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Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Feudal Japan Adventure Fans Have Been Waiting For!

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Ever since Ubisoft Montreal began exploring various historical periods for the “Assassin’s Creed” series, fans have been eagerly anticipating a game set in Feudal Japan. Perhaps to fill the gap left by games like “Tenchu.” Now, almost eighteen years after the debut of the first “Assassin’s Creed,” that dream is finally coming true with “Assassin’s Creed Shadows.” However, given that “Ghost of Tsushima” was released a few years ago, offering an authentic Japanese setting similar to what “Assassin’s Creed” strives for, one might question if it’s too late?

Set in the year 1581 during the tumultuous Sengoku era, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows depicts Japan as it gradually unites under Oda Nobunaga. In this game, you assume the roles of two distinct characters: Naoe, a swift and agile shinobi; and Yasuke, a formidable samurai with roots in reality, having served under Nobunaga between 1581 and 1582. The narrative of Shadows, as with previous installments, revolves around a nefarious faction that prioritizes their personal power and ambition over the welfare of the common people. Therefore, Naoe and Yasuke must join forces to bring down the Twelve Shinbakufu, often referred to as the epitome of evil. However, are they truly the embodiment of evil? This remains to be seen!

The game Shadows follows a typical narrative structure similar to an Assassin’s Creed storyline, with you traversing through different regions to complete a series of tasks, but it truly shines in its storytelling. The backstories and objectives of characters like Naoe and Yasuke, who frequently have conflicting goals, are skillfully presented as they recruit allies for their League and overthrow tyrants at every opportunity.

As a gamer, I’ve got to say that the tale woven by Shadows is one of the finest in the series, but there are moments when its rhythm falters. The beginning moves at a snail’s pace, but the transition from Act 2 to Act 3 feels a bit abrupt. The best stories have a perfect balance of highs and lows, but sometimes Shadows misses the mark on those crucial narrative peaks. Overall, it’s an engaging and emotional journey filled with mystery, treachery, and swagger.

In simpler terms, while Ubisoft Quebec has emphasized the flexibility of switching between its two main characters, our preference was to primarily control Naoe. For the majority of the game, you are free to do so, except for certain character arcs towards the end and a few side missions. Interestingly, some main quests don’t even let you pick; instead, they allow you to play from both perspectives. However, it’s worth noting that the target takedown quests can vary significantly depending on whether you are playing as Naoe or Yasuke.

In terms of gameplay, Naoe is a stealthy ninja who prefers to operate in the shadows, control lighting, and deftly move across rooftops. On the other hand, Yasuke is heavy and strong but slow. Both characters offer exciting and viable play styles for the game. Interestingly, even as someone who prefers stealth, experimenting with Yasuke during some personal missions turned out to be surprisingly enjoyable. Instead of sneaking around and eliminating enemies silently, we charged into castles and hacked at anything that moved using our katana. The one issue we encountered is that certain collectibles have been hidden in castles only accessible by Yasuke, forcing us to leave the area and return with him to pick them up. This seems illogical because it contradicts Ubisoft’s aim of giving players the freedom to choose their character at any time.

Beyond that point, I must say that the gameplay in Shadows is exceptionally gratifying for both shinobi and samurai characters. To be frank, Naoe’s parkour abilities and diverse skillset bring us a gaming experience reminiscent of Tenchu, which we haven’t experienced in about two decades. It’s truly delightful! However, Yasuke, despite being enjoyable, made the game unusually effortless for us. Playing with Yasuke seems to lower the challenge level slightly. Throughout our 60-plus hours with the game, we likely spent approximately 58 of those hours playing as Naoe, and it was a blast!

In the game “Shadows,” Ubisoft Quebec appears to prioritize quality over volume. Although there are places to climb, it seems there’s less repetitive content compared to other recent “Assassin’s Creed” games. However, what stands out is an abundance of targets to eliminate, more than the previously mentioned dozen. Some might say there are almost too many! Gameplay-wise, it bears a resemblance to “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla,” with one key difference: players can construct and customize their own hideout, hire scouts, and recruit allies who can be summoned during tough situations. These features are welcome additions, but they don’t significantly alter the overall experience.

A remarkable feature in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the inclusion of changing seasons, which aren’t just for narrative purposes but follow a realistic time cycle. This means that the environments undergo dramatic transformations, offering breathtaking moments such as Kyoto’s cherry blossoms in spring contrasting with its wintery landscape covered in snow. Over our 60-plus hours of gameplay, we experienced an array of weather conditions and seasonal effects, ranging from heavy rain and snowstorms to misty mornings, thunderstorms, scorching sunshine, and overcast days. While Ubisoft Quebec’s depiction of Japan is visually stunning, experiencing it through all four seasons makes it even more captivating, and we hope this becomes a recurring element in future games within the series.

In simpler terms, “Shadows” has carried on the change that started in “Origins,” where the series transitioned into Role-Playing Game (RPG) territory. The days of blending with crowds, hiding, and scaling large buildings to gather information are long gone. Instead, “Assassin’s Creed” now focuses on vast open worlds offering numerous ways to handle any given situation. Moreover, “Shadows” offers two play styles, making it more immersive than all other “Assassin’s Creed” games combined.

In a nutshell, Shadows delivers an engaging stealth experience – with action thrown in for good measure – and boasts an intriguing narrative. While there are moments where the storyline stumbles, Ubisoft Quebec keeps things captivating throughout. I may not go as far as to say Shadows is on par with Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, but it surpasses both Origins and Valhalla in my opinion. Furthermore, it stands among the top stealth games we’ve seen in recent years.

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2025-03-22 19:45

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