Summary
While plenty of games set in Feudal-era Japan have been released over the last few decades, it’s still a setting that many want to see more games adopt.Assassin’s Creedis a great example of this. For years, fans have longed for anAssassin’s Creedgame set in Feudal-era Japan, and this year, they’re finally getting their wish, withAssassin’s Creed Shadowsset to launch in November. And if the recentUbisoft Forward gameplay traileris any indication, it seems as thoughAssassin’s Creed Shadowsis going to capture that long-awaited setting very well.
ButAssassin’s Creed Shadowswon’t be the first AAA open-world action-adventure game set in Feudal-era Japan, withGhost of Tsushimabeating it to the punch four years ago and setting an incredibly high bar. Naturally, comparisons betweenACShadowsandGhost of Tsushimaare unavoidable. But while many of these early comparisons can be chalked up to coincidence, there’s one major area of similarity that seems a little harder to explain.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows' HUD Bears a Striking Resemblance to Ghost of Tsushima’s
The recentAssassin’s Creed ShadowsUbisoft Forward breakdowngave fans their first proper look at the highly anticipated entry’s gameplay. Along with a good look atAC Shadows' combat and stealth, fans also got to see the game’s HUD user interface for the first time, and some have already started to point out the glaring similarities between it andGhost of Tsushima’s.
WhileAssassin’s Creed Shadows' HUD UIis a natural progression ofValhalla’s, there are some key changes that have made it look very similar toGhost of Tsushima’s own stripped-back HUD. The biggest points of comparison areShadows' weapon menu being located in the bottom left corner of the screen alongside the health bar and the Adrenaline meter, and the character’s special abilities being presented in the lower right corner of the screen. While the placement of these HUD elements is essentially the same as it was inValhalla, their icons have been changed quite dramatically.
Rather thanValhalla’s horizontal yellow bars,Assassin’s Creed Shadows' Adrenaline meter is now represented by a series of yellow diamonds, which bear a striking resemblance toGhost of Tsushima’s Resolve metercircles. The icons forAssassin’s Creed Shadows' various weapons and abilities also look fairly similar toGhost of Tsushima’s, being represented as black and white, or black and gold illustrations. The recent gameplay trailer also showed thatAssassin’s Creed Shadows' detection meter during stealth looks nearly identical toGhost of Tsushima’s, with both being a white bar with an arrow that fills and eventually flashes yellow when the player is spotted.
MostAssassin’s Creedgames have let the player customize their HUD, and the same will likely be true forAssassin’s Creed Shadows.
It’s unclear whether or notAssassin’s Creed Shadowshas taken deliberate inspiration fromGhost of Tsushimafor its HUD UI, but regardless of the truth, it doesn’t have to be a bad thing.Ghost of Tsushima’s minimal HUDwas a major point of praise upon its initial launch, letting players further immerse themselves in the gorgeously realized world around them.Assassin’s Creed Shadows' own paired-back HUD might be able to capture that same sense of immersion. Borrowing artistic cues fromGhost of Tsushima’s HUD icons also givesShadowsa similar sense of style, though this is a tricky thing to balance, as borrowing too heavily fromGhost of Tsushimamight make the end product feel a bit cheap.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience an epic historical action-adventure story set in feudal Japan! Become a lethal shinobi Assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos. Switch seamlessly between two unlikely allies as you discover their common destiny. Master complementary playstyles, create your shinobi league, customize your hideout, and usher in a new era for Japan.
