Rise of the Ronin was a massive success for PlayStation and Team Ninja and fans already have their itch for a perfect samurai game set in feudal Japan scratched. On the other hand, Ubisoft is just getting started after it unveiled the first official trailer for Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Both video games are set in Feudal Japan and the gaming community is already anticipating their similarities in terms of gameplay and open-world design. It is the ultimate fantasy of gamers to have the samurai game of their dreams and it seems like Ubisoft is too late.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the Poor Man’s Rise of the Ronin
The gaming community has been begging for an Assassin’s Creed game set in Japan and a samurai or ninja protagonist, but Sucker Punch Productions beat them to it with Ghost of Tsushima. Some fans are even eager to play the unannounced sequel over the newest Ubisoft game, which says a lot. The game did well on the PlayStation, but some players prefer a more challenging game and Team Ninja delivered.
Fans have already made up their minds and what Team Ninja was able to accomplish puts Ubisoft on a difficult spot. The gameplay and mechanics were heavily inspired by the Soulslike genre which was a strong selling point and the success of the multiplayer concept of Elden Ring made the game an even better and much more entertaining experience to share with friends.
Ubisoft moved a bit slower than expected and a few developers managed to deliver an experience that they could have done much sooner if they only listened to fan suggestions. The latest entry is about to introduce the ability to go prone. This mechanic will add a new layer of immersion and improve stealth gameplay.
Rise of the Ronin is Already the Perfect Assassin’s Creed Game
Perhaps Ubisoft is too late to win back the gaming community, but the recent teaser has shown great potential with the dual protagonists. It will have the same nature and DNA as previous Assassin’s Creed games, won’t be as combat focused as other samurai games and will probably have more emphasis on history and exploration.
This was a long time coming and the fans have waited long enough. This installment could define the path the franchise will be taking in the next few years. Ubisoft has gotten experimental and is making some questionable decisions that not everyone is a fan of.
While Team Ninja did create a magnificent open world with a complex combat system, it may lack some features that Ubisoft will cover, like a compelling narrative and the perfect blend of stealth and history. Players will have different opinions and they are benefitting from the multiple options that the game industry is providing.
These franchises are different and unique enough to stand apart, there is no need to compare and throw shade at each other. Perhaps Ubisoft wanted this project to be polished and piggyback off the hype from previous games set in Japan.
Do you think Rise of the Ronin could pass as a Ubisoft game? Let us know in the comments section below!
