Absolute Masterpiece. Fluid, satisfying combat that, when played on Lethal difficulty, creates realistic combat scenarios, high pressure situations, and epic duels.

Variety and vastness of the many biomes complemented by myriad of sidequests and POIs that don't feel like a chore to complete given the stunning aesthetic of Tsushima.

Has been criticism staked about the storyline, but I found Jin's battling with the Ghost identity compelling, culminating in a few standout moments with various other characters - of whom are all memorable. Whether historical samurai of the 13th Century particularly cared this much about honour and the Samurai code is hotly debated, and attributed to the mythological tales of later Samurai in the Tokugawa period who did not see much combat - but this may not be the place for that discussion.

Only criticism is the Japanese lipsynch - an especially vital oversight in a game set in Japan that a higher proportion of players than any other game have switched to a Japanese dub.

However, throw in an equally fun and in-depth free multiplayer mode, and you've got one of the best open-world games in modern history.

Describing this as Japanese Assassin's Creed is an insult to the game.