Summary
It’s no secret now thatAssassin’s Creed Shadowshas been compared to Sucker Punch’s action-adventure gameGhost of Tsushima, and understandably so.Ghost of Tsushimais one of the most defining feudal Japan experiences of the last decade, if not the utmost defining samurai experience. As such, it would make sense for it to cast a shadow over anything that follows it, even if it is the next entry in Ubisoft’sAssassin’s Creedseries. However, sinceAssassin’s Creed Shadows' launch, it has interestingly proven itself to be more like Team Ninja’sRise of the Roninthan anything else.
ForAssassin’s Creed Shadowsto be more likeRise of the RoninthanGhost of Tsushima, it would need to observe a few core design principles. Specifically,Assassin’s Creed Shadows' world design, gameplay philosophy, and approach to progression would need to mirrorRise of the Ronin’s to effectively differentiate it fromGhost of Tsushima. As it turns out, each of those elements inAssassin’s Creed Shadowsis much more akin toRise of the RoninthanGhost of Tsushima, somewhat countering the criticisms Ubisoft’s latest received prior to and following its release.
AC Shadows Is More Similar to Rise of the Ronin Than Ghost of Tsushima
Both Games Are Set During Periods of Internal Strife and Cultural Transformation
One of the most defining characteristics ofAssassin’s Creed ShadowsandRise of the Roninis their setting, which is quite different fromGhost of Tsushima’s, despite all three games taking place during Japan’s feudal era.Ghost of Tsushimais set during the Mongol invasionof the 13th century, making its setting more about defending against external forces than anything else.Assassin’s Creed ShadowsandRise of the Ronin, on the other hand, are set during periods of internal strife and cultural transformation, making their settings more about adapting to the conflicts of internal changes rather than warding off external invaders.
Both Games Emphasize Role-Playing Elements and a Livelier World
Another key characteristic that separatesAssassin’s Creed ShadowsandRise of the RoninfromGhost of Tsushimais their emphasis on role-playing elements. Only inAssassin’s Creed’s modern era has it really leaned into the role-playing side of things, though its experimentation with such features has been ongoing for quite some time.Assassin’s Creed Shadows, likeRise of the Ronin, featuresrole-playing elements like skill trees, dialogue choices, gear customization, and even romantic relationships, most of which are either not found inGhost of Tsushimaor not heavily emphasized.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows' world is also much livelier thanGhost of Tsushima’s and actually resemblesRise of the Ronin’s world even more.Ghost of Tsushima’s open worldmay be its most distinctive and praised feature, but its more populated areas don’t feel as dense or alive as those found inAssassin’s Creed ShadowsandRise of the Ronin. LikeRise of the Ronin, many ofAssassin’s Creed Shadows' villages feature dense architecture and feel more active than those found inGhost of Tsushima— which is likely due toAssassin’s Creed ShadowsandRise of the Ronin’s focus on cultural transformation and internal upheaval.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows, likeRise of the Ronin, features role-playing elements like skill trees, dialogue choices, gear customization, and even romantic relationships, most of which are either not found inGhost of Tsushimaor not heavily emphasized.
While some comparisons betweenAssassin’s Creed ShadowsandGhost of Tsushimaare understandable given their shared setting, it is more abundantly clear that Ubisoft’s latestAssassin’s Creedentry more closely resemblesRise of the Ronin. From its focus on internal conflict and societal change to its layered RPG mechanics and denser environments,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsmakes an open denial against claims that it is nothing more than aGhost of Tsushimaclone. If nothing else, it might even showhow underratedRise of the Roninis, as it has had more influence than may have initially been expected.
