After a six-month delay and a development cycle that lasted for more than three years, Ghostwire: Tokyo was finally released for the PS5 and PC in March of 2022 before coming to Xbox the following year. Despite its relatively short length and the lukewarm response that it received from critics, the game proved to be incredibly popular with those who played it, with the PC version boasting an impressive 8.7 User Score on Metacritic at the time of writing.
Set primarily in the Shibuya district of Tokyo, Ghostwire: Tokyo places players in the shoes of Akito: a young man who unwittingly finds himself right at the center of a supernatural plot that's threatening to destroy the entire world. With the help of the spirit of a man named KK, they'll need to fight their way through the streets of Tokyo in order to put a stop to the mysterious man in the Hannya mask who is responsible for all of the chaos.
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​​​​Getting Started in Ghostwire: Tokyo
Rather than using a standalone tutorial, Ghostwire: Tokyo instead has players learn while on the job, with the game's entire opening chapter feeling a little like one big lesson on how to play the game. Despite this, there are one or two things that are glazed over, most notably the Hyakki Yako spirit parade and how the game's offering boxes really work.
This section of the guide will include a collection of how-to guides, as well as general tips and tricks for both beginner and advanced players alike. This is also where readers can expect to find answers to some of the more frequently asked questions, including things like the game's pre-order bonuses, early access, and main campaign length.
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How-to Guides
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Tips & Tricks
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Main Story & Boss Guides
Though side missions and collectibles help to pad out the game's length quite a bit, Ghostwire: Tokyo's six main story chapters can be completed in around ten hours, making this a fairly short title by modern standards. Some may find this disappointing, others a little refreshing, but one thing that everybody can probably agree on is that the game is far from easy.
One or two of the game's puzzles can be a little tricky, as too can some of the game's end-of-chapter boss fights. Those needing a little help finding barrier stones or tackling a particularly challenging boss can find guides and walkthroughs to help them right here. There's also a guide on how to fix the bug in Chapter 3 which sometimes prevents players from contacting Ed, which is still to be patched at the time of writing.
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Story Walkthroughs
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Side Missions
As well as its six-chapter main story, Ghostwire: Tokyo also features 42 side missions, which are gradually unlocked as players start to cleanse additional Torii gates around Shibuya. The first few become available early on in Chapter 2, though a couple can only be tackled once players have reached the game's fourth chapter.
Those wishing to see the game's true ending will need to complete every single side mission on offer, which will also reward them with the "Wishmaker" trophy/achievement. Despite what the game tells players, none of the side missions are missable, with players able to return to Chapter 4 upon completing the main story. Here, readers can find walkthroughs for some of the more challenging side missions, including the non-missable three-part quest, "After the End."
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The Spider's Thread
A little over one year on from Ghostwire: Tokyo's initial release for the PlayStation 5 and PC, the title was brought to Microsoft's Xbox Series consoles and was also added to Xbox Game Pass. Given that developer Tango Gameworks is owned by ZeniMax Media, which was acquired by Microsoft in March of 2021, this was perhaps to be expected, but that doesn't mean that the release didn't still bring with it one or two big surprises.
As well as some general bug fixes, the game also received a brand new game mode called The Spider's Thread. It's completely different from Ghostwire: Tokyo's main story, providing players with a roguelite experience that's packed full of new content. This not only makes the game a far more compelling proposition to Xbox players but also provides those who've already completed Ghostwire: Tokyo with a reason to dive back into its stunning open world.
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Collectibles
Like almost every other modern game with open-world sandbox elements, Ghostwire: Tokyo is full to the brim with collectibles for players to track down. These include Jizo Statues, Tanuki, and special Relics that can be traded in for Meika and other great rewards at the various Nekomata cats that can be found scattered around the city.
Unlike other games, however, collecting some of these things can actually help players to grow stronger. Praying at Jizo statues, for example, will increase the maximum capacity of Akito's Ethereal Arts, while other collectible sets reward players with Magatama, which is needed to unlock the nodes barring access to some of the game's very best skills and abilities.
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Tanuki
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Developer Interviews
Prior to the release of Ghostwire: Tokyo, Game ZXC was lucky enough to get a chance to interview some of the team who worked on the game, including legendary Japanese developer, Shinji Mikami. Numerous topics were covered during these interviews, making them a useful source of information for anyone interested in the inspiration behind the game.
Among the topics discussed in these interviews are the relationship between the game's dual protagonists Akito and KK, the challenges of creating a realistic digital depiction of Tokyo, and some of the urban legends which helped to inspire the game's plot and enemy design. For anyone looking for some additional lore and greater insight into the inner workings of the game, this is definitely the best place to start.
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Ghostwire: Tokyo is available now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.