Alright, let’s talk about tackling Ghost of Tsushima and its missions. When I first jumped into this game, man, it was huge. Beautiful, yeah, but overwhelming with all the icons popping up.
I started just wandering, doing whatever Jin’s Journey quest was next, picking up side tales, the ‘Tales of Tsushima’, when I stumbled on them. It was fun, but after clearing the first region, Izuhara, I had this nagging feeling I’d missed a bunch. You know, those little question marks or character icons I ran past because I was focused on a main mission?
Getting Organized (Sort Of)
So, I figured I needed some way to keep track. Didn’t want to look up a full guide online, ’cause spoilers, right? Ruins the discovery. I just wanted a simple checklist.
My brilliant idea? A piece of paper and a pen. Seriously. Old school.
I booted up the game and opened the map and the journal section. I decided to break it down simply:
- Jin’s Journey (Main Quests)
- Tales of Tsushima (Side Quests)
- Mythic Tales (The cool legendary ones)
For the main story, it’s pretty straightforward, the game guides you. But those Tales of Tsushima, they’re everywhere. I started listing the ones I saw on the map for the current region I was in. Didn’t write down locations, just the names I saw in the journal or on the map legend.
The Process
So, I’d play for a bit. If I finished a Tale, I’d physically cross it off my paper list. Felt good, like actually accomplishing something small. If I discovered a new Tale giver, I’d pause real quick and jot down the name under the right category.
I tried to focus on one region at a time. Clear Izuhara’s main stuff, then mop up the Tales I had listed for it. Same for Toyotama, then Kamiagata. The Mythic Tales I kinda did as soon as they popped up because they usually gave cool gear or techniques.
Did I find every single one immediately? Nah. Sometimes I’d be riding somewhere else and stumble upon a new Tale I hadn’t listed. Just added it to the paper when I got a chance. It wasn’t super strict, just a way to stop feeling lost.
Was it Worth It?
Yeah, definitely. It kept me from feeling overwhelmed. Instead of a map cluttered with icons I wasn’t sure about, I had my messy, handwritten list that told me what I’d already done and what I’d at least seen. It helped me make sure I did all the side stories for characters like Ishikawa, Masako, Norio, and Yuna. Their tales add so much to the world.
It wasn’t perfect. Sometimes I’d forget to write one down, or my handwriting was terrible. But it was my system. Just a simple way to track progress without ruining the exploration. Gave me a bit of structure in that big, open world. Worked for me, anyway.
