Summary
There may be an increasing number of games set in feudal Japan, but many of them continue to surprise with innovative mechanics and unique takes on the time period. The latest to make a splash in that space isAssassin’s Creed Shadows, the once-controversial but now highly successful next installment inUbisoft’sAssassin’s Creedseries, and it happens to be the perfect setup for the next entry in Sucker Punch’sGhostfranchise,Ghost of Yotei.
While many of the games set in feudal Japan are similar in their setting alone,Assassin’s Creed ShadowsandGhost of Yoteishare several other distinct similarities that make them more alike than other games set during the time period. Ironically,Assassin’s Creed Shadowswas once criticized for being too much likeGhost of Tsushima, but given whatAssassin’s Creed Shadowshas already brought to the table,Ghost of Yoteimight fall into the same criticism. Ultimately, this makesAssassin’s Creed Shadowsthe perfet appetizer forGhost of Yotei’s main course.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Is the Perfect Way to Prepare for Ghost of Yotei
Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Ghost of Yotei Are Both Revenge Stories
WhileAssassin’s Creed ShadowsandGhost of Yoteicertainly share some similarities in their gameplay, one of their greatest likenesses lies in their stories. Specifically, bothAssassin’s Creed ShadowsandGhost of Yoteiare largely revenge stories — at least, based on the very minuscule amount of information Sucker Punch has divulged so far aboutGhost of Yotei’s narrative.
InAssassin’s Creed Shadows, the stories of both Naoe and Yasuke are fueled by a desire for vengeance. Naoe wants revenge for the death of her father, Nagato, after he is mortally wounded during an attack on her village byOda Nobunaga’s forces. Yasuke, on the other hand, seeks out members of the Templar Order like Duarte de Melo and Nuno Caro, who were responsible for past atrocities against him and his family.
BothAssassin’s Creed ShadowsandGhost of Yoteiare largely revenge stories.
According to what Sucker Punch has revealed aboutGhost of Yotei’s story, “Atsu will hunt down those responsible for the death of her family and exact her revenge.” This is after her homestead was seemingly burned down by external forces, though it’s not clear yet who she will be pursuing. Nevertheless, this makesGhost of Yotei’s narrative very similar to the arcs ofNaoe and Yasuke inAssassin’s Creed Shadows.
Some of Ghost of Yotei’s New Weapons Are Present in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
From a gameplay standpoint,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsplayers can get a decent taste of what it might be like to use some ofGhost of Yotei’s new weaponsas well. Based on the description onGhost of Yotei’s official website, the game will be introducing the odachi and kusarigama to Atsu’s arsenal, both of which players can use inAssasssin’s Creed Shadows.
Yasuke’s long katana inAssassin’s Creed Shadowsisn’t explicitly referred to as an odachi, but its characteristics and usage closely resemble those of an odachi, making the two weapons essentially the same.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows' Dual Protagonists Are Likely Hybridized in Ghost of Yotei’s Atsu
Finally, one ofAssassin’s Creed Shadows' best features is its dual protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, who offer players distinct playstyles they can swap between seamlessly. Naoe is the game’s stealth specialist, whereas Yasuke prefers direct confrontation with his enemies, in accordance with samurai tradition. WhileGhost of Yoteiwill only feature one protagonist, she is still likely to be a hybridized version ofAssassin’s Creed Shadows' dual protagonists, just as Jin Sakai was before her inGhost of Tsushima.
While it may have once seemed like aGhost of Tsushimaclone,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsproves that there’s room for multiple stories set in the same era. In the end, this is great news forGhost of Yotei, which has yet to launch, but fans can still get a taste of what Sucker Punch’s nextGhostentry will be like by playing throughAssassin’s Creed Shadows.
