It’s Final Boss Friday, the part of the week where we give you the definitive take on the biggest new releases. Today, we’re unsheathing our katana and diving into the world of feudal Japan with Ubisoft’s highly anticipated Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
After years of fan requests, the Assassin’s Creed series has finally taken us to Japan, a setting ripe with possibilities for stealth, honor, and conflict. Shadows places you in the dual roles of Yasuke, a powerful samurai of African descent, and Naoe, a nimble shinobi. This dual-protagonist system is the game’s biggest innovation, allowing you to switch between brute force and graceful stealth to tackle missions.
The World: A Stunning, If Familiar, Sandbox
Let’s get this out of the way: Japan is breathtakingly beautiful. From the bustling streets of Kyoto to the serene countryside, the world of Shadows is a visual feast. The changing seasons, a new feature for the series, add a dynamic layer to the environment, with snow-covered landscapes in winter and vibrant foliage in autumn. However, while the setting is new, the structure is familiar. If you’ve played a recent Assassin’s Creed game, you know the drill: a massive map dotted with icons, outposts to conquer, and collectibles to find. It’s a formula that is either comforting or repetitive, depending on your perspective.
The Gameplay: A Tale of Two Playstyles
The interplay between Yasuke and Naoe is where Shadows shines. As Yasuke, combat is weighty and deliberate. You feel every clash of steel, and his powerful strikes can break through enemy defenses with satisfying force. He is a walking tank, and it’s empowering to charge into a fortified camp and emerge victorious.
Naoe, on the other hand, is the classic Assassin. She is fast, agile, and deadly. Her gameplay is focused on stealth, using shadows, a new grappling hook, and an arsenal of shinobi tools to eliminate her targets without ever being seen. The addition of a light and shadow system makes stealth more engaging than it has been in recent entries, forcing you to be mindful of your environment.
The Story: A Solid, But Safe, Narrative
The story of Shadows is a competent, well-told tale of revenge and honor. The personal stories of Yasuke and Naoe are compelling, and their dynamic is the heart of the narrative. However, the overarching plot against the Templar-like Order of the Ancients feels like a retread of familiar ground. While the historical setting is fascinating, the story itself plays it safe, never quite reaching the philosophical heights of some of the series’ earlier entries.
The Verdict
So, is Assassin’s Creed Shadows worth it? Yes, with a caveat.
If you are a fan of the modern Assassin’s Creed formula and have been dreaming of a Japanese setting, this game is a must-buy. The world is stunning, the dual-protagonist system is a refreshing twist, and the core gameplay loop is as addictive as ever. It is a massive, content-rich game that will keep you busy for dozens, if not hundreds, of hours.
However, if you have grown tired of the series’ open-world bloat and were hoping for a revolutionary new direction, Shadows may not be the game to win you back. It is a refinement, not a revolution. It is the best version of the modern Assassin’s Creed formula, but it is still that formula.
Our recommendation: For fans of the series, dive in and enjoy the beautiful world and engaging gameplay. For newcomers or those on the fence, wait for a sale. *Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a great game, but it’s not a reinvention of the wheel. It’s a beautifully crafted, highly polished, and very, very big wheel.
