Assassin's Creed used to be one of my favorite franchises. The sci-fi nature of the 'modern-day' storyline fused with playing as a deadly assassin during famous past eras while influencing historical events was a delicious and intoxicating combo.
Exploring the streets of Italy during the Renaissance, fighting in the American Civil War, and sailing the high seas of the Caribbean in hopes of treasure and glory were all a day's work for this trailblazing series.
Then it all went to hell.
The franchise I once loved became a yearly addition to the gaming calendar as if it were fresh out of the 2K kitchen, and for me, it had lost its way.
Into The Shadows
We are on the cusp of Assassin's Creed Shadows launching, the 14th mainline entry of the never-ending Assassin vs Templar saga. I went into this game apprehensive; I was not caught up in the Shogun show hype, and I knew this wasn't a refined stealth AC game like Mirage (which I loved). Nor did I stick long with Ghost of Tsushima (shame, shame); something just didn't excite me for Shadows at all.
However, it turned out to be a game that not only surprised me but may have rekindled the old flame of joy I had when playing a new Assassin's Creed.
While Assassin's Creed Shadows hasn't completely broken free of its RPG shackles after ditching the stealth genre it once belonged to, it has begun to creep back into the shadows where the series began.
Maybe it was AC Mirage that influenced the decision after fans praised it for bringing the series back from the RPG era that began with AC Origins. Or maybe Ubisoft heard the fans loud and clear after the reception of Odyssey and Valhalla. Or maybe, just maybe, Assassin's Creed Shadows is the culmination of over 18 years of hard work and a franchise finally realizing its own identity.
This is your warning that while all efforts have been made to avoid the story completely, there may be mild spoilers for Assassin's Creed Shadows below.
So, if you want to approach the game with fresh eyes, skip to the review score and return after you have played it.
First off, I am not a fan of the 'Witcher 3-lite' style of gameplay that was added to Assassin's Creed Origins, which, besides Assassin's Creed Mirage, has carried over to all the recent entries. The original games were known for their parkour, stealth, world, and story. Desmond's graduation from bartender to bleeding-effect-powered uber-assassin was a story I wanted to see continue front and center throughout the entire franchise.
This was all (mostly) swept away with the stealthy action-adventure nature of the original games in favor of the RPG loot-em-up style we have today. Has this element been wiped from the game in some sort of franchise reboot? No, but the way Assassin's Creed Shadows presents it negates all previous ill will I harbored toward the changes.
Yes, I miss the back and forth of leaving the animus and using skills I learned while seeing the world through my ancestors' eyes. I hated that it became a side dish to the historical main course when they had worked so well in harmony for half of the franchise. Yet, Assassin's Creed Shadows came along and changed that for me; I no longer needed the modern-day/animus blend. The story that Ubisoft Montreal has spun in Shadows is the best the franchise has seen.
One of Shadows' most interesting choices is its approach to the long-running Assassins vs. Templars conflict. Unlike Odyssey, which all but ignored it, Shadows finds a balance. It’s similar to Black Flag in that the main narrative isn’t entirely driven by the Assassin-Templar war, but the factions are still present. Side missions provide more insight into the larger struggle so that longtime fans still get their lore fix.
Dual Protagonists
You play as Naoe and Yasuke, two opposing forces of nature who become embroiled in an engaging story throughout the war-torn lands of Feudal Japan. Both characters can be swapped around freely (eventually) after getting to test-drive them in the prologue. Switching between these characters is reminiscent of Assassin’s Creed Syndicate’s Jacob and Evie Frye, but their perspectives feel distinct now.
I worried about how Yasuke would handle due to his hulking nature; I expected him to be a slow-moving tank, but I was wrong.
Yasuke is the fabled African-American samurai from history who accounts claim to have come to Japan during the Sengoku period between 1581 and 1582. He fought at the side of Oba Nobunaga as one of his most loyal warriors. In the game, we get some of his backstory given to us and are then thrust into the life of a samurai ready to die for his new shogun mentor.
Of course, Assassin's Creed plays fast and loose with history and adds twists and turns to the actual events surrounding the life of Nobunaga.
Playing as Yasuke is like flicking a god mode switch on. He is every bit the brute he appears to be and can smash down doors that others would have to traverse around via alternative means. His combat skills with a sword, combined with his strength, mean you can cut through hordes of opposing forces like they were hot butter. Honestly, the best comparison I can make is that playing as Yasuke is like when you pull off a room-clearing combo as Batman in the Arkham franchise. It's that damn satisfying.
Don't get me wrong; Yasuke cannot be used in missions where you want to be sneaky. There is no hiding someone his size, so switching characters would make sense in these situations. Attempting to make Yasuke perform parkour moves, climbing, or anything close to how an assassin moves results in amusing dialogue. There's a treat I will leave for you to find when you attempt an eagle dive with our mighty samurai.
While I intend to keep the review spoiler-free, I will say that when we learn more about Yasuke and his past, it is one of the best story-driven sections of the game. That's not to say that you should play the entire game as Yasuke- far from it- but his inclusion as a protagonist is one of the key ingredients that took what may have become 'just another AC game' to new heights.
Yasuke is probably one of my favorite characters in the entire franchise now, and I fully intend to try and do a playthrough where I play solely as him when I get the chance. The game made me want to learn more about this mysterious samurai and his historical background. Give us some Yasuke-only DLC, Ubisoft!
This love for Yasuke was not meant to be a slight on Naoe, the female shinobi/assassin out for revenge and justice. Naoe is a badass ninja; she has the coolest outfits and a fantastic array of tools you can use to skulk in the shadows and take down your targets silently. See, I said 'shadows' as Ubisoft dipped into their bag of tricks developed in the Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell franchises and brought out several moves that make this one of the most stealth-orientated Assassin's Creed games ever.
"Holy Christmas"
Utilizing light, you can hide in the dark to make it more difficult for your enemies to see you; yes, they plucked the system right from the all-but-dead jaws of Sam Fisher and gave it to Naoe. You can duck and dive in the shadows and take out lights to create new hidden pathways as you make your way to the unsuspecting target.
Adding to this is Ghost Recons' prone move, where you can throw Naoe to the deck while going prone to avoid raising the alarm. Such an obvious new feature that we never knew it was missing until now. Scurrying around on rooftops and avoiding lines of sight just became much more tactical.
The new observe mechanic allows you to take in your surroundings, discover chests, mark targets, and even eavesdrop on conversations to learn additional info about your current objective. With the new light-based hiding system and the ability to go prone, stealth has gotten a much-needed revamp since the series went RPG.
The movement in the game is superb, and the usually overwhelming open world is made less scary by allowing you to see a path to any objective or marker you have placed on the map with a press of the D-pad, so no more aimless wandering in the direction that the compass shows. This is an optional feature and does not need to be used. Like most of the aids and UI visuals in the game, they can be removed for purists who truly want to go all-out stealth with Naoe.
Eagle Vision is back in its classic form, allowing you to mark enemies and plan an approach. While the bird companions of previous games had their charm, there’s something undeniably satisfying about returning to this tried-and-true mechanic. Shadows is proof that Ubisoft is listening to its fans, and the result is one of the best implementations of stealth in the franchise’s history.
Combat is fluid and engaging. Attacks are mapped to R1 and R2 while parrying with L1 requires precise timing. Mastering Yasuke’s parries and counters feel immensely satisfying, while Naoe’s focus on dodging and quick strikes makes for an exhilarating contrast.
Multiple weapons are available to master, each changing how you approach encounters and offering unique skill trees to develop, adding depth to combat customization. You also need to pay heed to your character's adrenaline meter to determine when to pull off your ability moves; if it is drained, you must pull off some swift dodges or get some hits in to fill it.
One standout ability I thought was cool slows down time as you slash through your opponent and drains all color except red, creating a stunning noir-style effect that adds to the cinematic flair of battles. The adjustments made to the combat are very much appreciated and feel far less fixed than those in the likes of Origins.
Same Old Brand New You
Every Assassin's Creed trope is here from every era in a way I never thought was possible. RPG skill trees to improve the characters, a massive open world, parkour, stealth, and climbing towers to reveal the map. I could write a list of the collectibles, diversions, and side missions in this game, but that would use too much ink; trust me, for those who love collecting, you will not be disappointed. Sadly, the tiered loot system also returns, but it isn't as noticeable if you master the combat system.
Another thing that helped me not notice the loot system as much is the addition of transmog from the start. Other entries have had this, but are usually patched in after release. The ability to keep the standard-looking assassin robes is a huge must for me, so customizing the gear's look from the outset made swapping gear unnoticeable. No one likes mismatched gear on their main characters.
The worlds of Valhalla and Odyssey felt too much. They were just too open, empty, and daunting. Every objective felt miles away and a chore to get to. Assassin's Creed Shadows has a similarly vast open world. However, thanks to the claustrophobic feeling forests and the spacing between each point of interest, traveling anywhere feels like a new adventure.
War-torn Japan is stunningly realized, with villages, castles, and countryside landscapes filled with people who feel like they have their own stories. The environmental storytelling is impeccable—whether it’s burned-down settlements or refugees seeking shelter, the world feels rich with history and depth.
Taking on a new target on the board was always its own mini-story. Each required planning and careful execution to take down. I truly enjoyed learning of the motives of each, and even the targets from the minor factions were enjoyable to hunt down and eliminate across Japan.
I never once sighed when I saw my next marker on the other side of the map. Instead, I relished getting there and seeing what happened along the way as I hopped on my trusty steed and rode through villages at war, lush forests with leaves blowing all around, and perilous mountain areas.
For those who dislike traveling on foot or horseback, you can unlock the good old eagle towers to fast-travel to new areas. Additionally, there are Kakuregas or hideouts in each city that you can buy, which also allow fast travel. These hideouts let you replenish gear, check contracts, and assign new allies (characters you meet that you can summon to assist you in battle).
To help you find your objective marker, you can send out scouts to reveal locations for objectives. You must use the clues for each to work out where exactly they may be hiding on the map, but try not to get it wrong, as scouts are limited and can be replenished by purchasing more at a hideout or once the seasons change.
Seasons In The (Rising) Sun
Complementing the environment this time around is the introduction of seasons. Yes, we have seen snow in AC before and have had various weather effects, but this time around, they make a massive difference to the gameplay. Rather than ripping wanted posters down to bring down alert levels, guards will remember you till the end of the season. Snow in the winter can make it easy to escape capture but more challenging to traverse.
Each seasonal change brings new elements like animals and weather, providing a fresh experience to places you have been through 100 times already.
Lastly, Ubisoft has finally given us its long-rumored Animus Hub. This is the fabled 'Infinity' project that aims to bring all your AC games into one place. You can use keys found in game to access rewards and take on regularly updated missions from the hub. This is also where you can view your data files, videos, and modern-day story info.
However, I found this section rather bland; it doesn't really serve a purpose at the moment, as it is just a launcher for other Assassin's Creed titles you have installed. It's a somewhat convoluted way to start a game by launching this one rather than opening it directly, but maybe more will come of this. Ubisoft has said it will evolve and grow over the years, so it may become something special down the line.
Either way, it did not add to or detract from my time with Shadows.
Is It Good Though?
I loved every single thing about Assassin's Creed Shadows. Its story was captivating to the point that I never really missed the all-but-absent traditional modern-day sections. The combat, with its nuances, once learned, made me feel like a badass warrior. Yasuke and Naoe are strong characters with very different play styles, making it hard for me to choose between them when missions asked me to do so. Even after taking down my final target, I was glad to have dozens of side quests left to complete.
On PS5 performance mode, the game runs mostly smoothly, but there are occasional frame drops—sometimes in unexpected areas rather than during intense battles. Entering new regions occasionally causes stuttering, though it typically resolves quickly. Despite these minor hiccups, the game is visually stunning, with intricate details and breathtaking environments.
It is a game that I want to spend more time with, despite bull-rushing through 50-60 hours to get to the end of the main section. Not many open-world games have the draw to bring you back after the fact these days, but Shadows is so full of allure that you will want to revisit it time and time again.
The extra time Shadows was allowed in the oven to bake proved that the franchise should never have been made a yearly release. Giving developers the time they need shouldn't have to be said, and here we get to see the results of a team given an extension to tweak things till they got it right.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is an absolute triumph. Yasuke and Naoe are among the best protagonists the series has ever seen, and the return to stealth gameplay is a massive win for longtime fans.
The refined movement, exhilarating combat, and deeply immersive world make for an unforgettable experience. While the RPG gear system may still divide players, it’s a minor issue in an otherwise exceptional game.
Assassin's Creed is finally back.
