Assassin's Creed Shadows review: An ambitious and captivating world that's stuck in the past

Assassin's Creed Shadows is reviewed by Kris Holt, noting its strong potential for Ubisoft amid recent game industry challenges. The game presents an expansive open-world that is typical of the Assassin’s Creed series, yet with unique elements such as the ability to swap between two protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke. Naoe, a nimble shinobi, and Yasuke, a powerful samurai, provide diverse gameplay experiences. Holt appreciates the technical execution across various platforms, including PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, where the game performs well overall with very few frame rate issues. A magnificent visual presentation is achieved on high-end systems, despite some minor visual glitches like shimmering water effects in specific environments. This suggests the graphics were crafted with care, though some aspects remain rough around the edges, affecting immersion.

However, Assassin’s Creed Shadows suffers from some antiquated gameplay systems that somewhat tarnish the overall experience. Holt criticizes the convoluted skill progression, requiring players to engage in side activities to unlock new abilities. The equipment system is also seen as flawed, with characters needing to reach certain levels to use new gear gathered in the game. These outdated mechanics detract from what could have been a more streamlined and enjoyable player experience. Additional critiques focus on the narrative's structural issues, particularly how flashbacks interrupt the story's flow. Despite these drawbacks, the strong personal stakes interwoven with a broader storyline involving the fate of Japan maintain player engagement, bolstered by well-executed character interactions.

The inclusion of two distinct characters is both a unique gameplay feature and a narrative tool. Naoe's agility and stealth combined with her use of the hidden blade and eagle vision ability offer traditional Assassin’s Creed gameplay, whereas Yasuke provides a more combat-heavy approach with his samurai skills and weaponry. Holt notes that although both characters are well-written, there is some inconsistency with voice syncing, primarily in the English audio track, potentially distracting players during cinematic sequences. Nevertheless, the story's depth and inter-character dynamics, particularly the nuanced interaction between Naoe and Yasuke, are highlighted as noteworthy, enhancing the gaming experience despite the lapses in some mechanics and voiceovers.

Holt acknowledges the game's improved technical aspects, stressing the absence of performance issues found in previous Ubisoft titles at launch, such as Cyberpunk 2077. Shadows displays stability on most platforms and is verified for Steam Deck, expanding reach to portable gaming fans. The game environment, including dynamic weather systems and detailed landscapes, offers players an engaging experience of 16th-century Japan, though visual anomalies occasionally disrupt this immersive feeling. The game's effort to integrate nuanced lighting effects to assist in stealth mechanics, such as enabling players to extinguish lamps, is particularly praised.

With Assassin's Creed Shadows positioned against competitive titles like Sucker Punch Productions' upcoming Ghost of Yōtei, Ubisoft hopes for significant traction both with series enthusiasts and newcomers drawn by the historical setting. The game launches on March 20 for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC, Mac, and other platforms. While Shadows remains burdened by certain archaic gameplay models, its captivating narrative, dual-character dynamic, and technical prowess present compelling reasons for exploration.

Sources: Engadget, Kris Holt