Ghost of Tsushima has no lock-on mechanic, encouraging players to remain in the middle of a fight as opposed to keeping all enemies in front of them, so as to keep an eye on all possible threats. In an interview with Ghost of Tsushima narrative director Nate Fox, I asked him why Sucker Punch chose to not include a lock-on mechanic.

"Well working on the combat, we watched samurai films, which are of course an inspiration for the feeling of this game," Fox answered. "And the fighters in those movies will often have to switch their attention very fluidly from one incoming foe to another. So the combat is built around dealing with a variety of enemies, a group of them."

Though you will face other foes, you will primarily fight against Mongols in Ghost of Tsushima. "We tried to give [the Mongols] a feeling of being like a wolf pack that would surround you," Fox said. "And only through skill, could you fend them off as they came at you from all sides. If we had a lock-on you wouldn't have been able to move as quickly between the different opponents as they came in at you."