According to the ESRB, Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima follows a fallen samurai, Jin Sakai, as he avenges his clan while repelling the Mongol invaders.
Ghost of Tsushima takes its cues from the real life history of the Mongol invasion, but also from classic samurai movies, particularly those of Akira Kurosawa. One of the most venerated filmmakers of all time, Kurosawa's pantheon of films are partially responsible for the modern perception of the fabled Japanese warriors, and his work inspired directors from John Sturges to George Lucas.
Even when viewed by today's audiences, who are generally desensitized, Kurosawa's films feel noteworthy for their high level of violent bloodletting. That influence will carry over to Ghost of Tsushima, which has been officially rated M for Mature by the ESRB. The description for the game makes note of decapitation, immolation, severed limbs, buckets of blood, and a bare butt.
The bare butt comes from a character who is seen bathing in a hot spring, and the rating makes sure to note that it's a male posterior. As for the violent acts, the ESRB notes that cutscenes feature grisly images, like civilians being burned at the stake and a soldier getting decapitated, with the severed head being presented to the camera. By all s, Ghost of Tsushima could be the most violent game developer Sucker Punch has ever made.
Thus far, the marketing campaign for Ghost of Tsushima has not been centered on its violent content, but it hasn't shied away from it, either. Various gameplay demos have shown off the intense swordplay, but not necessarily as the central focus, as was the case with graphic violence as The Last of Us Part 2, but it's a historically-focused title set in an era where samurai cut each other to pieces with razor-sharp samurai swords. For the sake of authenticity and respect to the history on which it's based, Ghost of Tsushima has to be a violent video game.
Source: ESRB
