Game Review: Assassin's Creed Shadows - A Beautiful Yet Safe and Incomplete Journey to Feudal Japan That Disappoints Series Fans
Story - A Mediocre Tale of Revenge That Wastes Its Characters' Potential
The main plot of Shadows focuses on revenge - a theme that should be emotionally charged but is presented in an exceptionally formulaic and shallow manner. Yasuke, the historical figure of Japan's first black samurai, seeks vengeance for the death of his patron Oda Nobunaga and his mother. Meanwhile, Naoe, a shinobi's daughter, is driven by the desire to avenge her father's murder. While their personal tragedies could have formed the basis of a compelling story, the writers fail to extract anything more profound than a simplistic "kill because they killed your loved ones."
Missing are deeper questions about morality, the consequences of violence, or the cost of sacrifice - elements that previous installments (like Assassin's Creed III with Connor's tragic ending or Origins with Bayek's heartbreaking story) handled with far greater maturity. Worse still, the conflict between Assassins and Templars (here operating under local names) is treated as an afterthought, appearing only near the game's end almost as an obligatory addition. This is hugely disappointing, as this timeless clash of ideologies has always been the heart of the series.
The biggest letdown, however, is the complete absence of a modern-day storyline. After Valhalla, where Basim became a key figure in the contemporary narrative, I expected his story to continue. Instead, Shadows completely ignores this element that for years tied the entire series together, giving it its unique identity. Without it, Assassin's Creed becomes just another historical action game - beautiful but soulless.
Side Content - Uneven, Often Boring, Occasionally Brilliant
Like previous RPG-style installments (Origins, Odyssey, Valhalla), Shadows offers a vast number of side quests, but most are typical map "fillers." Missions like "kill X bandits in region Y" or "find treasure hidden in ruins" dominate, and completing them rarely brings satisfaction. The rewards simply aren't worth the effort - a bit of gold, mediocre gear, no meaningful changes to the game world. This is especially frustrating since Ubisoft has struggled with such "empty" side content before and did nothing to improve it here.
There are exceptions - some quests, particularly those involving the protagonists' friends and romances, are genuinely well-written and provide a respite from the dark main narrative. It's just a shame such gems are few and far between, with the rest being standard time-wasters. The biggest disappointment comes from the so-called "cults" - organizations to eliminate that could have formed the basis for interesting, elaborate missions. Unfortunately, most boil down to dryly checking off targets on the map, with their stories told mainly through notes rather than exciting cutscenes or dialogues.
Exploration - Japan Comes Alive, But With Repetitive Activities
While open-world activities can feel repetitive (praying at shrines, collecting manuscript pages, finding chests), simply exploring Japan is an incredible pleasure. The game world is beautifully realized - from dense bamboo forests to vibrant cities and picturesque mountain villages. Every corner begs for a photo mode session, and dynamic weather and seasonal changes add realism. The developers clearly put tremendous effort into recreating architectural details, clothing, and even NPCs' subtle gestures.
One of the more interesting additions is the Kuji-Kiri minigame, requiring focus and good timing. It's a nice diversion fitting Naoe's meditative nature, but unfortunately, after a few repetitions, it becomes just another mechanical element rather than a deep experience.
Gameplay - Excellent Stealth, But Combat Still Lags Behind the Competition
The gameplay mechanics are very similar to previous RPG-style entries, but the stealth here is the best the series has seen in years. There are numerous hiding options - from classic crowd blending to using rooftops and bushes, to environmental interactions (like extinguishing torches to plunge rooms into darkness). Each mission allows experimenting with different tactics, keeping the gameplay fresh. Additionally, enemy AI is smarter than in Valhalla, requiring more thoughtful planning for every move.
Melee combat has also improved - enemies are no longer the "damage sponges" of Odyssey, and varied finishers and animations make skirmishes visually pleasing. However, the system still falls short of what other action games offer (like Ghost of Tsushima or Sekiro). It lacks real depth - parrying and counterattacking options are limited, with combat mostly revolving around alternating attacks and dodges.
Graphics - An Absolute Visual Masterpiece That Raises the Bar
Playing on Xbox Series X, I can confidently say Shadows is one of the most beautiful games I've ever experienced. Textures are incredibly detailed, tree leaves look realistic (without the typical TAA "blur"), and weather effects - especially rain and fog - add authenticity. But the most impressive are the seasonal changes that not only affect the world's appearance but also gameplay (e.g., snow muffling footsteps in winter). This is a truly next-gen project showing how modern graphics should look.
Pros
+ Stunning graphics and world - Feudal Japan is beautifully recreated with attention to detail, dynamic weather, and seasonal changes
+ Best stealth in the series - Numerous hiding options, environmental interactions, and creative assassination methods
+ Two distinct playable characters - Yasuke (samurai) and Naoe (shinobi) offer different playstyles
+ Better combat than Odyssey/Valhalla - Enemies aren't damage sponges, and fights are more fluid and cinematic
+ Excellent photo mode - Every frame looks like a living ukiyo-e woodblock print
+ Interesting season mechanics - Changing environments affect gameplay (e.g., snow muffles footsteps)
+ Some well-written side quests - Particularly those involving companion characters
CONS:
- Weak, formulaic story - The revenge plot is predictable and lacks emotional depth
- No modern-day storyline - The complete omission of Basim's story is a huge disappointment
- Marginalized Assassin-Templar conflict - Appears only at the end with little narrative impact
- Repetitive, boring side quests - Mostly standard "kill X bandits" or "find treasure"
- Poor side quest rewards - Little motivation to explore beyond the main path
- Combat still inferior to competitors - Feels shallow compared to Ghost of Tsushima or Sekiro
- Lack of deep antagonists - Most villains are one-dimensional with no backstory
- Wordy but empty dialogues - Often lacking emotion and meaningful choices
Verdict
Assassin's Creed Shadows is a game with many strengths: excellent stealth, a beautiful world, and decent combat. Unfortunately, it lacks narrative depth, a modern-day storyline, and a clear Assassin-Templar conflict. This makes it feel like a good game set in Japan, but not a true Assassin's Creed experience.
If you're looking for varied gameplay in a beautifully realized feudal Japan, Shadows won't disappoint. But if - like me - you long for a return to the series' roots with a clear modern-day narrative and stronger focus on the hidden war between factions, you may feel somewhat let down.
My Score: 7/10 - A good game, but not revolutionary. Worth playing for the atmosphere and mechanics, but don't expect deep storytelling or a return to the series' best traditions.
My gameplay:
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