Assassin's Creed Shadows offers a stunning journey into feudal Japan, blending stealth, engaging combat, and rich storytelling, my full review.
As someone following the Assassin's Creed series since the very first “leap of faith” in 2007, I’ve seen it all—the highs of Black Flag’s swashbuckling adventures to the vast landscapes of ancient Egypt, Greece and beyond. I've journeyed alongside the Brotherhood through countless eras. It hasn’t always been perfect, but the franchise is easily one of my favourites. Each installment brought its own flavour, but Assassin's Creed Shadows is a blend of tradition and innovation that synthesizes the series' core elements into a refined and immersive experience.
"Assassin's Creed Shadows is a blend of tradition and innovation that synthesizes the series' core elements into a refined and immersive experience."
Set against the backdrop of Sengoku-period Japan, Shadows refines the series' core mechanics and adds new elements to help make this one of the pinnacles of the franchise. Let’s dive in and explore why this is a must-play addition to the Assassin’s Creed franchise.
Assassin's Creed Shadows Review Details
Platform(s): PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Reviewed on: PlayStation 5 Pro
Developer: Ubisoft Quebec
Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Action-Adventure/RPG
Available game modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: Mature
A Tale of Two Shadows
The story of Assassin's Creed Shadows offers a dual narrative that has some interesting threads to unravel. You play as Naoe, a sharp-witted shinobi, and Yasuke, a hulking samurai with a heart of gold. Their paths intertwine in a tale of revenge, honour, and redemption set against the backdrop of the Sengoku period in Japan. The game contrasts their personalities well—Naoe’s stealthy precision complements Yasuke’s brute strength, creating a dynamic duo that keeps the narrative and gameplay engaging.
"The game contrasts their personalities well—Naoe’s stealthy precision complements Yasuke’s brute strength, creating a dynamic duo that keeps the narrative and gameplay engaging."
One key issue is how the characters are introduced in the game's early stages. In the prologue, Yasuke and Naoe are introduced in a balanced way, giving you a chance to play as both moments apart. This shifts in a jarring way, putting the focus on one character for over 5 hours only to shoehorn the second one in later. While the overarching plot leans heavily on familiar tropes, the subplots and characters make it a story worth experiencing.
Gameplay: Blades in the Shadows
The gameplay in Assassin's Creed Shadows is a big highlight of the experience, combining the mechanics the series is known for with new elements. Both the combat and stealth systems have been refined with dual protagonists. Naoe and Yasuke offer distinct playstyles that offer more agency in approaching objectives. Naoe is an agile shinobi, and Yasuke is a formidable samurai with incredible strength and skill, which allows him to wield heavy weapons.
As a shinobi, Naoe excels in stealth and agility. Her arsenal is centred around katanas, kusarigama (a sickle and chain weapon), and the series’ signature hidden blade. These weapons help with swift, silent takedowns and crowd control when you are surrounded. Naoe doesn’t have many heavy armour options, making her vulnerable in direct combat. This purposeful design choice encourages you to use the shadows, rooftops, and grappling hook to navigate environments stealthily. Overall, I enjoyed playing as Naoe the most; she offers more gameplay traits that have made Assassin’s Creed unique and one of my favourite series.
"Overall, I enjoyed playing as Naoe the most; she offers more gameplay traits that have made Assassin’s Creed unique and one of my favourite series."
That said, I appreciate what Yasuke also brought to the table, especially for players looking to take a more open approach to combat.
Yasuke embodies the samurai's skill and strength with his gameplay and combat style. He’s equipped with weapons like the katana and kanabo (a spiked war club) and is geared toward head-on confrontations. When playing as Yasuke in open-combat scenarios, it feels like “god mode” has been activated compared to Naoe. Yasuke can mow down swaths of foes single-handedly which is a nice change up to the formula.
"Yasuke can mow down swaths of foes single-handedly which is a nice change up to the formula."
Throughout the game, some missions are more geared toward one character over another. I like how Ubisoft Quebec brought something new with different characters in their gameplay approach.
New Map Mechanics and Dynamic Targeting Tracking
Shadows offers new exploration and target acquisition techniques through its new map and investigative systems. This marks a significant move away from traditional reliance on tools like the “eagle drone.” Instead, you must use observation, different vantage points, and your grappling hook to navigate the environment. This approach fosters a more immersive and authentic experience, encouraging deeper engagement with the game's world.
Dynamic Map Exploration
The game introduces a dynamic map system emphasizing discovery over predefined markers. Now, vantage points serve as observational tools, letting you scout areas and identify points of interest without automatically populating the map with objectives. You’ll still receive a hint that there is something to see, but it is denoted with a “?” until you explore it further on foot, you won’t know exactly what’s there. This design choice encourages you to explore the environments actively, uncovering secrets and missions through genuine exploration.
Investigative Enemy Tracking
Hunting enemies in Assassin's Creed Shadows requires a methodical investigative approach. You’ll need to gather clues or complete mini-objectives scattered throughout the world, leading to the discovery of targets. This system replaces the traditional method of marking targets on the map, requiring you to assemble information and track enemies through deductive reasoning.
"This system replaces the traditional method of marking targets on the map, requiring you to assemble information and track enemies through deductive reasoning."
At first, I found the system hard to navigate, but once I established the “rhythm” of the hunt, it was much more rewarding. There was still a lot of “go here, and fetch this,” but I found it added more depth to the gameplay once you reached your main objective. It makes each assassination feel more unique and rewarding.
Into Your Hideout
Another new feature in Assassin's Creed Shadows is the “Hideout system,” which serves as your base of operations. Here, you can upgrade gear, plan missions, and engage in meditative side activities like calligraphy. The Hideout also allows you to manage your allies, who are crucial in gathering intelligence and resources. However, building and upgrading the Hideout requires completing numerous fetch-style quests to gather necessary resources, which can become monotonous over time.
"However, building and upgrading the Hideout requires completing numerous fetch-style quests to gather necessary resources, which can become monotonous over time."
Despite this, customizing the Hideout with items and flora unlocked in the open world is rewarding. If you don't mind grinding for resources, you can build and add elements that offer a personal touch to your sanctuary.
Assassin's Creed Shadows Graphics and Performance
Playing on the PS5 Pro, I was blown away by the graphical fidelity of Assassin's Creed Shadows. The changing seasons and dynamic weather system add a layer of immersion that’s hard to beat. Watching cherry blossoms fall in the spring or trudging through snow-covered landscapes in winter is stunning.
"Watching cherry blossoms fall in the spring or trudging through snow-covered landscapes in winter is stunning."
The weather effects also change elements of the environment in real-time, like torrential downpours turning dirt into mud. Running along rooftops in the winter will cause icicles to fall and alert enemies. That said, the game isn’t without its hiccups—I experienced the occasional clipping issues and minor graphical glitches, but overall, AC: Shadows is an incredible technical showcase on the PS5 Pro.
A Symphony for the Shadows
The audio design in Assassin's Creed Shadows intertwines classic Japanese instrumentation with contemporary arrangements, creating an immersive and dynamic soundscape. Some tracks drew inspiration from Kill Bill-style Tarantino moments, adding a cinematic flair that elevated some key story moments for me. Whether you're stealthily navigating serene forests or engaged in intense combat, the music adapts seamlessly, elevating each moment.
"Whether you're stealthily navigating serene forests or engaged in intense combat, the music adapts seamlessly, elevating each moment."
The soundtrack features some classic franchise throwbacks, too, with reimagined versions of iconic Assassin's Creed themes, such as "Ezio's Family," performed with traditional Japanese instruments. Shadows also introduces an “Immersive Mode,” allowing you to experience dialogues in authentic languages relevant to the setting, further deepening the sense of realism.
Final Thoughts: A Worthy Addition to the Creed
Assassin's Creed Shadows isn’t just another entry in the franchise; it’s a statement. It proves that Ubisoft can still innovate while staying true to its roots. Despite its minor flaws, the game delivers a compelling narrative, refined gameplay, and stunning visuals, making it a must-play for fans and newcomers alike. If you’ve been waiting for a reason to dive back into the series, this is it.
Assassin's Creed Shadows PROS
+Stunning visuals with dynamic weather and day/night cycles
+Engaging dual protagonists with unique playstyles
+Refined stealth mechanics
Assassin's Creed Shadows CONS
-Abundance of fetch quests can feel monotonous
-Occasional graphical glitches
-Some story elements feel disjointed and predictable
Overall Assessment of Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Gameplay: 9/10
Graphics: 9.5/10
Sound: 9/10
Lasting appeal / Replayability: 8.5/10
Overall Rating: 36/40 = (90%)
Thanks to Ubisoft for providing a copy of the game to conduct this review.
About the Author - Matthew "Dapper Tux" Rondina
Matthew has been involved in all things gaming since the 8-bit era. He is a video game and tech industry veteran who has been passionate about technology and gaming for over 20 years. In addition to being the Managing Editor of dappertux.com, he has bylines with Best Buy, Cineplex Entertainment, Mobile Syrup and Walmart. Follow Matthew’s gaming + tech adventures on multiple social platforms with the handle @dapper_tux via X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and join in on the fun!
dappertux.com uses affiliate links to provide a way for this website to earn advertising income. The blog may earn a referral commission on purchases made via these links.
Comments