Why Didn’t “Ghost of Tsushima” Need Exact History?

“Ghost of Tsushima” didn’t need to be historically precise because it focused on fun, not teaching history lessons. A recent analysis by Kensaku Namera from Nomura Securities, translated by Automaton, showed why Japanese fans loved the game even with its inaccuracies. Namera explained that a game can succeed in Japan not by being 100% accurate, but by showing a deep understanding of culture and history without pushing any specific views.

In “Ghost of Tsushima, ” the developers made some mix-ups for the sake of entertainment. Jin’s samurai gear and haiku poetry aren’t exactly from the same era, but fans didn’t mind. It showed that the creators prioritized making an engaging game. Namera said that if a game wrongly portrays history in a Western-centric way, it can cause a backlash. “Ghost of Tsushima” avoided this by not imposing any ideology and consulting with experts. Namera concluded that history-based games should prioritize fun and understanding of culture over perfect accuracy. This approach helped “Ghost of Tsushima” become popular in Japan. Now, fans look forward to the sequel, “Ghost of Yotei, ” which also has some clever historical tweaks.

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