Skipping Cutscenes in Ghost of Tsushima: What You Need to Know
Ghost of Tsushima, by Sucker Punch, is renowned for its immersive storytelling and breathtaking visuals set in feudal Japan. But as players venture into Jin Sakai's world, the allure of jumping straight into the combat scenes is irresistible for some. If you're one of those who'd rather skip the narrative to dive into the action, here’s a guide on how to do that efficiently in Ghost of Tsushima.
New Game Plus: Your Ticket to Cutscene Skipping
To get straight to the point: Yes, you can skip cutscenes in Ghost of Tsushima. However, this convenient feature is exclusively available in New Game Plus (NG+). During your first playthrough, you're required to experience every cinematic moment the developers crafted. This might feel restrictive to players who are more interested in the action than the narrative. Still, Sucker Punch intended for players to engage with Jin's story during the initial playthrough fully. Once you've completed the game, NG+ becomes accessible. Starting a New Game Plus allows you to carry over almost all items and upgrades from your original playthrough. More importantly, it grants the ability to skip the narrative interludes that you’ve already experienced. This feature is helpful for those eager to re-engage in the epic battles without the pauses of cutscenes they’ve already seen.
How to Engage New Game Plus
Beginning your journey in New Game Plus is straightforward. From the main title menu, select the New Game Plus option. You will then choose the saved file you want to carry over. NG+ kicks off with Jin’s ride through the pampas grass, skipping the detailed prologue that first-time players go through. The skipping feature is now at your disposal throughout the game. However, key narrative sequences that are vital to the story may still be unskippable, although these instances are rare. These are usually groundbreaking moments that tie the story together, ensuring that even in NG+, some storytelling remains intact.
Skipping Cutscenes: The Mechanics
Balancing between gameplay and fast-forwarding through the story elements is simple in NG+. During any cutscene, you will get an on-screen prompt instructing you to 'hold X to skip the cutscene.' This indication is clear and user-friendly, ensuring that players seamlessly skip ahead without any confusion. Once you hold down the button as directed, Jin will proceed to the next playable segment, eliminating the need to watch the scene. This mechanic is particularly useful for speed runs, replaying specific battles, or simply enjoying the beautiful landscape of Tsushima without narrative interruptions. Most of the game’s cutscenes are skippable once you're in NG+, allowing for a more personalized second playthrough.
The Few Unskippables
While most scenes are skippable in NG+, certain critical junctures in the story won’t allow this. These key moments are vital to comprehending the broader narrative and may involve intricate character developments or plot twists. Sucker Punch has ensured these infrequent scenes remain unskippable to retain the story's depth and integrity, even for players who have completed the game. Ignoring these few scenes would mean missing out on crucial storyline elements, which the developers want to avoid. Thus, the unskippable segments are essential for preserving the game's emotional and narrative impact, even for those taking a second or third run at it.
Potential Future Updates
Ghost of Tsushima has found a massive fanbase, and with this popularity comes the possibility of updates. Currently, no default options or mods are available to skip cutscenes in the game’s initial playthrough. However, as the game expands into new formats like releases on PC, the scenario might change. PC modders, in particular, are known to create custom solutions for gaming experiences. If any future mods emerge that allow you to skip cutscenes during the first playthrough, or if Sucker Punch considers an official update, this guide will be updated to reflect such changes. Taking everything into account, the method of skipping scenes in Ghost of Tsushima is straightforward. While the inability to skip during the first playthrough might be a slight inconvenience, the rewarding experience of NG+ compensates well. Engage with the story initially, and later, enjoy the freedom to immerse in the game’s dynamic combat without restriction.
