'Ghost Of Tsushima' Studio Says Combat System Took Six Years To Perfect

I'd be the first to admit that I'm not the biggest fan of Ghost Of Tsushima. I'm aware I'm well in the minority, but the open-world adventure never quite pulled me in in the same way it did so many others. Even so, there's no denying that the game itself is absolutely stunning. And no matter how bored I got of the open-world busywork, I was always delighted to engage in its next-level combat.

Truly, swordplay in Ghost Of Tsushima is something else. Each encounter feels like a true battle of wits as you stand your ground and maintain composure. Sure, you can mash buttons and jump around manically if you really want, but that won't get you anywhere. Combat in the historical action-adventure really invites you to consider you surroundings, your enemy's movements, and your own posture. It's a stunning achievement, and one that apparently took developer Sucker Punch six years to perfect.

Speaking at a virtual AMA session during the GDC Showcase (thanks, IGN), Sucker Punch co-founder Brian Fleming explained the combat was the most difficult feature to implement in Ghost Of Tsushima.

He said, "the combat system was something that the team that worked on that - the handful of programmers and designers and animators - you know they worked nonstop for six years and built multiple versions of it with multiple approaches."

Fleming added that it was a "long, difficult road" that forced the team to test out the combat in various conditions, taking the terrain, lighting, and other factors into account. Given that combat can obviously take place anywhere on the game's map, it was important for Sucker Punch to ensure that fights maintained their cinematic flair wherever players found themselves. Fleming said this was an "elusive, nonstop effort over literally a six-year journey continuing to work on that."

With Ghost Of Tsushima 2 all but confirmed and an excellent combat system already in place, I for one can't wait to see what new heights Sucker Punch can elevate the sequel to.

Topics: GAMING, Sucker Punch, News, PlayStation