Ghost of Tsushima has received substantial praise for more reasons than one, as it seems to check nearly every box that it can. The story is compelling, Jin’s character development feels real and moving, the visuals are absolutely stunning, and the gameplay loop itself is really enjoyable. Yet, still many would argue that one of the game’s greatest features is its photo mode, which allows players to freeze the game and take beautiful screenshots from any angle. Some of the photos players have snapped are simply drop dead gorgeous, so it is no wonder that players have started compiling them all in one place.
The Ghost of Tsushima subreddit has a weekly thread in which it invites its users to post their favorite photo mode screenshots, and so far, fans have been really active in doing so. It seems as though one could scroll through the thread endlessly with how many pictures players have uploaded. Many of them are really cool, funny, or beautiful. Below is a compilation of some of the best pictures uploaded to this week so far, but there is certain to be more great uploads in the coming days.
Raleina - Jin Landscape
This first photo comes courtesy of Raleina, and features Jin in a very dramatic pose. This is one of the photo mode submissions which truly exhibits how amazing this game looks, as everything is rendered in such phenomenal detail. Each blade of grass and wisp of fog stands out from the others, but the most impressive thing is the lighting, which Ghost of Tsushima’s photo mode gives players complete control over. The decision to include the sedge hat in the outfit and angle the shot directly towards the sun to silhouette Jin really makes the whole thing pop that much more.
Soraman36 - Jin and His Horse
This picture, courtesy of Soraman36, shows the more peaceful side of Ghost of Tsushima. Jin and his horse, in this case named Kage, are resting together by a river. Some would say that the flaming village behind them spoils the mood to an extent, but none of the NPCs in the village seem bothered by it either. For those wondering, this isn’t a pose which the player can do, instead it has a chance to occur after the player completes a mission or retakes some territory from the Mongols.
Great-Hatsby - Finishing Blow
Great-Hatsby managed to pause the game at just the right time to get this awesome shot. Jin has just dealt the killing blow to this enemy, and his blood is still flying through the air. This shows of the darker, more visceral side of Ghost of Tsushima, which can at times be an incredibly violent game. The vintage black and white color scheme harkens back to great Samurai films of old, and the ash particles really add to the bloody effect. The way the entire arc of Jin’s swing can be seen in this photo is just too cool.
Jayverrett - Jin in a Field of Red
Jayvarrett’s submission shows Jin standing in a field of red, standing against the wind and staring towards the sunrise. The way the wind effect blows not only his cape but also seems to slightly stretch the clouds towards him is beautiful, and the contrast of color between the red flowers and Jin’s blue-ish armor really stands out. Detractors of Ghost of Tsushima can say what they will, but few could deny the game’s visual brilliance after seeing how the sun seems to dance off the fog in the distance, creating a shimmering effect.
CobySmith - Ghost of Tsushima’s Secret Boss
This image is created by CobySmith, and the photography here is incredible. Jin is posed in front of what seems to be a raging fire surrounded by spark particle effects, placed snugly in the center of the frame on a hill which slopes downwards in both directions behind him. CobySmith managed to set the camera to focus at just the right distance so that Jin is focused in while his surroundings are all slightly blurred, so although the basket is pretty silly, it still looks like a terrifying boss fight.
IWasReloading87 - Heavenly Strike
This image makes perfect use of the dark, rainy night to emphasize its dark themes, as it shows in graphic detail Jin dismembering an enemy warlord. The Heavenly Strike is a move that moves so quickly that the human eye can’t perceive it, but with photo mode fans are able to get a snapshot of it in action. Looking closely, one can see this warlord’s arm falling down his side after it was cut off in one quick slice, and Jin’s mask hides any hint of emotion.
fallb0rn - Nature Shot
While so many of these photos focus on the lovable protagonist, Jin Sakai, it’s just as important to stop and recognize Tsushima’s beauty for what it is. This image captured by fallb0rn does just that, and shows the moonlight peering through the trees and leaves of a forest in Tsushima. The beauty of this shot is in the detail, as just like the first everything can be seen with such clarity. The grass, leaves, rays of light, and even lightning bugs are all shown in such vivid detail that it can be hard to look away.
Reddit’s Weekly Photo Mode Thread
For those that enjoyed looking at these fan made Ghost of Tsushima photos, be sure to check out the official subreddit and find the pinned weekly photo mode thread. There are countless more photos than what was shown here and there are bound to be some gems which were missed or uploaded after this was written. In the meantime, players should continue to get involved with Ghost of Tsushima’s photo mode and its positive community, as there really isn’t anything else quite like it.
Ghost of Tsushima is available now exclusively for PS4.
Source: Ghost of Tsushima Subreddit
