So you’ve finished Ghostwire: Tokyo, congratulations! But if you’re like us you may have some outstanding questions about what actually happened during the story. Well, you’re in the right place for an explanation. And not only have we got you covered, but we also spoke to the game’s director himself, Kenji Kimura, to get some definitive answers. This is your last chance to stop reading before we dive into the spoiler zone.
After witnessing Akito’s final confrontation with the man in the hannya mask, we imagine some of your outstanding questions involve Akito’s sister, Mari.
Throughout the game Mari has been in a comatose state, making you wonder not only what Hannya sees in her, but how she became so sick in the first place. The finale reveals that before the events of the game, Mari was caught in a burning room that she could have escaped from if she hadn’t made a last gasp dash for the rings of her and Akito’s recently deceased parents. She’s since been in a hospital bed, drifting close to death numerous times. It’s this, according to director Kenji Kimura, that’s the source of her power.
Hannya was drawn to Mari because of her almost limbo-like state between life and death, a unique position that also grants her the strength to halt Hannya’s final ritual to break the barrier between worlds. Mari exists in the space between those two worlds, and likely harnessed the power of that place.
In her last act, Mari drains what little life force she has left, consigning her to death for good. But not before she manages to have one last conversation with Akito, where he confesses his guilt for the years of neglecting his sister, particularly since the death of their parents. As we learned when experiencing Akito’s memories during his jaunt through the abyss, Akito has always buried his feelings and been cold towards his sister, allowing his selfishness to drag Mari down into desperation as well.
Since her accident though, Akito’s desperately been trying to make amends and rescue her, despite -as we learn- Mari’s reluctance to live on. When Akito first arrived at Tokyo tower, he was even confronted with Mari’s true wishes to be allowed to pass on and be reunited with her parents, and her frustration at Akito for desperately clinging onto her in this world.
Akito’s refusal to let Mari pass on may evoke thoughts of euthanasia, but Kimura was quick to explain his reasoning on this:
Even in his final moments, Hannya is a constant source of mystery, never once revealing his true name or face. We asked Kimura about the reasoning behind this:
Despite that logical, although ultimately frustrating answer, Kimura did have a justification for the mask and how it was a reflection of the character’s emotions:
Hannya’s strong emotions also play into the general theme of the story: the stubborn refusal to let go of what is lost. Hannya’s motivations are clear, he’s willing to sacrifice our world to be reunited with his wife and daughter, with his contempt for our current existence even going so far as to disregard their earthly vessels, using these so-called puppets as weapons against Akito and KK. Hannya, much like Akito and Mari, refuses to let go of his emotional ties to the past.
In the final scene of the game, Akito is presented with the figures of his deceased parents, arriving to collect and reunite with Mari. They are, however, wearing uniquely Japanese face coverings. We asked Kimura if he could explain a little further.
Akito uses this moment to tell his parents he never forgot or moved on from their deaths, he was simply burying the pain deep down. But now, learning from his mistakes, he refuses to pretend anymore, even if it makes him weaker. His mother then points him to the literal metaphor of rising up, urging him on this new path. Akito says his final goodbyes to Mari, promising to have a good and full life knowing she’s now at peace.
Much like Hannya, KK’s true identity is never revealed. But in his final moments, we learn that KK had also clung onto a lot of regret in his life in regards to his wife and son.
Earlier on we learn when confronting Rinko’s spirit in her final moments that Ghostwire’s many spirits were clinging on to existence because of outstanding business that needed to be settled. Rinko needed to come to peace with the fact that Erika, her friend and Hannya’s daughter, was sacrificed by her father in a ritual and transformed into a monster. But KK needed to not only stop Hannya but also deliver a final message to his wife and son explaining that he never gave up, despite Hannya having defeated him in their first encounter. With that message passed on to Akito, KK’s spirit finally leaves for good. But in the world of Ghostwire, where do these spirits go and do they still exist?
Did we miss anything? Are there any outstanding questions? Let us know in the comments and for more on Ghostwire: Tokyo, stick with IGN.
For more on Ghostwire: Tokyo, check out our guide and walkthrough.