REPRESENTATION
Ghost of Tsushima and the Tale of Lady Masako
A surprising tale of effective representation that has escaped widespread attention
Ghost of Tsushima struck me first of all as a visual masterpiece. It is a game I can get lost in. It’s a world I can explore through virtual photography. And it’s an experience that leverages a highly-engaging method for storytelling.
I haven’t finished the game yet, so I’ve not yet reached the conclusion of Lady Masako’s tale, but the story so far has resonated beautifully. Already there has been an unexpected twist that was handled tastefully. It wasn’t dressed up as anything major, it wasn’t thrown in my face, it was just a simple facet of existence. Small cues were dropped throughout the adventure, but the twist was ultimately presented as ‘this is just what this is.’
In a world where LGBTQIA representation occurs through stereotypes, the part of her story where we encounter Mai instead feels genuinely humanizing. It feels like these are people who exist and their relationships are relatable. There’s an ease, and a sense of empathy, around the characters…
