So, finally, after months of delays, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is here. Have Ubisoft finally learned from their past mistakes, and is this the game fans have been waiting for?
Developed and published by Ubisoft, this latest instalment in the franchise makes significant improvements over its predecessor, Mirage. It refines core mechanics, introduces fresh gameplay elements, and offers a compelling new setting that makes it one of the most exciting Assassin’s Creed games in years.
Set in 1579 Japan, Shadows introduces a dual-protagonist system, allowing players to experience two distinct playstyles through Naoe and Yasuke. Naoe, an agile shinobi, embodies the series’ signature stealth, using shadows, parkour, and ninja tools like kunai, smoke bombs, and grappling hooks to strike with precision. She also inherits the hidden blade, making silent assassinations feel more fluid and rewarding than ever. Her gameplay rewards patience, strategic movement, and creative takedowns.
On the other hand, Yasuke, the legendary African samurai, offers a completely different approach. Wielding heavy weapons, he delivers devastating blows in intense, close-quarters combat. His combat is brutal, allowing players to engage in a more direct, hack-and-slash experience. Early in the game, you primarily play as Naoe, learning about the world, its conflicts, and the larger story at play. Eventually, she and Yasuke cross paths, unlocking the ability to seamlessly switch between the two characters. The dynamic contrast between their playstyles ensures that every encounter feels fresh, and both characters are equally fun to play.
Missions in Shadows don’t always offer a straightforward objective marker. Instead, you’ll need to use scouts to gather intel about your target’s location. For example, a quest may provide vague clues about a person’s whereabouts, such as their region and key landmarks near them. If you haven’t explored the area yet, it can be challenging to pinpoint them. However, like previous Assassin’s Creed games, viewpoints help uncover parts of the map, and in-game scouts provide further assistance in locating objectives.
The game’s side content is more meaningful than in past entries. Unlike the main story, which follows a set path, side quests feature branching choices that can lead to multiple outcomes. Some side quests even explore Yasuke’s journey from his origins to becoming a samurai, as well as Naoe’s training and experiences as a shinobi. These additional narratives flesh out the characters and provide a greater emotional connection to their stories.
Whether just running around and attacking anyone on sight or doing mini missions in temples/castle where you have to either collect a certain number of items or kill a certain type of enemy, there’s always something to do beyond the main story.
One of the standout new features in Shadows is the introduction of a seasonal system, which directly impacts gameplay. Seasons change after a set time cycle, triggered naturally through fast travel, character switching, or manually in the Map Menu when available.
Each season alters the environment and could influence how you approach missions: Summer provides more tall grass for concealment, but bright sunlight creates fewer shadows to hide in. Autumn introduces fallen leaves and less grass to hide in, so you end up relying more on roof tops or hay bales to cover your tracks. Winter blankets the world in snow, creating visible footprints that can give away your position, though snowstorms help mask sound for silent assassinations in the more open areas. Spring features lush greenery and rainfall which I find is the perfect season for my preferred method of attack – stealth kills. This dynamic system forces you to adapt their strategies based on the season, adding an extra layer of immersion and challenge. Each seasons looks beautiful in game and sometimes I felt I had to change the way I play depending on what season I am in.
As with all Assassin’s Creed titles, Shadows features a fully open world. While areas have recommended levels, nothing stops you from exploring freely. Viewpoints allow for fast travel, and players can also purchase hubs for easy access to different regions. Some viewpoints are located in enemy-heavy zones, requiring careful planning to climb them unnoticed. Luckily, Naoe’s stealth and agility make it easier to navigate restricted areas.
The world feels alive, with a perfect balance of NPC livelihood and it doesn’t feel too crowded (Sorry you can’t talk to everyone though Jay – outrageous – ed), there is plenty of wildlife and sometimes in different areas you are encourages to paint pictures of said wildlife for a reward but you will need to creep up to the area to not disturb them.
Parkour feels smooth and works perfectly with the Japanese architecture. Climbing temples, leaping across rooftops, and sneaking through villages all feel seamless. Naoe’s agility makes movement fast and fluid, while the heavier Yasuke doesn’t really do any overly athletic parkour but can still climb smaller walls or just use his brute strength to break down doors to tackle these issues. The world is designed to encourage creative movement, making exploration and stealth even more fun.
The skill tree can be a bit confusing at first. I feel there are way too many things to unlock but then again it increases the variety of how you want to develop your character. Each time you level you can unlock further powers and abilities. Some feel very useful, some not so much, but it all depends on your playstyle and how you want to tackle each mission. I was mainly focusing on all stealth abilities for Naoe but all brute strength for Yasuke.
Visually, Shadows is breathtaking. The environments are rich in detail, movement is smooth, and the world feels alive with stunning lighting effects. Performance-wise, I encountered no issues—everything ran seamlessly, making for a polished and immersive experience.
Conclusion
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is everything I wanted from the series and more. The world is stunning, the combat is thrilling, and the dual-protagonist system adds so much variety to gameplay. Playing as both characters sometimes feels like experiencing two different games, thanks to their unique playstyles. The deep storytelling kept me completely immersed, and I never once felt bored. For me, it’s an absolute must-play for any fan of the series.
This game was reviewed based on Xbox S|X review code, using an Xbox S|X console. All of the opinions and insights here are subject to that version. Game provided by publisher.
