Ghostwire Tokyo, the much-anticipated supernatural, first-person action game by developer Tango Gameworks and published by Bethesda, is on its way - and the most recent trailer makes it clear this new title they are not messing around.
Set in the titular city Tokyo and beginning on the iconic Shibuya Crossing, some paranormal catastrophe has occurred that causes all the residents to disappear - leaving the city almost empty and shrouded in a deadly mist.
One man has somehow survived the devastation, but it has left him changed.
Some eerie creatures appear, that look like they have stepped out of a horror film. The mist snatches up a few other terrified survivors, while some Slenderman looking creatures head for the protagonist.
A masked antagonist reveals himself, saying: “there remains work yet undone” - and what follows is some abstract and trippy visuals showing off the game's world and characters, as well as the supernatural powers you will be wielding.
We were lucky enough to attend a presentation of the new Ghostwire game, showing off a beta build of the beginning of the game.
Tango Gameworks is known for their work on previous survival horror title, The Evil Within, and they seemed to have refined their horror work in Ghostwire Tokyo.
Set in contemporary Tokyo, nearly all of the citizens have vanished mysteriously in strange fog and dangerous, otherworldly spirits, known as Visitors, have invaded the city.
But protagonist Akito, isn’t alone; he is somehow merged with the spectre of a mysterious spirit hunter called KK, and this union allows you to use KK’s supernatural powers to survive in this city of the dead and perform devastating attacks.
While exploring the city and trying to discover the cause of the disaster, you are often attacked by the spirits haunting the metropolis.
You also encounter a group working with a man in a demonic-looking Hannya mask who seems to be the cause of this strange event and has nefarious plans, involving Akito’s sister.
The Unreal 4 Engine completely brings the city of Tokyo to life and it's rendered with incredible detail. The game world radiates atmosphere; its dark, misty, deserted and dimly lit side streets, the neon lights, puddle reflections and shadows look fantastic thanks to ray-tracing technology.
With richly detailed abandoned cars and faintly glowing neon signs everywhere, it sets a much grimmer tone than, say, the streets of Kamurochō from the Yakuza series.
But the most impressive moments are when the supernatural world bleeds into the real world to create some stunning and disturbing effects, like the space around you shifting and rewriting itself - the walls become invisible so you can see the night sky; you can be transported to a flooded city, or watching loads of umbrellas float upwards.
They look so cool it’s almost a shame to fix them and return the spaces to normal.
The supernatural powers look very flashy and are visually very reminiscent of Doctor Strange, with flashy lights, particle effects and glowing kanji characters. These are a stark contrast to the realistic and grounded portrayal of Tokyo, which seem to compliment each other so well.
Combat mostly relies on supernatural powers that look like something out of a Shōnen anime called “Ethereal Weaving” rather than the typical guns affair.
When in combat with horrifying apparitions Akito uses these spells to weaken and stun enemies, then uses some sort of wire to remove their core causing them to disintegrate; simple enough when fighting one lone hostile, but difficult when swarmed by Visitors.
Using intricate hand gestures that look like something out of a martial arts film, you can land devastating combos of supernatural attacks before ripping out the spectres cores and watching them dissolve, which feels very reminiscent of the glory kills in the recent Doom series.
Using Ethereal Weaving, you can harness different elemental abilities like fire, water, electricity, and wind. You can also use these abilities defensively to block projectiles and attacks, and perfectly timing these blocks can send the projectile back at enemies.
These powers can also be used to help you traverse the city too, like using the Tengu ability to grapple to the top of buildings like some sort of magical Batman.
You also receive a bow early off that helps you take out hostiles at a longer range, and is faster and easier than using spirit weaving to take out enemies.
You don’t have to go in all finger guns blazing as you can use stealth attacks on your enemies, allowing you to despatch them quickly and quietly.
You can use spectral vision, which allows you to see foes - including invisible ones - as well as using it to help you to find secret areas.
You also find talismans that act like elemental grenades and give you more options in combat.
RPG elements are also present with the player gaining experience points, which can be used to unlock new abilities and powers as well as upgrade your elemental attacks based on your play style.
While exploring the city you will discover Japanese spirits called Yokai as well as the hostile Visitors; the Yokai can be captured to give you new abilities and powers, some will also help you.
Thankfully there are other friendly faces willing to help Akio on his journey, but they have their own issues and loved ones that need finding and it’s up to you to save them too.
There are also spirits roaming the world who have unfinished business, and these will offer side quests in order to help them pass on.
You will sometimes encounter the visitors trying to capture some of the helpless spirits of those who were transformed by the strange fog.
However, if you intervene and save them, you can absorb these spirits then transfer them to a phone booth to change them back.
One standout feature of the game are the Utena spaces which are abstract areas where time, space and reality are warped and this is where the game really lets loose the crazy, fascinating, and sometimes downright scary nightmare-like sequences. In order to escape them, you'll need to explore them and find the exit.
This can lead to some clever platforming as rooms can be flipped and sizes and shapes can change, which help to give you an uneasy feeling as you try to traverse the space.
The game appears to be an open world with a fairly large area to traverse, and you unlock more of the map by finding and cleansing Tori gates which clears some of the mist and opens up new locations.
There’s a pulsing vicious vein of horror running through the game that helps give it a strong and menacing atmosphere that looks tense but exciting.
The design of the Visitors is disturbing and unique, with several terrifying and varied visitors that all have their own behaviour and way of fighting.
Some designs will look vaguely familiar to fans of Japanese horror, as their creepy designs are based on folklore and superstition.
Several foes will be invisible and some leave behind some sort of corruption on the environment which you need to cleanse.
Faceless salarymen, long-limbed crones, School uniforms with no heads and - my least favourite - the glowing eyes of the yellow raincoat kid, alert other Visitors as to your presence.
Rescuing trapped spirits gains you a form of currency and you can use it to buy food and items to help you.
There are some lighter-hearted moments like the floating cats or Yokai spirits that run convenience stores and will sell you items.
But what does the Hannya masked antagonist want with you, and why does he show up to taunt you?
So far, the game looks compelling, scary and visually stunning with a creepy and strange take on Tokyo I cannot wait to explore myself.
The game will be released as a timed exclusive on PS5 and PC with Xbox coming later.
The release date is currently March 25, 2022, and from what I’ve seen of Ghostwire Tokyo it shows plenty of spirit.
