Ghost of Tsushimahas amassed quite a dedicated following, which is only expected to grow with the release of the TV adaptation and as the game settles into the PC landscape. As fans eagerlyawait news aboutGhost of Tsushima 2, fellow samurai action gameAssassin’s Creed Shadowsis entering the fray, looking to serve up a similar flavor of Japanese historical fiction.
Comparisons betweenGhost of Tsushimaand theAssassin’s Creedseries have run rampant over the past few years, with many arguing that the former beat the latter to the punch with its ancient Japanese setting—somethingACfans have been requesting for years.Ghost of Tsushimahas quite a bit in common with Ubisoft’s action-adventure franchise besides its focus on history, though, as the games share a similar approach to combat, stealth, and open-world composition. There are a number of meaningful differences as well, but it’s reasonable to assume thatGhostwas inspired, at least in part, by theAssassin’s Creedgames. If its sequel stays true to this source of inspiration, thenAssassin’s Creed Shadows' Naoe may present a good learning opportunity.
Although asequel toGhost of Tsushimaseems likelyand may even be revealed soon, Sony has not made any official announcements about it.
Ghost of Tsushima 2 May Be Able to Learn More From Naoe Than Yasuke
Naoe Will Serve Up Stealth Gameplay In AC Shadows
Assassin’s Creed Shadows' Yasuke is getting the most attentionright now, but he’s only one part of the upcoming game’s equation. Yasuke’s gameplay will take a more action-oriented approach, allowing players to engage more in straightforward combat than in stealth. When it comes to the stealth mechanics thatAssassin’s Creedwas founded on, Naoe will take center stage.
Thestealth gameplay ofAC Shadowsseems promising, as Ubisoft plans to introduce new features like a global illumination system, and Naoe’s shinobi experience and arsenal should translate to some satisfying systems as well. WithGhost of Tsushimadrawing parallels toAssassin’s Creed, it will be interesting to see if the inverse occurs withShadows, comparing it to Sucker Punch’s 2020 hit. This would be interesting, asGhost of Tsushimaarguably does a lot of things better than certainAssassin’s Creedgames, but stealth isn’t one of them.
Ghost of Tsushima’s Combat Is Great, But Its Stealth Could Use a Punch-Up
WithAC Shadowshaving so much latent potential when it comes to stealth gameplay, specifically stealth built around the shinobi archetype, it would make a lot of sense for Sucker Punch to keep an eye on it.Ghost of Tsushima’s combat is already great, perfectly nailing the strong yet graceful essence of samurai swordplay, but its stealth is sadly lacking. The game pushes players toward a playstyle built around both stealthy and aggressive tactics, but the former approach is almost never as enjoyable as the latter.
Ghost’s combat is weighty and deep and offers a sort of flow-state experience upon mastery. By comparison, stealth is fairly pedestrian and shallow, not fleshed out enough to be consistently interesting and mechanically fresh. Enemy AI is a bit weak as well, with detection being inconsistent. All of this contributes to a perfectly serviceable stealth system, but nothing to write home about.
WithGhost’s combat having less room to improve,AC Shadows' stealth-oriented protagonistcould serve as a more appropriate, useful font of inspiration than its combat-focused one.
Assuming that Naoe has a highly specialized set of abilities, weapons, and items to leverage in stealth scenarios, there could be plenty of great material to draw from. To be frank,Ghost of Tsushimaand its probable sequel are easilyAssassin’s Creed Shadows' biggest competition, so Sucker Punch likely has some interest in tipping the comparison in its favor. Better stealth can do that, and learning fromShadows' successes (and perhaps even failures) could help achieve this end.
Ghost of Tsushima
WHERE TO PLAY
A storm is coming. Discover the expanded Ghost of Tsushima experience in this Director’s Cut. Uncover the hidden wonders of Tsushima in this open-world action adventure from Sucker Punch Productions and PlayStation Studios, available for PS5 and PS4. Forge a new path and wage an unconventional war for the freedom of Tsushima. Challenge opponents with your katana, master the bow to eliminate distant threats, develop stealth tactics to ambush enemies and explore a new story on Iki Island.
