Assassin’s Creed Shadows is one of those games you can’t wait to see released, a game you eagerly anticipate and pray won’t be a flop. Not only that, but you secretly hope it’ll be a fantastic masterpiece. From the very first announcement that it would be set in Japan, everyone practically went wild, hyped just by that fact alone and anxiously waiting for the game to come out. Unfortunately, the game has been delayed a few times so far, all in the name of perfecting mechanics and everything else to provide players with the best experience possible. That usually indicates that the game is unfinished, but in the case of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, it turns out this was true. Truth be told, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is one of the most polished, finest, and definitely the most beautiful Assassin’s Creed games released to date, if not one of the most stunning games of the past few years.
So, how did Ubisoft break free from its chains and create something that, in some ways, feels familiar but, in others, is different enough to amaze so many fans worldwide? By simply rethinking everything they know and want to achieve, deciding to finally focus on the players and their enjoyment. That’s exactly why we’re getting a fantastic, unique Assassin’s Creed title.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the first AC game where you’ll control two characters: Fujibayashi Naoe, a member of the Iga clan, and Diogo, also known as Yasuke, the first Black samurai in Japanese history. Their stories will be entirely different, as will their motivations, set in one of the most turbulent periods of Japanese history. Likewise, the game provides a compelling explanation and theory of how Yasuke came to Japan in the first place and became a samurai. Without spoiling too much, you’ll see the details when you dive into this fantastic title.
Since the story focuses on events in Japan during the mid-to-late 16th century, you’ll meet and learn about some famous figures from Japanese culture. This era is practically one big drama series due to everything happening in Japanese society at the time, often feeling messy or complicated for those unfamiliar with this turbulent period. For instance, Rise of the Ronin takes place decades after this, and anyone who’s played it knows just how intricate it can get—full of drama, tragedy, betrayal, unexpected twists, and terrifying moments at every turn. It was a period where every warrior wanted to be the dominant force in Japan, anyone with even a little knowledge of military and medieval Japanese values. However, unlike Rise of the Ronin, the story here, as we already know, focuses more on the individual fates of Yasuke and Naoe. Their stories are never dull and, like every Assassin’s Creed game, are excellently woven into real historical events, creating a fully believable and immersive fictional world within this specific chapter of Japanese history.
Both characters you’ll play as in this game are wonderfully developed, well-written, and complex, and over time, you’ll simply grow to love them. Naoe’s story is one of revenge and justice, while Yasuke’s is about self-discovery and finding his place in this strange world. What stands out is the attention given to the characters’ emotions. While Yasuke is a warrior who easily accepts killing but struggles with human relationships and understanding the world around him, Naoe is his opposite. Through her journey, from her first kill to the point where it becomes just another “normal day,” you’ll witness every step of her character’s development. The scenery, voice acting, music, and cinematic execution are simply incredible, and I believe no Assassin’s Creed game comes close to Shadows. It feels as though Ubisoft, during development, stopped and said, “Hey, we’ve done this a thousand times before; let’s do something unique this time.” And that’s exactly what they achieved—a one-of-a-kind game in a franchise with countless titles, a game that stands apart from Ubisoft’s formula to which we’ve, unfortunately, grown accustomed.
Generally speaking, the player is given a great deal of freedom in how they approach this title. The missions are designed to often occur in specific parts of the map, avoiding meaningless scatter across its expanse. Because of this, there may be times when it seems like there isn’t much to do on this huge, beautiful map. But that’s not the case. Missions focus on key locations on the map, while other areas are simply there for exploration and enjoyment—or at least, that’s how I like to think of it. In the farthest parts of the map, you can find small tasks and events, but not major missions—unless the objective is initially set in some remote corner.
As you progress through the game, your Objectives menu will branch out with new targets, events, characters to investigate or interact with, and organizations whose members need to be “removed.” Each mission has the potential to evolve into something bigger, better, and more exciting. It’s worth noting that these missions don’t fall into the “fetch” quest category, where you retrieve something and return. Of course, there are such missions, but they’re entirely optional and practically completed as you tackle more meaningful objectives. Without going into the structure too much, it’s best to discover this on your own.
Naoe and Yasuke will each have their own missions to complete during the game. These missions almost always revolve around their personal journeys, stories, and experiences—both before and after Oda Nobunaga’s invasion of the Iga Province. What’s great is that you can complete these missions practically whenever and however you want. Naoe approaches her personal missions through meditation and memories of past events, while Yasuke does so by encountering objects that symbolize his past or significant moments that shaped his character. In main missions, you can choose which character to play as, while in others, you’ll switch characters depending on the mission’s stage and objective.
This switching mechanism might pose a challenge for players because controlling these two characters is drastically different and requires a bit of adjustment. Yasuke is slow, heavy, and cumbersome, while Naoe is small, agile, fast, and resourceful. Sometimes you’ll literally transition from playing as Yasuke in one part of the level to slipping into Naoe’s shoes to continue toward their shared goal—sneaking, unlocking doors, stealing items, eavesdropping, and so on. These are moments where it’s hardest to readjust to Naoe’s style—or at least, these moments were a bit tricky for me. Essentially, missions fall into several categories: those playable with either character, those specific to one character, those where you can choose your character, and those that force character switching in certain mission segments.
No matter how complicated or tangled it all sounds, the way these mechanisms and distinct playstyles are implemented is excellent. However, the missions that force you to play with both characters back-to-back can be confusing due to their drastically different controls. That said, even in these missions, you’ll never find yourself sneaking as Yasuke or fighting an army of enemies as Naoe. Instead, tasks in joint missions are divided based on the capabilities of each character.
Speaking of missions and objectives, there’s also gameplay and character progression. Gameplay, as I’ve previously mentioned in the review and in the initial impressions a few weeks back, differs significantly between the two characters. Naoe’s gameplay focuses on stealth—a true old-school Assassin’s Creed approach. Shadow is your best friend, and you’ll need to follow it at all times to complete missions as “cleanly” as possible. Naoe simply isn’t the kind of character who can take on 10 enemies of the same level and walk away the victor. It’s possible, but it’s challenging because you’ll constantly rely on in-game mechanics like dodge, parry, and block. Furthermore, Naoe has very few healing items, so you need to be cautious about that.
On the other hand, every mission can be played in complete silence, carefully and without raising alarms. This is where Naoe’s gameplay shines—or rather, where the entire Assassin’s Creed Shadows mechanics shine. The stealth mechanics are exceptionally well-executed, with no illogical or broken elements. Anything you envision can be achieved, provided you have the right tools at your disposal. Essentially, any mission that doesn’t require taking on hordes of enemies can be completed entirely in stealth mode. That’s why, personally, I enjoy playing as Naoe so much. The sneaking, planning, and executing your plans—and succeeding—bring an incredible sense of satisfaction.
On the other hand, playing as Yasuke offers a more “raw” experience. He’s big, heavy, slow, moving like a tank but strong as a force of nature. He slices through enemies with ease and is perfect for missions where you need to showcase brute strength. Unlike Naoe, who is agile, mobile, and resourceful in combat, Yasuke relies solely on his strength and combat skills, which means certain actions cannot be performed with him. Playing as Yasuke feels more like an action game than an RPG or traditional Assassin’s Creed title, which is refreshing—especially since all of this exists within a single game.
For example, Yasuke won’t be able to climb “towers” to reveal what’s in the surrounding area, nor will he be able to collect collectables that unlock valuable points for character development. What’s more, his clumsiness often leads to unintended encounters with bandits hanging around, as you’ll accidentally bump into them while running. Everything Yasuke touches tends to end up on the ground. However, there’s a comedic undertone to his entire demeanour and presence, even in battles—whether it’s enemies fleeing from him or commenting on him, or moments where you struggle to jump or climb.
The game’s story and character progression are crafted in a way that ensures you never get bored. Just when you think, “Okay, I’ve had enough of Naoe,” Yasuke steps in. And when you’ve had enough of simply cutting down everything in sight, you can easily switch back to Naoe.
When it comes to character progression, Assassin’s Creed Shadows remains, in some ways, an action RPG. You’ll find equipment throughout the game, but it won’t bombard you with new items constantly. Best of all, you could theoretically stick to one set of armour and weapons from start to finish, provided you find enough materials to upgrade them as you level up.
Levelling is unique, in its own way, as you need to pay attention to two separate progression systems. First, there’s the classic levelling system that defines Naoe’s and Yasuke’s levels. With each level, you earn Mastery Points, which you use to unlock special moves, passive bonuses, longer combos, and so on. However, to spend Mastery Points on the Skill Tree, you also need to level up your “knowledge,” which involves gathering Knowledge Points. These allow you to unlock skill levels that provide access to specific moves, bonuses, and abilities. Essentially, progression happens in two ways. You’ll collect Knowledge Points by exploring temples, finding certain scrolls, praying at shrines, and so on.
The attention to detail in creating the world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows is remarkable. In my opinion, this is one of those games that pulls you into its beautiful world and doesn’t let go. The last time I felt this way was with The Witcher 3, and more recently with Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2—though not to the same extent. My experience with The Witcher 3 felt like every piece of its world was crafted with purpose, without copy-paste shortcuts. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Assassin’s Creed Shadows provides the exact same feeling. The world is enormous, yet so detailed, hiding incredible secrets in places you wouldn’t expect.
I must admit, during the first 30 hours, I focused on completing as much of the story as possible, experiencing events and meeting characters. Later on, I decided to change my approach, to “relax” a bit. I turned off the HUD, mounted a horse, and began exploring the world without checkpoints, without mandatory missions—just to see what it had to offer and absorb it. The world is so vast that you’ll never reach a “wall” forcing you to turn back. Roads, mountains, plains, tunnels, and caves naturally guide you as you explore this incredible realm.
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but every inch of the map is crafted with such love and care—both for Japanese culture and for players who simply want to immerse themselves in this extraordinary world. I think I wandered for hours, only opening the map a few times. Later, I looked at my path and was surprised by how much ground I had covered. When I say hours, I’m not exaggerating—I think I spent more than five, maybe close to ten, hours simply soaking in this meticulously crafted world.
It’s fascinating how the developers’ dedication to authenticity is evident everywhere you go, no matter where you find yourself. The look of the buildings, the little bridges over streams, houses near waterfalls, shrines, temples—and not just that. As you wander through this world, you can see people getting married (or at least, I think that’s what they were doing), follow performances being put on for small audiences, listen to ensembles playing traditional Japanese music, watch people enjoying tea, or attend sumo wrestling matches. It’s incredible how Ubisoft managed to capture the magic of the 16th century, with all the beauty and horror of that period in Japanese history.
For me, the biggest surprise is that Ubisoft—a company so often disliked by many fans—managed to do a much better job than, say, Koei Tecmo with their game Rise of the Ronin, which I personally find fantastic, but this is simply better, at least in many respects (except for the combat, of course).
It goes without saying that during missions, the game essentially teaches you about Japanese culture, traditions, and everything else related to this era of this fantastic country. The game constantly explains what’s important in their culture, philosophy, way of life, and approach to warfare through its missions and objectives. The small, subtle details you’ll encounter in this game will stick with you and make you think about them long after playing. And it’s precisely these “little things” that will keep bringing you back to the game. Every time you notice something, you’ll hope there’s something different waiting somewhere else for you to discover—and I have to admit, you won’t be wrong. It feels like the game offers more the more time you dedicate to it, which, in my opinion, is a fantastic recipe for truly enjoying any title.
I believe it goes without saying that many of the cinematics are inspired by Kurosawa, while the music, at least in much of the game, has the feel of a Japanese spaghetti western—think Ennio Morricone with a Japanese twist. Of course, this style of music doesn’t dominate the entire game; there are also modern compositions mixed with traditional Japanese sounds. All of this makes the game so unique and authentic—it’s simply fantastic.
Ubisoft, keep going like this—please!
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a bold, unique, and determined continuation of this renowned franchise. A true sequel to the Assassin’s Creed series with much-needed changes that everyone will appreciate. Additionally, the game looks phenomenal on every platform and in every mode. With this title, Ubisoft has reminded us of its golden days, when it cared most about player experiences, their happiness, the design of beautiful and unique worlds, and fantastic gameplay mechanics.
-
Gameplay
-
Graphics
-
Sound and Music
-
Story
