Ghost of Tsushima Proves Mini-Maps Are Unnecessary

While Ghost of Tsushima may borrow a lot of elements from popular games, one thing that it does differently is get rid of the navigational user interface. Rather, Ghost of Tsushima strategically incorporates a guiding wind mechanism that guides players to their location without breaking the flow of the game.

In the game, players assume the role of Jin Sakai, one of the only remaining samurai on the island of Tsushima. Lord Sakai is trying to round up allies to not only save his uncle, Lord Shimura, who has been captured by Mongolian leader Khotun Kahn, but to re-take the island of Tsushima itself from the invading Mongol forces.

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Ghost of Tsushima’s open-world design lets players finish a variety of side quests while also completing Ghost of Tsushima’s main story campaign. The map begins to darken like an ink blot when new territory has been discovered, enticing players to travel from the tip of the island to the very bottom in order to see all the colorful sights Tsushima has to offer.

Why Ghost of Tsushima’s Wind Mechanism Is So Groundbreaking

Most games force players to constantly glance at the corners of their screens while playing, be it to look at a mini-map or to check on health or item states. While Ghost of Tsushima does have a health bar during combat encounters, the game thankfully does not stick a large number of icons on the screen while traveling Tsushima’s open world. Instead, players simply follow the wind.

Players can always utilize the guiding wind mechanism by swiping up on the PS4’s touchpad. A few large gusts of wind will flow in the direction the player should go, whether it be a tracked location, the beginning of a quest, or a point of interest. Players can continue swiping up as often as they want to make the window blow harder and to make it easier to find their target. Otherwise, smaller gusts of wind will continue blowing to ensure players stay on track. Granted, the guiding wind does not create a clear line from one point to the next like a traditional mini-map would, which may frustrate some players who prefer a more straight-forward navigational system. By not clogging up the user interface with maps and other navigational tools, however, it allows players to focus on the tantalizing scenery, and to feel fully immersed in the game.

Even more impressive, there are guiding wind upgrades that allow players to directly search for collectibles and special locations, including hot springs, bamboo strikes, shrines, and fox dens. The upgrades can be located in the “Techniques” menu, under the “Samurai” section, which reveals the different upgrades players can get. A header titled “Exploration” specifically shows the variety of wind upgrades players can gain access to, though it requires a single technique point to unlock each of the upgrades. After purchasing the upgrade, players will need to switch to the Traveler’s Attire.

The guiding wind navigational system in Ghost of Tsushima is truly one of the most creative and memorable aspects of the game and is proof that with a little creativity, there’s no excuse for games to clutter up the user interface.

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