'Assassin’s Creed Shadows' Spoiler-Free Review
Image Source: IGN
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the newest installment within the Assassin’s Creed franchise. From the day the game was announced, it has been the victim of controversy. Certain people were upset that Ubisoft decided to make Yasuke, a samurai, even though he wasn’t one in real life. They also thought they weren’t being authentic to feudal Japan. Whatever your thoughts may be, just remember that this franchise has never been historically accurate, and if you don’t like something, don’t play it. With that said, this game has been a wonderful addition to the franchise.
Gameplay
This is the second game in the franchise where you play as dual protagonists. You get to play as the shinobi Naoe and the samurai Yasuke. Naoe focuses more on stealth, whereas Yasuke is more of a tank and can take down a whole castle alone. It feels similar to the previous installments in the franchise. There is so much to do and explore that you will never get bored or run out of things to do. Oh, most importantly, you can pet the dogs and cats you see around Japan.
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Graphics
This game is gorgeous. I am playing on Xbox Series X, and it looks great, so I can’t imagine how it would look on PC. There are moments when I would step back and go into photo mode, where I sometimes go and admire the game's beauty. It looks so good and even real at certain moments.
Image Source: CultureSlate
Story
The story does not make you rush, and you can play at your leisure. It’s set up similarly to the previous games, where you unlock new sections of the map during the story and level up. While each protagonist has their own story, their main goal is to find and eliminate members of a deadly organization called the Shinbakufu. You then choose which character would be better suited to carry out the murder.
Pros And Cons
At the end of the day, it is a Ubisoft game, which means it's going to come with its issues. In my time playing, I have noticed some framerate drops and the AI can be a bit wonky. The new way to view objectives isn’t the best and is a bit confusing. The English voice acting can be hit or miss, but I recommend playing in immersive mode. It does require reading subtitles, but the Japanese and Portuguese voice acting is excellent. When it comes to the pros, the game is gorgeous and one of the best in the franchise. The soundtrack is incredible and fits the mood perfectly every time. It’s become one of my favorites, not only because of the story and gameplay but because of how good of characters Naoe and Yasuke are.
Image Source: Polygon
Verdict
If you’re a fan of the franchise, especially the more recent RPG ones, then this game is a must-play. The setting of feudal Japan is incredible, and they have made the world so rich and lively that there is always something to do. The stealth has returned to its roots when you play as Naoe, with vast improvements. For those who don’t like the stealth approach and would instead run in guns, or in this case, swords blazing, then Yasuke is the perfect pick. Both balance each other out, and you can spend hours with both of them and never get bored. It’s an incredible addition to the franchise, and I cannot wait to see what they do next.
Rating: 8.5/10
Developer: Ubisoft Quebec, Publisher: Ubisoft, Player: Single Player, Release: March 20th, 2025, Platform: Xbox Series X|S, Playstation 5, Windows, macOS, iPadOS ESRB: M, Price: $69.99
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