Writing Lessons from Video Games: Ghost of Tsushima

Last year, a friend recommended Ghost of Tsushima and I had a bunch of games to play already so I didn’t give it a look until about a month ago. I watched some videos of the gameplay and was put off by the amount of blood in the game, so I was about to give it a pass until I found out that you can turn the blood off in the settings. Knowing that I purchased the game and I’m so glad I did! This may end up being one of the best games I play this year!

Ghost of Tsushima tells of the historical fiction story of Jin Sakai, a young samurai who’s one of the few survivors of the actual battle of Komoda Beach in Tsushima, Japan during the Mongol Invasion in 1274. With nearly all samurai on the island wiped out in a single night, Jin takes it upon himself to liberate his people and drive the Mongols out of his homeland.

Warning Spoilers: Points 2-5 are full of them.

1.) Character Doing Things Despite Rejection

At one point in the game, Jin visits a woman’s house. She and her family have been poisoned, but despite Jin’s offer for help, she refuses him because she fears him. Even though the woman insults him and rejects him, Jin decides to get an antidote for her because it’s the right thing to do.

How this Applies to Our Writing: There’s something special about the character doing the right thing despite people not wanting the character to do it. Jin didn’t expect anything in return but he just wanted to see this family safe and healthy. This was a powerful moment in his character for me. It reminded me of Iroh following Zuko close behind despite Zuko rejecting his uncle. It’s so selfless.

2.) Some Characters Take the Easy Route

Ryozo was Jin’s childhood best friend who held a grudge against Jin after Jin beat him in a duel. In the first half of the game, Jin helps Ryuzo and his Straw Hat fighters, so as to have them as allies to fight against the Mongols. But instead of following through with his promise to Jin, Ryuzo instead allies with the Mongols because he thinks it guarantees safety and provisions for him and his men.

How this Applies to Our Writing: Doing the right thing is hard and some characters don’t want to take the hard route. I harken back to Dumbledore’s famous line, “We must choose between what is right and what is easy.” And sometimes characters will take the easy way out. Percy Weasley from Harry Potter is another example. He’d rather keep his job and security than lose those things to do what’s right.

3.) Older Characters Passing Away from Natural Causes

Yuriko is Jin’s elderly childhood caretaker. As Jin is liberating Tsushima he returns home to Omi Village to find her alive and safe. She asks him to come with her to a few special spots including her family’s gravesite. As Jin rides with her you see reality and memory blending together for Yuriko. She calls him by his father’s name and forgets where she is. By the end of this day of sightseeing, she asks Jin to play her a song on his flute and by the end, she’s passed.

How this Applies to Our Writing: When an elderly relative or friend has passed it’s a different sort of pain as someone having life stolen from them prematurely. Instead of abrupt it’s watching a person fade and reach the end of their mortal journey.

Another example is Gramma Tala from Moana. Moana knew the day she’d lose her grandmother was coming, but when the day came she was taken aback. She didn’t expect it to be now, that she’d have a few more months or years. As someone who’s lost nearly all of their grandparents, I can’t say the pain is much easier but it’s softer in a way. The person has reached their end and will hopefully be at peace in the next life.

4.) Consequences for Going Too Far

During the latter half of the game, Jin takes things a step too far to gain a victory. I personally think he was right to try another plan to prevent more people from getting killed, but using poison ended up revealing that weapon to the enemy. The Mongols then proceeded to use that poison to hurt innocent and even against Jin.

How this Applies to Our Writing: I really don’t like it when I see characters do horrible things, but then they just seem to be able to get away with it. No personal consequences seem to happen to them besides being hunted by the law, but everyone seems to be in fiction these days. This consequence personally hurt Jin because he watched his weapon turned on other people. Another example I’d say is during the Doctor Who episode “The Water on Mars.” The Tenth Doctor take his power too far and decides to try to change history, but he instead denies a woman a noble death and pushes her to suicide. This cut him to the core.

5.) Sometimes Being a Hero Means Losing Material Gain

Though Jin ended up saving his home, his methods didn’t sit well at all with the shogun and the samurai. Because of this in the end, he has his clan disbanded and his home taken away. He’s branded an outlaw and has to run from the samurai for the rest of his life.

How this Applies to Our Writing: Tony Stark managed to keep his funds from his company, but Jin Sakai wasn’t so lucky. It may seem trivial to some to lose your stuff to do what’s right, but imagine losing your home, being able to freely see your loved ones, and be able to even show your face in public without worrying about someone coming after to you. Sacrificing normal comforts is a big deal too.

Conclusion

This is a really powerful game with a great protagonist. Highly recommend for both the great writing and the gameplay.

Have you played Ghost of Tsushima Have you noticed these writing aspects? What video games have you noticed have good writing? What have you been playing lately? Let’s geek out together!