As idyllic Japan greats us with its beauty, and the samurai and shinobi make way for our arrival, we sit down to process how we feel in this Assassin’s Creed Shadows review. After a satisfying gameplay trailer drop a few weeks ago, the title has finally been released and Ubisoft has everything riding on the game’s success. 

The AC Shadows gameplay trailer gave us some key insights into the differences between the two protagonists, and now experiencing it firsthand is twice as fun. Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ stealth mode with Naoe is where the game really works best for us, but we’re not completely opposed to Yasuke’s head-on approach to fights either. There is a lot to love about the immersiveness of it all.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows pros and cons

Image: Some will love to hate this but the AC Shadows gameplay offers an engaging experience.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Review: Pick Your Playstyle with Naoe and Yasuke

AC Shadows has had a lot of naysayers since its announcement, with many not even considering giving the game a chance from the get-go. The mission to boycott AC Shadows has largely been over its lack of historical accuracy, which appears to be the easiest way to disguise the real reason for their dissatisfaction. 

While it might be fair for the Japanese to speak out against it, the rest of the boycotters have largely taken up the issue with the game’s “DEI agenda,” inventing a problem that wasn’t there. Japan has rightfully taken a stance against some of the content such as the destruction of shrines and other material that doesn’t fit their culture.

The history of the kunoichi and the biographical story of African samurai Yasuke are both interesting in equal measure, but Ubisoft’s attempts to showcase them may land the company in further trouble. 

Early Opposition to Assassin’s Creed Shadows Has Nothing to Do With the Game

The studio has issued recommendations to its developers to keep their involvement with the game a secret for fear that they could be attacked by angry gamers. The company has also stated that it will be prepared to take legal action to protect them. This shows the ridiculous amounts of vitriol in the gaming community and how disconnected some gamers are from reality, so asking for historical accuracy seems like an ironic move on their part.

No, we don’t believe that AC Shadows is set to win any points or awards for its historical accuracy, but we’re still here to support the ambitious game for what it has to offer. Let’s get straight to the Assassin’s Creed Shadows pros and cons so you can also decide if you want to give the game a shot. 

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Story and Runtime

Assassin’s Creed Shadows follows two tortured souls, Fujibayashi Naoe and Yasuke, both of whom have fought to overcome their tough pasts. Submerging us in the culture and aesthetic of sixteenth-century Japan, the game allows us to participate in the battle between the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templars, testing our mettle against the enemies.

Both characters embody the “outsider” role in their own way, exploring their identity in the context of the world they live in now. They struggle to find their place and establish themselves as individuals, all while being looked down on by those around them. If you don’t enjoy emotional stories, then you might be bored for parts of the game, however, the core quest doesn’t keep dragging on without a break.

From experiencing the changing seasons to building up your hideout for you and your alleys, you’ll always have something to do here. Some of you won’t care about building an aesthetic residence for your little found family, but this is exactly the kind of cosmetic detail we love to see. We give this Assassin’s Creed Shadows review some bonus points for this integration.

AC Shadows Gameplay

The Assassin’s Creed Shadows gameplay mechanics are extremely engaging and there are some innovative ways to rake in the kills throughout the game. Naoe’s climbing skills, stealth hunting, and use of shadows make her one of the most fun protagonists we’ve seen in the game’s history, although she does remain a little weak when it comes to dealing powerful blows. That’s where Yasuke shines best, using his more aggressive weapons—including a gun!—to really bend his opponents out of shape.

Unfortunately for Yasuke, he isn’t as fun to play despite his strength. Especially after Naoe, his playstyle can feel a little clunky and slow, making the section where you have no choice but to play him a little tedious. Still, we’re certain there’s an audience for his style of gaming and many will find the character fun. 

The Assassin’s Creed Shadows combat system is decidedly more complex and fun to experiment with than the older games in the franchise. The summoning of allies gives you a nice boost when you need it, but even that aside, there are different ways to adapt your fight style to suit the number of enemies, where they are positioned, and how easily they can call for backup. 

Assassin’s Creed Shadows gameplay

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is immersive and engaging.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Pros and Cons

As the other Assassin’s Creed Shadows reviews will tell you, there’s a lot to love about this game but it isn’t 100% perfect for everyone. We have yet to see a game that is, so we’re personally satisfied with what AC Shadows has to offer. 

If you play the game at a stretch, some scenes like the castles you invade will begin to look repetitive, but you can always use the opportunity to experiment with your skills. That was our biggest gripe with the game, but it was easy enough to work around.

For a more concise run-through of the pros and cons of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, here are some thoughts we’d like to share.

Pros of AC Shadows

  • The option of the two protagonists can be fun to switch between when you get bored of either
  • The upgrades and skills bonuses definitely make a difference, as do the side quests. Some of them may end with scrolls you don’t care about, but they are useful most of the time
  • Assassin’s Creed Shadows features an immersive story and design that you’ll find yourself mesmerized by
  • The changing seasons aren’t just visual designs and do impact the game
  • Naoe’s stealth abilities are extremely fun and her kills are just as satisfying
  • AC Shadows’ combat system is more advanced than previous games
  • The open world is very detailed and enjoyable to explore
  • Side characters and allies make the game more personal
  • It is the closest you’ll ever get to being a ninja or an assassin
  • Opponents are smart and use a variety of tactics to fight back rather than just standing there in alarm
  • Not as bloated and drawn out as Valhalla, for those who gave up on the AC franchise since then
  • The hideout is extremely customizable but requires some active effort to unlock and build-up, which is a win for us

Cons of AC Shadows

  • Characters can feel unbalanced as there is an obvious advantage to using Naoe everywhere
  • Yasuke’s playstyle doesn’t fit the series well, nor does it feel like an assassin. It’s still fun, but the yelling and calling attention to yourself is out of place
  • Castle design and main quest gameplay can occasionally feel a little repetitive
  • Designed mainly for old fans of the series as the game mechanics and purpose isn’t necessarily suited for everyone
  • Dialogues and “choices” made in the game are largely inconsequential 
  • The voice acting has drawn some criticism but we weren’t perturbed by it
  • Not designed for people who do not enjoy story-driven games
  • Enemies are not very diverse and nor do they experiment with weapons so for those who enjoy mastering different opponents, this one will be boring
  • Not as exciting to explore the open world and side quests as the Odyssey title was 
  • If you’re expecting the game to be entirely different from previous versions in the franchise, this will not offer you that experience. It’s best to best to switch to another Japan-themed game like Ghost of Tsushima

Final Thoughts to Wrap Up Our Assassin’s Creed Shadows Review

The controversy surrounding the game and the amount Ubisoft is betting on its success has us worried for the team, but we think the designers and developers should be quite proud of what they’ve put out. From the impeccable visuals of the game to the interesting story and character development, it’s obvious that a lot of work has been put into the game.

The two protagonists are both interesting and have much to offer to the game, but you can easily stick to one of them for the majority of the playthrough without missing out on much. 

This is disappointing considering how much Ubisoft has fought to keep them both in the game, but the experience is still worth trying out. If you want a “new” type of gameplay from an AC title, then his playstyle might just be what you need to test for yourself. 

Should I Play Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

If you’ve recently played the older AC games, we’d recommend holding off on purchasing this one because it’s very easy to get caught feeling like you played it already. With franchise games, it’s hard to find the balance between sticking to the original and still offering up a new experience, and with the number of games there are in this series, the challenge grows harder. 

If you didn’t enjoy the last two titles, you might just want to stay away from AC games for a while because it’s unlikely to be the groundbreaking experience that you’re looking for. If it’s been a while or if this is your first time playing an AC game, you’ll be surprised by how smooth this runs and how much it has to offer in terms of experimenting with and building your character.

Our list of the Assassin’s Creed Shadows pros and cons should tell you that the game gets a lot of things right, so if you’re looking for something immersive and fun, this is a great choice for you.

Have your own Assassin’s Creed Shadows review to offer us? Let us know what you think. For more game reviews and other insights into the world of technology, subscribe to Technowize.

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