Assassin’s Creed Shadows is surprisingly a lot better than its direct rival, Ghost of Tsushima, except when it comes to one key element.

From the moment it was announced, Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ interpretation of feudal Japan was met with immediate blowback — mostly from the West. The usual suspects were up in arms over the general identities of the protagonists,

It’s almost worth buying a new Mac to enjoy Shadow’s state-of-the-art graphics. But, graphics aside, Shadows can also stand on its own two feet as an action-packed game, offering satisfying and varied combat, and the ability to explore the world of feudal Japan.