Ghost of Tsushima's cut content explained

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Summary

  • Jin's backstory had major cuts, altering a key plot point.

  • Ryuzo's backstory was also affected by the cut content.

  • A location called “Otsuna Grasslands” was scrapped before release.

When Ghost of Tsushima released in 2020, it didn't take long for it to become one of the most memorable titles released in the modern gaming era. However, despite its most notable features – such as its stunning landscapes and compelling narrative – not all ideas conceived during Ghost of TsushimaIts development has reached the final version.

Since Ghost of Tsushima is literally named after its protagonist, Jin Sakai, the game's story naturally revolves around the character. This is what makes a major cut to his story so significant, as it changes one of the biggest plot points of the story. This, in addition to Ryuzo's even more stripped-down backstory and an abandoned location, comprises the largest parts of Ghost of Tsushima which never made it past the cutting room floor.

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Everything cut from Ghost of Tsushima

A major part of Jin's story was cut from the game

Jin Sakai, Ghost of TsushimaHis protagonist is a compelling character for many reasons, but many of those reasons revolve around his story and motivations. Jin was born into the Sakai Clan, a prestigious samurai family on the island of Tsushima, with his father, Kazumasa Sakai, being the clan's leader. When Jin was a child, his father was killed right in front of him, leaving him deeply scarred and guilt-ridden throughout his life as he believes he should have protected his father. After his father's death, Jin was raised by his uncle, Lord Shimura, the governor of Tsushima Island. Lord Shimura then trained Jin in the ways of the samurai, emphasizing honor and discipline, which ultimately play a major role in Jin's transformation into the Ghost of Tsushima.

Apparently, as if Jin's backstory wasn't already dark and tragic enough, more of the beloved protagonist's story was cut before Ghost of Tsushimahis release. In some dialogue recovered audio for Ghost of TsushimaJin can be heard telling morbid stories about his father to Yunei, who comments on Jin's scars. Jin then explains where the scars come from, and the story behind them actually undercuts the tragedy of his father's death, which the game relied heavily on for its storytelling. In his conversation with Yuna, Jin explains:

“When this happened to me, I would take a bokken and hide in the forest, cut bamboo and pretend he was my father. When I was a child, I once spied my father dressed for battle. he put on this mask and I ran away in terror because my father disappeared instead he was the one who killed people on the battlefield, the one who hurt me at home.

In more clipped dialogue, Yuriko explains to Jin that she understands the pain his father put him through and that he “knew how to train warriors, but he never learned how to raise a son.” She explains to Jin that since his father was a “hero to many people”, the truth about how he treated Jin could not be revealed to the public, lest it ruin any hope the people had once put it in Kazumasa. An even more cutting dialogue between Jin and Yuriko has Jin explaining his desire to be freed from his father and how his scars are “proof” of his father's love. Yuriko then tells Jin that his father was happy the day Jin was born and that she hoped that Jin's birth would change Kazumasa.

More cut Ghost of Tsushima the dialogue features a conversation between Ryuzo and Jin, in which Ryuzo comments on Jin's aggression, to which Jin replies, “It wasn't about you. I was fighting with someone else.”

Some of Ryuzo's backstory was also cut from the game

Jin's backstory in Ghost of Tsushima wasn't the only one affected by the cuts, as the more abandoned audio also divulges a layer of Ryuzo's backstory. In the cut dialogue, Jin asks Ryuzo if he ever wondered what happened to his family. Ryuzo replies, “I was just a kid. There is no answer in the world that makes sense.” Then, when Jin asks if Ryuzo wants to know why his family left him, he replies, “These people are not my family. I'm going with mine!” Jin then tries to comfort Ryuzo by telling him that one day he'll be a samurai, he'll be able to fill a house with a family, and “get old, lazy, and fat.”

One location was abandoned before release

One last piece of Ghost of Tsushima the cut content involves a location called “Otsuna Grasslands”, although it may very well be that the location was simply renamed or repurposed rather than removed altogether. Otsuna Pastures was originally featured in the E3 2018 gameplay reveal for Ghost of Tsushima as a location on the island of Tsushima. In the game, Otsuna is a prefecture in the Toyotama region between Izuhara and Kamiagata, so the Otsuna Pastures would have been found somewhere around there. However, the location was eventually cut before the game's release, though it's possible that Kushi Grasslands will replace it.

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