During the mid-2000s, Ubisoft was one of my favorite developers, creating some of my most memorable gaming experiences with titles like Splinter Cell and Rainbow Six 3. However, over time, they became a shadow of their former selves—releasing games plagued with major technical issues, excessive microtransactions, and neglecting many of the beloved IPs that made me love them in the first place.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes place in feudal Japan, a period fans have long wanted Ubisoft to explore. Initially, I was deeply concerned about what they would deliver, as modern Assassin’s Creed games have become so bloated that many fans recommend treating them like live-service games just to get through all the content. This design philosophy made me put down Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Despite my concerns, I’m happy to report that I’ve been enjoying the game so far. That said, it’s not without its flaws.
The Journey of Two Souls
The gameplay of Assassin’s Creed Shadows is experienced through two distinct protagonists. Most of the time, you can switch between them at will, but certain story events will require you to play as a specific character.
When given the choice, you can play as Naoe, the daughter of a legendary shinobi seeking vengeance for her clan, or Yasuke, a warrior brought to Japan by Portuguese traders who has since made a name for himself in battle. Each character offers a unique playstyle.
As you might expect, Naoe is agile and excels in stealth, while Yasuke is incredibly strong—capable of charging through and breaking walls. This combat variety is a welcome addition, and I found it very enjoyable.
During my playtime, I have primarily played as Naoe, as I became engrossed in exploring the map and unlocking various activities throughout the world. I highly recommend doing the same, as completing tasks like clearing temples or praying at shrines increases your Knowledge Rank. This rank is essential for unlocking new skills within upgrade trees such as Shinobi, Katana, and more.
Players can expect to fully unlock Yasuke in approximately 10–15 hours of gameplay. However, the exact time may vary depending on how many side activities you choose to complete.
What Have I Been Enjoying The Most about Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
I’ve been playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows on my PlayStation 5 Pro in performance mode, and it runs beautifully. The combination of weather effects and in-game seasonal changes enhances the overall aesthetic, making the world feel more immersive. I’ve been consistently getting 60FPS with little to no drops, even during intense combat scenarios.
Speaking of combat, I love it. The system has evolved dramatically throughout the franchise’s history, and I think it’s handled exceptionally well here. As I progress deeper into the game and unlock more skills, the combat becomes even more satisfying. One of my favorite abilities so far is with Naoe when using a Tanto—she can seamlessly dash toward a target, follow up with a forward strike, and finish them off with her hidden assassin blade. I must note that I have tuned the combat and stealth difficulty to “Expert”. I truly believe this will give you the best experience and I suggest giving it a shot.
The Problems
I’ve been thoroughly enjoying my time with the game, but it’s not without its issues. One of the most glaring problems is the inconsistent English voice acting. Sometimes it sounds perfectly fine, but other times, it can feel robotic and strange. If this bothers you as much as it did me, I recommend switching to the “immersive” language option. In my opinion, this does a much better job overall.
Another glaring issue for me is when exploring the open world. In some areas, it feels like you have to follow an exact path, or you’ll end up getting stuck on trees or other obstacles. While most trees can be destroyed, you can’t do so while mounted on your Horse. Because of this, I recommend always activating Pathfinder when heading toward a waypoint. This way, you have a path to follow that won’t lead to frustration.
I have plenty more positive and negative thoughts about the game, but I want to save the rest of the discussion for my full review once I roll credits. Stay tuned!
