The Art of Ghost of Tsushima
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (1,563 ratings)
Short version: Gorgeous production value, thoughtful unboxing, and an incredible reference for fans. Moreover, speedrunners can squeeze real value out of an artbook. If you grind low-2:00 runs or just adore Jin Sakai’s world, it’s definitely worth the shelf space.
Build & Presentation
- Slipcase + Japanese-style spine binding — reviewers call out an excellent unboxing experience and durable packaging (José and Jerry both praised the sleeve and spine).
- Open spine makes the pages lie flat for easy reference while you flip through between sessions.
- Minor gripe: some pages have wide white margins that feel like wasted real estate, but they keep the layout consistent and elegant.
What’s Inside
- Character artwork: armor sets, dye variations, and costume breakdowns — detailed visual references for every loadout.
- Environment pieces: mood-driven landscapes, atmospheric sketches, and lighting studies that capture the game’s weather and time-of-day choices.
- Development artifacts: storyboards, menu mockups, and promo art that show design intent and pacing.
- Player notes: fans repeatedly called it “beautiful” and “surprising” for extra details — Jerry D Skinner, José, and Luke all left 5-star impressions highlighting the aesthetics and detail.
Why Speedrunners Should Care
- Landmark recognition — Memorize silhouette shapes and color palettes from the landscape art to faster-identify Guiding Wind targets mid-run. Visual shorthand saves seconds when you’re choosing horse vs sprint routes.
- Environmental pacing — The artbook’s lighting studies reveal high-contrast choke points and common vantage locations. Use that to plan stealth approaches or forced-combat routes where camera angles and elevation affect hit windows.
- Armor cues = tactical cues — Studying armor variations helps you instantly read NPC types during fights (aggressive vs defensive stances, heavy vs light armor). That split-second recognition helps with parry timings and stance swaps in tight encounters.
- Storyboard timing — Seeing how cutscenes and camera coverage were composed gives you a feel for where transitions occur. That helps anticipate animation timing and optimize menu/button inputs around predictable pauses.
- Calm, practical practice — Flip through a moody landscape before a marathon run to get into the vibe. Visual priming reduces decision noise and improves routing choices when fatigue sets in.
Player Highlights
- “Beautiful book and artwork” — José (5/5): praised the slip case and comfortable open spine; noted the moody landscape work and extensive storyboarding.
- “Beautiful Book with Surprising Extra Details” — Jerry D Skinner (5/5): loved the unboxing, binding, and attention to design detail; said it surpasses other game art books he owns.
- “Ghost of tshushima book” — Luke (5/5): concise endorsement for fans — “great book… beautiful details and drawings.”
Final Verdict
Score: 4.7 / 5 — For collectors, lore-hounds, and runners who value visual intelligence, The Art of Ghost of Tsushima is more than coffee-table flair. It’s a practical reference that tightens recognition, routing, and combat reads. Buy it if you love the game, want a tactile companion for marathon prep, or are chasing marginal gains in run consistency.
