Game Review: Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Game Review: Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is an open-world action-adventure stealth game set in feudal Japan. It follows two protagonists—Naoe, a skilled shinobi, and Yasuke, a powerful samurai—as they navigate political unrest, personal revenge, and the rise of the Assassin Brotherhood. Available on multiple platforms including PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
What I Liked:
– The worldbuilding: Ubisoft continues to nail immersive environments, and this was no exception. While Feudal Japan isn’t my personal favorite setting (hello Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries), the scenery is absolutely stunning. From thick forests to mountaintop castles, it felt like a work of art. The attention to detail made simply wandering around feel like its own reward.
– The gameplay mechanics: Switching between Naoe and Yasuke was a fun twist. Their different play styles—stealthy vs. tanky—kept things fresh. We start off as Naoe, and I couldn’t wait to unlock Yasuke so I could finally defeat my opponents without struggling (I love video games, but let’s just say I’m not exactly a pro player). But once I had him, I realized I’d gotten used to Naoe’s speedier mechanics. Eventually, I found a fun balance between the two.
– Yasuke’s arc: Yasuke brought both heart and power to the story. His strength, compassion, and perspective as an outsider made him a standout. I found myself far more invested in his journey than Naoe’s by the end.
What I Didn’t Like:
– Naoe’s ending (or lack thereof): Assassin’s Creed Shadows ends on a cliffhanger, but instead of feeling intrigued, I felt… unsatisfied. The final moments zeroed in on Naoe in a way that felt disconnected from the bigger picture—the world, the creed, and the philosophy that usually anchors these stories. It was like someone closed the book mid-sentence.
– The pacing near the end: Things ramped up quickly, then just sort of… stopped. There wasn’t the payoff I’ve come to expect from Assassin’s Creed finales, which usually leave me with a mix of closure and curiosity. Here, I just felt like I was missing a chapter.
Overall Experience:
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows is visually stunning and a solid game, but the story—especially the final act—left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. As a longtime fan, I didn’t need a perfect ending, but I needed something better than what we got. Still, if you’re a fan of the franchise, there’s plenty here to enjoy, and hopefully future updates or DLCs will give Naoe’s journey the resolution it deserves.
Have you played Shadows yet? Let’s chat in the comments!
Raine