PlayStation title is something entirely different. While Final Fantasy originally built its legendary status on Nintendo systems, it made the leap to PlayStation when the disc-based PS1 offered more possibilities than the limited storage space of the Nintendo 64. Since then, the series has consistently appeared on Sony's consoles, and multi-platform releases haven't eroded a strong association between the brands.
Sakaguchi's most hands-on involvement with Final Fantasy generally predates the move to PlayStation, however, as he directed the first five titles before moving to a producer role and eventually away from the series altogether. As far as his work goes, he's mostly stuck to the RPG genre, directing, producing, or writing games like Blue Dragon, The Last Story, and Fantasian. When it comes to enjoying the output of other creatives, the same rules don't apply, and the action-adventure experience Ghost of Tsushima received his highest commendation for any PlayStation experience.
Ghost of Tsushima Is Sakaguchi's Favorite PS Game Ever
A Historical Japanese Stealth Adventure Takes The Crown
Sakaguchi shared his love for Ghost of Tsushima in a podcast available on the celebrating Final Fantasy 14.
Why Sakaguchi Likes Ghost Of Tsushima So Much
An Unusually Cohesive Vision
Ghost of Tsushima was a well-received game across the board, but Sakaguchi granting it such a high honor goes above and beyond the general positivity surrounding the game. As a stealth-oriented action-adventure game set in historical Japan, the American-made Ghost of Tsushima earned praise from plenty of Japanese fans who appreciated its marriage of polished gameplay and cultural respect. Sakaguchi, in particular, seems taken with how cohesive the experience is, praising how various aspects like the stealth gameplay and narrative come together seamlessly.
"The smooth action, the thrill of stealth, a well-rounded narrative, and the stunning world that feels so alive. I felt that all these elements share a common philosophy which made me enjoy and appreciate the game even more." — Hironobu Sakaguchi
The praise makes a lot of sense, especially coming from a legendary creative whose games have always presented engaging worlds full of interesting ideas and beautiful details. While Ghost of Tsushima borrows plenty of familiar elements from the Assassin's Creed series, its focus on a "common philosophy" is the main thing that sets it apart. Open-world games can often feel like a disparate pile of features, but Ghost of Tsushima is full of simple, elegant ideas, like abandoning on-screen quest markers in favor of wind that points the way to the next objective.
Ghost Of Yotei - Release Date, Preorders, Price, Editions, Gameplay, & Story Details
The sequel to Ghost of Tsushima is finally on the horizon, with a confirmed release date in 2025 and several different editions to pre-order.
I wouldn't personally go so far as to declare Ghost of Tsushima my all-time favorite PlayStation game, and as far as exclusives go, Final Fantasy 7 would be a stronger contender. Nonetheless, it's cool to hear Final Fantasy's Hironobu Sakaguchi speak so effusively of a creation he was never involved in, and I imagine his praise for Ghost of Tsushima is priceless to many of the developers who worked on the PlayStation exclusive.
Source: PlayStation Blog, Genki/X
Ghost of Tsushima
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- Top Critic Avg: 84/100 Critics Rec: 88%
- Released
- July 17, 2020
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
- Engine
- Proprietary
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