I don't know what improvements they have made since shadows but the game seems to use more stylized visuals and more vibrant color tone, which, mixed with the water, looks more pleasing, perhaps. Shadows had a much bigger budget, and I feel it is more consistent and more detailed from what I've seen so far. Also lets see if this has the same granular destruction as shadows, which allowed you to cut multiple bamboo and vegetation, etc. I feel shadows gets overlooked due to his more subdued and muted tone, which comes across as more boring to many.