Assassin’s Creed Shadows looks to finally bring the highly anticipated era of feudal Japan to the franchise after years of waiting. However, in a post-Ghost of Tsushima world, we already see comparisons to the two games and a heated debate on Reddit that further teases the hurdles Assassin’s Creed Shadows will have to overcome.
Ghost of Tsushima Is the Perfect Template for a Samurai Game
Ghost of Tsushima follows Jin Sakai, an honorable samurai who, after finding his code wasn’t enough to stop the invasion of the Huns, chose to walk his own path as something between a ronin and shinobi known as the Ghost. As you explore the island of Tsushima, it’s filled with rich cultural practices that honor the history and country that inspired the game.
As the Assassin’s Creed Shadows trailer has shown, much of the tone and aesthetic looks to be borrowed almost completely from what Ghost of Tsushima presented. Granted, this is obvious as they both took place in the same country, but the real similarities come in the fact that each features an embittered protagonist(s) fighting a stronger force to defend those who can’t defend themselves.
According to one Reddit commenter, Ubisoft’s foray into the world of feudal Japan has come too little too late, as there are other games that have done this with massive success, like Ghost of Tsushima. Meanwhile, another Redditor commented on how Assassin’s Creed has already changed so much as a franchise that it’s clear something new may need to happen to stand apart from the crowd.
Can Assassin’s Creed Shadows Beat the Criticism?
Ghost of Tsushima offered a classic feeling Assassin’s Creed-style game set in an era we’ve dreamed of since Ezio used the hidden blade in Assassin’s Creed II. Now, in a franchise that’s more RPG than third-person action-adventure, it’ll be hard to deliver on anything even close to Ghost of Tsushima. Even still, there’s hope as the game offers two gameplay styles and a narrative that is the opposite of what Ghost of Tsushima offers. Some healthy debate is always good in the world of video games, and the best compliment Shadows could pay Ghost would be to deliver a game as aesthetically pleasing with new mechanics that make it unique.
