Assassin’s Creed Shadowsfinally delivers the much-requestedACin Japan, and fans couldn’t be happier. Ubisoft’s improved game design, coupled with the many tweaks and alterations it has made to the modernAssassin’s Creedformula across the years, has led to it being a truly excellent RPG, one that does justice to its setting while also honoring the roots of this beloved and iconic series. There’s a lot to love aboutAssassin’s Creed Shadows, which is great for fans.
However, amazingly, Ubisoft wasn’t the first to doAssassin’s Creedin Japan. Famously, Sucker Punch Productions got there first withGhost of Tsushimaand did an incredible job.Ghost of Tsushimais so good that itperfected the Ubisoft formula, offering a truly phenomenal third-person open-world experience. Naturally, this meant that there was a lot for Ubisoft to live up to, and, fortunately, in many ways, it managed to surpassGhost. However,in some regards,Ghost of Tsushimastill manages to outshine it.
10Assassin’s Creed Shadows Has Better Stealth
It Is A Lot More Varied
DespiteGhost of Tsushima’sentire narrative focusing on Jin’s journey to becoming the titular Ghost, a legendary stealthy shinobi capable of culling the Mongol hordes, the stealth in that game isn’t particularly great. There’s enough nuance to it that it compliments the far superior melee combat and serves as a decent distraction, but otherwise, it pales in comparison.Its biggest flaw is that it isn’t very fun, or at least it is significantly less fun than fighting off Mongol soldiers and banditsusing the game’s flashy, stylish combat.
After Assassin’s Creed Shadows, There’s One Feature I Can’t Wait For The Series To Explore Next
While Assassin’s Creed has changed drastically over the years, the lack of one feature feels like a massively missed opportunity for the series.
Conversely,AC Shadows’stealth is superiorin practically every way. Naoe’s toolkit is more varied, and her skills are more transformative. The parkour is also significantly better, thanks to the far more vertical level design, which opens up more possibilities for interesting strategies. Stealth is also significantly harder, at least on the game’s toughest difficulty, which makes every encounter feel immensely more tense.Getting caught inShadowsis a far more dangerous experience than inGhost, which gives stealth more meaning and purpose.
9Ghost Of Tsushima Has Better Combat
It’s More Fluid & Cinematic
WhereAssassin’s Creed Shadowsabsolutely excels in its stealth, it falters in its combat. That isn’t to say thatShadows’combat is bad, and wereGhostnot to exist, it likely would be regarded as one of the best third-person melee combat models around. However,compared toGhost of Tsushima’scombat,Shadowsis inconsistent and clunky, with the lock-on struggling at times, animations not feeling as clean, and it lacks the staggered difficulty that makesGhost’ssense of progression feel more impactful.
Ghost’svastly better combatis so great because more attention was given to its animations and style. It isn’t so much that it lacks substance, as the varied skills that you’re able to unlock and enemy types help make it feel consistently fresh. Rather,Ghost of Tsushima’scinematic flair makes every swing, clash, and slash feel deeply satisfying and deadly, giving a sense of weight and purpose to each attack. It also just feels more akin to the action seen on screen rather than the somewhat video-gamey combat inShadows.
8Assassin’s Creed Shadows' World Feels More Dynamic
Its Changing Seasons & Weather Makes It Feel More Alive
Assassin’s Creed Shadows’world is far bigger thanGhost of Tsushima’s, but that isn’t why it is better. In fact, if anything, the more focused and streamlined design ofGhostmakes for better exploration, even ifShadowsmanages to rather expertly funnel players down a certain path by utilizing Japan’s famously mountainous topography. Rather,Shadows’world is better thanGhost of Tsushima’sbecause it is more dynamic, varied, and realistic, in large part thanks to its shifting seasons.
Watching as the world goes from a cicada-filled summer to a snow-covered winter is truly incredible, especially with how each season either visually or mechanically alters theShadows’experience.
Theimmersive realism ofShadowscomes from the implementation of dynamic weather and seasons. Watching as the world goes from a cicada-filled summer to a snow-covered winter is truly incredible, especially with how each season either visually or mechanically alters theShadows’experience. There are also seemingly hundreds of unique NPC animations,all of which coalesce to create a truly rich and vibrant world thatGhost of Tsushimalacks. Of course, it is set on a far smaller island, but its lack of dynamic seasons certainly hurts it.
7Ghost Of Tsushima Has More Consistent Visuals
It Is More Stylized
WhileAssassin’s Creed Shadowslooks undeniably gorgeous, it somehow still pales in comparison to Ghost of Tsushima.Shadows’visual strength lies in its photorealistic visuals, which help bring to life its stunning landscapes. It isn’t that it lacks style, but rather thatit sacrifices a lot of the saturated style that makesGhostfeel so vibrant in favor of creating the most realistic depiction of the periodin video game form. It’s an admirable accomplishment and one that makes the virtual tourism ofShadowsall the better.
However, when put side by side,Ghost of Tsushima, despite releasing five years prior, looks vastly better. Its dynamic range of colors, coupled with its more dramatic landscapes and perfectly positioned vantage points, make for a more aesthetically pleasing experience.Ghosthas the advantage of having a smaller, more curated world compared toShadows, which allowed Sucker Punch to create more consistently unique landscapes. Additionally, while steeped somewhat in history,Ghostcan offer a more fantastical version of reality than the mostly historically accurateShadows.
6Assassin’s Creed Shadows' Parkour Is Better
It Is A Return To The Classic AC Parkour
TheAssassin’s Creedgames have always prided themselves on their parkour, even when it isn’t particularly good. For the past few entries, especiallyValhalla, the parkour inAssassin’s Creedhas been a significant let-down and a sore point for longtime fans. However,Shadowsfixes it and then some, offering a moretraditionalACparkour experiencethat appeals to both fans and those who’ve only ever experienced the cumbersome movement of modernAssassin’s Creedgames.
One Assassin’s Creed Shadows Mechanic Has Me Way More Excited For AC Hexe
Assassin’s Creed Shadows introduces a handful of new ideas, and one that’s cool here could be absolutely game-changing in Assassin’s Creed Hexe.
Whencompared toGhost of Tsushima’ssimilarly clunky parkour,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsis the obvious winner. Jin feels overly weighty and not nearly as nimble as Naoe, which doesn’t help the fact that there’s also a distinct lack of verticality in a lot ofGhost’senvironments. WhileGhost’sparkour isn’t terrible, it is clearly secondary to the primary goal of making killing enemies as satisfying as possible. Unfortunately, that does mean that it doesn’t offer as compelling a shinobi experience asAssassin’s Creed Shadows.
5Ghost Of Tsushima Has More Impressive Side Quests
They’re More Varied & Interesting
WhileAssassin’s Creed Shadowshas a lot to do, and much of it is compelling, it is largely let down by its side content. This is symptomatic of having such a wide range of different side activities and side quests to complete. Fans will likely enjoy what is on offer but perhaps won’t remember many of them too fondly, especially those at the start of the game. Conversely,Ghost of Tsushimahas far fewer side quests that feel distinctly more curated and, as a result, are more enjoyable.
Ghost of Tsushimaoften treats its side stories as just as important as the main narrative, which is what gives them so much meaning and impact. While not every side quest deals with a primary character, many of them delve deep into their backstories, woes, and struggles. This helps to flesh them out in a way thatAssassin’s Creed Shadows’many side quests never quite capture.
4Assassin’s Creed Shadows' Story Is Stronger
It’s Less Messy Than Ghost’s Narrative
WhileGhost of Tsushima’sside missions are better thanAssassin’s Creed Shadows, the same cannot be said for the main story.AC Shadows’main story is rather excellent, weaving two distinct perspectives and struggles within Feudal Japan neatly into the ongoingAssassin’s Creedstoryline.Shadows’engaging dual protagonists, Yasuke and Naoe, are as fun to play as they are to get to know. There’s far more depth to the stories being told inAssassin’s Creed Shadows, even if, at times, they can feel somewhat overplayed.
The reasonGhost of Tsushima’smain narrative falls short ofShadows’is that it often feels confused as to what it wants to achieve. Much of the story follows Jin’s path to becoming the titular Ghost, but the more engaging melee combat is at odds with that. It frequently acts as if the player has a choice in which path Jin should ultimately take, only to quite evidently state that one is better than the other, or choose for the player anyway.Ghost’snarrative feels disconnected from the player’s actions, and that is a great shame.
3Ghost Of Tsushima Has More Memorable Side Characters
Yuna & Kenji Stand Out
Fortunately, to make up for its lackluster story,Ghost of Tsushimahas many extremely memorable characters. From the stoic Yuna to the comic relief Kenji,there are so many great characters to meet and get to know inGhost. They all play an integral role in the main narrative, and when they finally all come together at the end, the payoff is tremendous.Ghost’scast is incredibly strong and serves as a narrative backbone that’s unwavering throughout.
Shadows’cast isn’t bad, but it is bloated, which causes many of the minor side characters to be forgotten.
Shadows’cast isn’t bad, but it is bloated, which causes many of the minor side characters to be forgotten. Outside a handful of prominent characters,Shadows’minor players, including those that hang out in thefrankly phenomenal Hideout, all blend together. They can feel like narrative fodder, which, in some cases, isn’t a problem, but can make the game’s overall cast feel a little dispensable.
2Assassin’s Creed Shadows Has More Impressive Cities
They’re Bigger & Packed With NPCs
One ofAssassin’s Creed Shadows’most impressive features is its enormous cities. These are impressively detailed urban locations, usually surrounding a central castle that Naoe or Yasuke can infiltrate and rob for all its riches and loot.Each city feels distinct from one another, packed full of unique locations, hundreds of NPCs, and the occasional side quest. They all feel truly lifelike, with there being more than enough unique NPC animations to make each resident feel like a distinct person. If the player takes the time to walk throughShadows’city streets, they’ll likely be awestruck.
It almost feels cruel to compareGhost of Tsushimato Shadows in this regard, largely because its island setting isn’t conducive to having massive cities. However,evenGhost’scastles never quite reach the heights ofAssassin’s Creed Shadows'. As a result, Tsushima can often feel rather small, and while its natural environments are certainly varied, its urban ones frequently merge into one another.
1Ghost Of Tsushima’s Exploration Feels Better
It Feels More Natural
One way in whichGhost of Tsushimaperfected the Ubisoft formula was in its streamlining of exploration.Rather than busying the player with a million map markers,Ghostforces them to rely on in-game guidance, such as a bird that leads the way to a hot spring or a fox that guides the player to a shrine. While these ultimately get a little repetitive, they’re incredibly immersive and a great foundation for how open-world games should treat their exploration.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Was Originally Planned Without A Major Character
In a new interview, developer Ubisoft reveals that a major character was originally not planned for Assassin’s Creed Shadows during development.
Assassin’s Creed Shadowsdoesn’t utilize anything even remotely similar and instead falls back on filling the player’s map with markers. It isn’t as bad as other Ubisoft games, but tracking a marker is usually the best way to discover new content. It does feel like, to an extent, Ubisoft is learning, as its use of hills and mountains inAssassin’s Creed Shadowsforces the player to stick to the beaten path, thus almost achieving the same effect thatGhostmanaged with its in-game guidance.
