Assassins Creed Shadows review: A return to form, as all doubts are cast away with Shadows

In terms of gameplay, it takes less than five minutes for you to come to terms with classic Ubisoft game construction, as everything from movement to the environment is inimitably Assassins Creed fare.

Few game studios have needed a game to succeed as much as Ubisoft has needed Assassins Creed Shadows. A game that has attracted controversy, unwanted attention, and the cumulative ire of right-wing gamers for attempting to tell the story of Yasuke – the Black Samurai, Shadows was expected to deliver Ubisoft from a string of solid games that failed to make a mark at the box office.

Despite much being expected from Shadows, in 2024 (when it was set to launch), it was felt that the latest entry in the iconic Assassins Creed franchise would be review bombed into failing even before its launch. However, come 2025, the game’s launch has been quite successful with over a million players on day one itself.

Regardless of the controversy and the popular launch, what does the much-awaited Japanese sojourn in the franchise offer?

Naoe and Yasuke’s journey is visually resplendent, emotional, nuanced, and rooted in Japanese culture. Assassins Creed’s take on 16th century Japan is vastly different from Ghost of Tsushima, and while it adopts the same RPG form as earlier entries Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla; through its many customizable settings and special modes like the immersive and canon mode, it offers a unique experience.

In terms of gameplay, it takes less than five minutes for you to come to terms with classic Ubisoft game construction, as everything from movement to the environment is inimitably Assassins Creed fare.

In terms of narrative, the game is both respectful and constrained, it weaves its narrative by integrating rather than overshadowing, and by immersing rather than making you feel the outsider. You partake in games, tea ceremonies, witness practices like Kintsugi, and find solace in reflection through Kuji-Kiri.

I especially enjoyed Naoe’s journey as I navigated Japanese culture and traditions while trying to master diplomacy and commerce. She is also by far the fastest Assassin I have ever played with and her deadly combination of speed and stealth is addictive.

The overall open-world Assassins Creed experience has been greatly refined. Combat with the various weapons is smooth and quick, and once mastered, you progress quickly.

However, not all is perfect with Shadows. The game’s open world has bugs and glitches that need fixing, the combat gets repetitive beyond a point and capturing forts non-stop becomes monotonous. The open-world formula after the 20-hour mark gets a bit stale and Ubisoft could rethink the variety it offers because the grind for better gear feels cumbersome.

A solid game that is bound to be great after exam season, Shadows is definitely worth your time and money.

Sneak Peek:

Title: Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Developer& Publisher: Ubisoft Montreal and Quebec for Ubisoft

Game Type: Action RPG with stealth mechanics

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S,Microsoft Windows, Apple Macintosh

Price: Rs.5,599 on PlayStation and Xbox store;Rs.4,899 on Steam, and Rs.5,900 on Mac Store

Verdict (all scores out of 10):

Innovative Gameplay: 8.5

Game Handling & Quality: 8.5

Value for Time: 9

Overall: 8.3

What Stands Out:

• Ubisoft’s representation of Japanese culture is nuanced and brilliant. It offers a compelling tale that is woven through delicious food and tea and gently nodding to Japanese rituals.

• The speed, directness, and intricacy of late 16th century Japan is a joy to behold, depicts a chaotic time in Japanese history through the eyes of Naoe and Yasuke with restraint and sensibility.

Fails to impress:

• As is the case with most open world games of this size, there are a few glitches and bugs that need fixing. In missions where you are to overhear conversations, the cut-scenes either don’t load or action cues like “crouch” or “stay hidden” fail to disappear after completion.

• Stealth, at times, can be a bit hit or miss because of how filled the world is with artifacts and items. You can take cover behind objects, and in the process, become visible because other things fall down.