Assassin’s Creed Shadows has finally brought the beloved Assassin’s Creed franchise to Japan, much to the delight of its enthusiastic fanbase. With Ubisoft’s commitment to enhancing game mechanics and incorporating significant improvements into the modern Assassin’s Creed experience, Shadows emerges as a superb RPG that not only captures its historical setting but also respects the legacy of this iconic series. For fans, there’s plenty to appreciate about the game.
Interestingly, though, Ubisoft was not the pioneer for an Assassin’s Creed-themed experience in Japan. That honor goes to Sucker Punch Productions, whose title Ghost of Tsushima set a high standard. It expertly refined Ubisoft’s open-world design, resulting in an exceptional third-person gameplay experience. This raised the bar for Ubisoft’s entry, and while Shadows excels in numerous aspects, Ghost of Tsushima still manages to shine in certain areas.
10 Assassin’s Creed Shadows Has Better Stealth
A More Diverse Stealth Experience
Despite the emphasis on stealth in Ghost of Tsushima, where players follow Jin’s transformation into a legendary shinobi, the stealth mechanics often feel lacking. While they complement the game’s more dynamic melee combat, they do not engage players as much as the thrilling confrontations against Mongol foes. The lack of entertainment in stealth scenarios is a notable downside compared to the vibrant combat.
In stark contrast, AC Shadows offers an upgraded stealth experience across all fronts. Naoe’s expanded toolkit and transformative abilities enhance gameplay variety. The parkour system shines with a more vertical design, presenting players with unique strategies and increased challenge levels, especially on the game’s hardest difficulty. Getting detected in Shadows is perilous, adding gravity to the stealth experience.
9 Ghost Of Tsushima Has Better Combat
Fluidity and Cinematic Quality
While Shadows excels in stealth mechanics, its combat aspect doesn’t match that strength. Though it offers a solid combat experience, it seems inconsistent and sometimes clunky compared to Ghost of Tsushima’s smooth and well-crafted melee system. The lock-on feature can falter, the animation flow lacks polish, and it falls short of the staggering difficulty curve that Ghost utilizes to enhance player engagement. In a direct comparison, Ghost’s combat mechanics reign supreme.
8 Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ World Feels More Dynamic
Dynamic Seasons and Weather
In terms of size, the world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows is larger than that of Ghost of Tsushima. However, the real distinction lies in the dynamic, engaging nature of its environment. The implementation of changing seasons creates an immersive experience, as players witness the world transition from a bustling summer filled with cicadas to a serene winter shrouded in snow. This seasonal shift enhances gameplay both visually and mechanically.
Additionally, the game features hundreds of unique NPC animations that foster a rich and lively atmosphere, unlike the more static environments seen in Ghost of Tsushima. Although the latter has a smaller island layout, the absence of dynamic weather systems may detract from the overall vibrancy.
7 Ghost Of Tsushima Has More Consistent Visuals
Aesthetic Appeal and Style
While Assassin’s Creed Shadows offers breathtaking visuals, it falls short of the stylistic flair that Ghost of Tsushima portrays. Shadows prioritizes photorealism in its stunning landscapes and historical settings over the vibrant saturation that characterizes Ghost. This decision bolsters the game’s immersive tourism aspect but detracts from its visual uniqueness.
When placed side by side, Ghost of Tsushima, despite its earlier release, outshines with its dynamic color palette and dramatic topography, providing a superior aesthetic experience. The smaller, more curated environment allows Sucker Punch to deliver consistently unique places, whereas Shadows sacrifices some stylization for a more authentic historical representation.
6 Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Parkour Is Better
A Nod to Classic Parkour Mechanics
The Assassin’s Creed franchise has long been synonymous with parkour, yet recent titles, including Valhalla, have struggled to deliver satisfying movement mechanics. Fortunately, Shadows revitalizes this aspect with a return to its roots, offering an engaging and fluid parkour experience that resonates with both returning fans and newcomers turned off by modern iterations.
When comparing Shadows to Ghost of Tsushima, it’s clear that Shadows emerges as the superior choice. Where Jin’s movements feel weighed down and less agile, Naoe exhibits a nimbleness that enhances the game’s exhilarating approach to stealth and exploration, contributing to an authentic shinobi experience.
5 Ghost Of Tsushima Has More Impressive Side Quests
Diverse and Engaging Side Quests
Although Assassin’s Creed Shadows offers a variety of activities, the side content tends to feel less memorable. The diverse options available do captivate players, but many may fade into obscurity, especially early in the game. On the other hand, Ghost of Tsushima capitalizes on its fewer, more curated side quests, elevating them to a narrative importance equal to that of the main story.
Ghost uses its side missions to delve into character backstories and challenges, providing them with significant emotional depth. This narrative resonance is unfortunately lacking in Shadows, as its multitude of side quests often fails to create a similarly impactful connection.
4 Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Story Is Stronger
A Streamlined Narrative Experience
While Ghost of Tsushima excels in side missions, Shadows outperforms it in terms of main storyline cohesion. Assassin’s Creed Shadows delivers an exceptional narrative that masterfully intertwines two protagonists’ journeys amid the complexities of Feudal Japan and the overarching Assassin’s Creed lore. The engaging stories of Yasuke and Naoe contribute depth to the gameplay experience, allowing players to feel empowered by their quests.
In contrast, Ghost’s central story often struggles with clarity, as it tries to balance Jin’s evolution with player decision-making in a manner that feels ultimately disjointed. This disconnect between story progression and player agency diminishes the player’s sense of influence on the narrative.
3 Ghost Of Tsushima Has More Memorable Side Characters
Standout Characters
Despite its narrative drawbacks, Ghost of Tsushima delivers a rich roster of memorable characters. The dynamic interactions with figures like Yuna and the comedic relief from Kenji provide a compelling sense of connection within the game. Their stories intertwine with Jin’s, contributing to a powerful narrative experience as the players grow attached to their arcs.
While Shadows offers a decent cast, it suffers from character overload, leading many minor roles to be underdeveloped or easily forgotten. Most characters, aside from a select few, fail to resonate within the broader context of gameplay. Consequently, this bloat can dilute the overall narrative impact.
2 Assassin’s Creed Shadows Has More Impressive Cities
Extensive, Lifelike Urban Landscapes
One of the standout features of Assassin’s Creed Shadows is its sprawling cities, which boast rich detail and diverse urban life. Each city is carefully constructed around a central castle, allowing Naoe or Yasuke to undertake daring heists filled with treasure. These vibrant cities are unique and populated with numerous NPCs, each animated distinctly, creating a lifelike surrounding that captivates players as they explore and engage with their environment.
Comparatively, Ghost of Tsushima’s confined island geography limits the urban experience, making its settings feel smaller and less immersive. Although Ghost features some castles, none can match the scale and intricacy found in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Moreover, the urban layouts in Ghost tend to blur together, lacking the distinctiveness that defines the cities in Shadows.
1 Ghost Of Tsushima’s Exploration Feels Better
Intuitive Exploration Mechanics
Ghost of Tsushima sets itself apart by refining exploration to create a more natural flow. Players aren’t burdened by countless map markers; instead, they rely on in-game elements—like birds guiding them to hot springs or foxes directing them to shrines—for navigation. This immersive method enhances the exploration experience, even if it does occasionally grow repetitive. The dialogues and mechanics successfully rejuvenate the exploration model within open-world settings.
Conversely, Assassin’s Creed Shadows still leans toward traditional map markers for guidance, which, while better than past Ubisoft titles, can detract from the organic discovery found in Ghost of Tsushima. Nonetheless, Shadows implements some fluidity with the natural landscapes to guide players, thus achieving a semblance of organic exploration akin to its predecessor.