars.

even a single tyre off the track can lead to a wild spinout. The all new ‘My Team’ mode is a breath of fresh

air for the series. As a brand-new eleventh team in the F1 competition, you get to build your racing empire from scratch. You create a driver, select an engine supplier, woo sponsors, hire a teammate, build facilities, and develop your team, all before you even set one inch of rubber on the road. F1 2020 looks brilliant, too. Codemasters have once again cranked out a cracking title which may currently be the best, most authentic, racing sim experience available. From on-track physics to the sheer visual and audio simulation of high- speed racing, F1 2020 is the pure racing experience that fans deserve. DN

81