(Image credit: Ubisoft / FromSoftware / Activision)
Timing is crucial in many aspects of life, from music to cooking. The same applies to video games, where rhythm is key to advancing. While it’s apparent in games like Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero, action-RPGs also rely heavily on this concept – a principle embraced by Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
In this game, heroes Naoe and Yasuke can parry when enemies glow blue. This straightforward system diverges from the red attacks—requiring dodging instead of blocking—that leave our protagonists vulnerable. Successfully deflecting blue attacks opens a brief opportunity to strike, but the timing challenges expectations.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a standout, comparable to classics like Assassin’s Creed 2 and Black Flag. It’s acclaimed as Ubisoft’s best RPG yet.
I’ve been navigating Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, a FromSoftware title that strips down to essential combat mechanics. With only a sword, players must master both attack and defense timing, resembling the parry system in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
After nine hours in Sekiro, understanding its parry became easier, albeit slowly, for someone with reflexes hindered by age. My struggle was compounded by previous experiences in Lies of P (2023), a Soulslike with its own parry-centric framework. Offering a broader RPG scope, Lies of P requires proficiency in parrying to overcome its daunting foes, especially the final boss.
Spending over 90 hours on Lies of P refined my parry, yet adapting to Sekiro was challenging. Despite setbacks, patience and focused learning eventually led to mastery. Now, Assassin’s Creed Shadows presents a similar yet distinct rhythm challenge.
Ubisoft’s entry deviates from the swift parry timing seen in Sekiro, favoring a more forgiving, elongated window. It’s enough to fool my instincts drilled for precision, leading to comical frustration. Even altering difficulty doesn’t transform the game’s unique identity, which I admire for its approach.
I relish the rhythmic combat and its patience demands, finding joy in each perfect guard. However, Miyazaki’s combat style has ingrained itself into my cognition, making Assassin’s Creed Shadows inherently harder.
Looking for a challenge akin to these unique gameplay experiences? Discover the 10 best FromSoftware games you can play now and elevate your gaming journey.