Assassins Creed Shadowshas received enough criticism that it might as well start openly embracing some of it — namely, its comparisons to Sucker Punch’sGhost of Tsushima. While those comparisons are far from the worst criticismAssassin’s Creed Shadowshas garnered, it has still cost it a reputation it might have had if it had been released beforeGhost of Tsushima. To be fair, some of the comparisons are warranted, likeAssassin’s Creed Shadows' hub, which bears a striking resemblance toGhost of Tsushima’s. As such, one could argue thatAssassin’s Creed Shadowsmight be better off simply admitting it was at least partially inspired byGhost of Tsushimaand proceeding to borrow some of its other features as well.
There are plenty of waysAssassin’s Creed Shadowscould further imitateGhost of Tsushima, as it could even be said thatGhost of TsushimahasAssassin’s Creedsomewhere in its stealth-based roots. However,Ghost of Tsushimafeatures one innovative game mode that no other game before has ever included: Kurosawa Mode. Now,Assassin’s Creed Shadowscould double down on its obvious inspiration and unashamedly feature that game mode as an optional way to experience its story.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Should Borrow Ghost of Tsushima’s Kurosawa Mode
Ghost of Tsushima’s Kurosawa Mode Was Inspired by the Films of Legendary Filmmaker Akira Kurosawa
Akira Kurosawais one of the most influential names in the history of cinema. As a painter, Kurosawa found a way to integrate his art into film by first painting scenes and using them as a storyboard for his film’s frames and images. Perhaps unbeknownst to some, Kurosawa’s style has directly influenced popular films such asStar Wars,The Magnificent Seven, andA Fistful of Dollars. Despite being a Japanese director far from the Western shore, his mastery of cinema inspired American filmmakers and continues to inspire them even today. Even video games are inspired by his work.
Kurosawa’s films are largely recognizable by the director’s emphasis on movement in his pictures. This is precisely whyGhost of Tsushima’s Kurosawa Mode works so well with it, as a major part of the game’s artistic flair is movement.Ghost of Tsushima’s guiding windis almost always blowing through the tall grass and the trees, ensuring there is always motion on the screen. Additionally, animals often make contact with the game’s protagonist, Jin Sakai, in one way or another, either by leading him to a destination or simply adding to the life of the open world.
WhileGhost of Tsushima’s open worldis stunningly beautiful, its popular Kurosawa Mode provides players with a unique experience they can’t get anywhere else. When Kurosawa Mode is enabled, a black-and-white filter is placed over the entire image, along with a film grain effect and compressed audio reminiscent of an old recording from the 1950s. It’s certainly not for everyone, especially those looking forward to viewing more ofGhost of Tsushima’s colorful world. However, for those who can stomach its old-fashioned look, it can be quite an experience.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Should Have Its Own Version of Ghost of Tsushima’s Kurosawa Mode
It would undoubtedly be seen as a blatant and shameless imitation ifAssassin’s Creed Shadowswere to borrowGhost of Tsushima’s Kurosawa Mode, but it arguably doesn’t have anything to lose at this point. One ofAssassin’s Creed Shadows' trailers already features what seems to be subtle hints of a Kurosawa Mode in the game, so it may as well go all the way. It could make the entire experience feel more authentic, all while paying homage to one of the greatest filmmakers to ever live.
