Tango Gameworks and Bethesda have something special in supernatural action-adventure title recent Assassin's Creed games, the Ghostwire: Tokyo preview gameplay is more than enough reason to justify taking a longer work once the game arrives in 2022.
Ghostwire: Tokyo follows Akito, a Tokyo citizen caught up in a mind-boggling, city-wide haunting that has caused all living denizens to vanish, replaced by an invasion of spirits, both malevolent and benign. Akito's affinity for the supernatural awakens in the midst of the beginning of this event, and, accompanied by the spirit of a ghost hunter, he embarks on a dual-purpose quest to end the threat of 's villain and save his sister.
While the preview did establish some of Ghostwire: Tokyo's broader thematic concerns, it was primarily used to demonstrate the gameplay that will carry players from one point of intrigue to the next. That said, the dynamic between Akito and KK is already entertaining, with expert voice-acting in Japanese helping to convey the differences between a fledgling entrant into the spirit world and a seasoned veteran.
Ghostwire: Tokyo's gameplay seems to be divided into several sections. One involves open-world exploration in a fairly sizeable map, populated by spirits offering side quests, shrines to cleanse (and new powers to be gained through this process), and a smattering of enemies and secrets to engage with. The aesthetics of this world are incredible, and one of the biggest selling points in Ghostwire: Tokyo - at least in a hands-off setting - is undoubtedly its visuals, which consistently draw the eye towards small, interesting details in the city.
While the open-world elements borrow heavily from previous games like Horizon: Zero Dawn and Assassin's Creed, the combat is more reminiscent of something like Dishonored. Akito can use a mixture of spells, weapons, and stealth to take down enemies, and the combinations of these seem both varied and fluid. Several moments of the gameplay demonstration featured Akito transitioning easily between stealth and long-range combat, for instance, while some examples of blocking attacks mid-offensive chain offers some insight into the different playstyles that are ready to emerge from the Ghostwire: Tokyo engine.
That's to say nothing of a few more closed-off exploration segments in the Ghostwire: Tokyo gameplay preview, which featured Akito navigating through bizarre apartments warped by the presence of spirits. One apartment was entirely sideways, while another contained the lingering ghost of a terrible landlord - and both were colored by a tension in the exploration that felt different than the equally scary navigation of the overworld map.
Movement through the world is also similarly tailored to the environment, with dashing and weaving in combat balanced out in the slower, more plodding shifts to apartment exploration. One thing that's consistent is the aforementioned fluidity of the experience - throughout the entire gameplay demonstration, there were barely any interruptions in of loading into something, and easy switches between world exploration and do-or-die battles makes Ghostwire: Tokyo feel like it doesn't have much in the way of "dead air," save for the spirits floating about.
Of course, tailored preview presentations - especially ones that are hands-off - can dazzle more than the final product, and the usual warning applies to Ghostwire: Tokyo, too. Without actually playing the game, it's impossible to say if its combat is actually as engaging as it looked, and with only 40-or-so minutes of gameplay viewed, how much the rest of the game stands up to the initial high quality of its opening moments remains to be seen.
With all of that in mind, however, it's hard not to be extremely excited for Ghostwire: Tokyo. So much of what was shown in the gameplay preview fits together in compelling ways, and across 40 minutes of real gameplay, things felt balanced and engaging throughout. Although the horror elements might make it a little difficult at times for those who aren't fond of the genre, Ghostwire: Tokyo is one to watch closely, and might deliver one of 2022's best experiences if it follows through on its eerie potential.
Ghostwire: Tokyo is set to release in 2022 for PC and PlayStation 5. Screen Rant was invited to a hands-off preview event for the purpose of this article.
