Tango Gameworks' upcomingGhostwire: Tokyoseems to be a bold step in mixing traditional survival horror with action-packed gameplay. Boasting renowned developers such as Shinji Mikami at the creative helm, expectations run high forthis timed PS5 exclusive.
Ghostwire: Tokyois taking some direct inspiration from the Japanese Yokai folklore in the department of enemy design. An increasingly popular choice,Ghostwire: Tokyois seemingly employing some clever tricks to ensure that the enemy designs feel fresh and unique.
RELATED:How Shinji Mikami’s Resident Evil Background May Impact GhostWire: Tokyo
Ghostwire: Tokyo’s Approach To Enemy Design
As previously mentioned,Ghostwire: Tokyotakes quite a bit of influence from the Japanese Yokai folk tales, which is fitting since the game is itself set in Tokyo. For the uninitiated, Yokai is a class of supernatural monsters that have been mentioned in Japanese folk tales. Yokai usually cause harm and misfortune, and their looks can range from humanoid to monstrous.Ghostwire: Tokyois already distancing itself from traditional survival horror in many ways, which neatly translates into the enemy designs as well.
Instead of settling for standard Yokai enemies,Ghostwire: Tokyocombines these mythic beast designs with urban legends and pop cultureto create a unique mix of enemy designs that might seem equally fresh and distinctive. The most recognizable seems to be the umbrella-wielding Faceless Spirits that resemble Slender Man in many ways. Others such as the headless ghost seemingly combines the Nukekobi Yokai (that has the ability to detach its head) and a stereotypical anime school girl. There’s a lot more as well, with the Kuchisake resembling urban horror tales prevalent in Japanese culture, as well as the Ghostwire clan members with recognizable masks used in theatre.
How Ghostwire: Tokyo Differentiates Itself From Traditional Yokai
Japanese Yokai folklore seems to have quite a rich history, and more and more developers seem to be more willing to leverage these designs.Nioh 2is perhaps the most popular, featuring aggressive enemies from these tales such as the Kappa and the Enki. In addition toGhostwire: Tokyo, the upcomingShadow Warrior 3is set to feature some of these creatures with the Enki (a Yokai monkey) having an almost identical design, but with different functions.Nioh 2andShadow Warrior 3have radically different combat systems, and thus identical Yokai creatures have different abilities which can prove immersion-breaking for some.
On the other hand,Ghostwire: Tokyo’s combat system seems to be a fast-paced spell-fest, resemblingDoom’s glory-killing in many ways. The enemies are fittingly enough more aggressive than what the folklore might suggest, butGhostwire’s mix of urban legends and Yokai-Esque designs legitimize any disconnect that might happen with such irregularities.Director Shinji Mikami is known for including uniquely gross enemy designsas evident by his work onResident EvilandThe Evil Within.Ghostwire: Tokyoseems to be the culmination of it all, and fighting these unique Yokai could prove entertaining.
Ghostwire: Tokyois set for release in 2021 on PC and PlayStation 5.
