Assassin’s Creed Shadows doesn’t even come close to this one Hidetaka Miyazaki game that had every gamer sweating over the parry mechanic.

If The Game Awards were to dedicate an award to the most evil director of all time, it would have definitely gone to Hidetaka Miyazaki quite a few times. However, in his quest to make gamers feel the most rage they have ever felt in their life, the iconic director has unironically pioneered some of the best combat mechanics.

Hidetaka Miyazaki has directed some of the hardest games ever | FromSoftware

Every game under his direction demands patience, especially his 2019 title. Often called the hardest Souls game, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice managed to keep the players hooked through its wonderful battle elements, the parrying part of which still remains undefeated even by the likes of the latest Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Hidetaka Miyazaki and Sekiro’s PvE: The greatest of all time

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Sekiro’s unique parry focused gameplay and stealth-oriented exploration were Miyazaki at his finest. Image Credit: From Software
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When it comes to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, parrying against enemies isn’t just a part of the combat; it’s a whole art form, considering how Hidetaka Miyazaki had the perfect two elements in mind to blend together when it came to crafting the battle system of the game.

Unlike other Souls games, there’s no involvement of shields and stamina in this one, and the players purely play with blades and instincts, keeping them hooked as they keep on mastering the perfect timings for clashes. There is no way for the player to run away even for a little bit, as even the game’s most challenging bosses force them to participate in a duel with no window to take a breather.

Ubisoft’s latest release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows aims to partially bring a similar experience by bringing gamers an insight into the world of Feudal Japan. The core remains the same, with katanas and a lot of enemies to slice through.

Why Assassin’s Creed Shadows will never match the level of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Assassin’s Creed Shadows can never replicate Sekiro | Ubisoft

Released last week, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is finally out after a plethora of controversies that have left Ubisoft half-dead, fighting to just see the light of another day. The studio’s history with combat has often prioritized accessibility, with parrying in earlier Assassin’s Creed titles being paired with a large window for the player to take action.

Hidetaka Miyazaki’s design philosophy revolves around rewarding effort, which is exactly why every fight in Sekiro is worth looking forward to, even if it offers the most suffering the game would ever go through in their life.

On the other hand, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is more about letting players have the time of their lives whilst playing the game, offering a much larger parry window. While it appeals to a larger audience indeed, the combat will forever be stuck with a potential that only Hidetaka Miyazaki was able to fulfill.