Assassin's Creed Shadows Reviews
Assassin's Creed Shadows starts off strong with an interesting story and great core gameplay and combat. Unfortunately, Shadows ends up getting in its own way by delivering a compelling story, but not knowing when to trim the fat, a gorgeous overworld that overstays its welcome, and an equipment system that isn't exciting.
Since the dawn of time - or thereabouts - when Ubisoft Montreal started experimenting with different eras in history for Assassin's Creed, fans hav...
Assassin's Creed rises to the occasion once more with Assassin's Creed Shadows, an expertly crafted entry that blends the strengths of the old and new styles of Assassin's Creed title alike to deliver one of the best outings this long and storied franchise has ever had.
With its mammoth Japan heaving with to-do lists to check off, Assassin's Creed Shadows opts for the safety of familiarity rather than taking any real swings for the franchise's belated sojourn in the 'Land of the Rising Sun'. What remains is a fine Assassin's Creed title that, save for a few clever tweaks, fits snuggly in its template.
With Assassin's Creed Shadows, Ubisoft has finally delivered on the feudal Japan setting fans have always wanted.
Assassin's Creed Shadows is another notch in the belt of this illustrious series. Sneaking and stabbing as Naoe or duelling foes in honourable combat as Yasuke, the duel protagonists are a genius addition to all the things we love about Assassin's Creed. Even though I haven't gelled with the more recent huge open-world AC titles, I leave my time with Assassin's Creed Shadows with renewed excitement for the series thanks to a more manageable map size and a great story. Add in the beautiful backdrop of medieval Japan throughout the seasons, and you've got a hit.
Assassin’s Creed Shadow’s ability to seemingly strike a perfect balance between the older titles in the series and its RPG brethren. This is exactly what I want RPG Assassin’s Creed games to be going forward.
Shadows is best played with hidden blades as a stealth-action game reminiscent of what Assassin's Creed used to be, but its greatest strength is choice.
I have experienced quite a few really cool moments while playing Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, but after 40 hours of playtime all those moments are lost in time like tears in rain. This new Creed has some interesting ideas to shake up the formula, but none of them are good enough to make it count. All in all, any potential for greatness was squandered for yet another opportunity to make a very big game.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Although Ubisoft's works have been somewhat sluggish in recent years, "Assassin's Creed Shadow" proves that they still have the ability to develop such "high-end" works.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
Trying to give everyone what they want can often be a risky move, but Shadows is a remarkably accomplished package that both new and old fans should be able to enjoy equally. The stealth gameplay has seen a significant leap in quality and Ubisoft's realisation of feudal Japan does them proud. The main quest is probably the tightest one in years and the side content is fun but not overwhelming. If Assassin's Creed Shadows is lighting the way for future entries, it seems like the franchise will be in safe hands for years to come.
PS5 – Merging the two core identities of the Assassin's Creed franchise was no easy feat, but Ubisoft Quebec largely succeeded. The game boasts a vibrant open world, a wealth of activities, and a solid-if somewhat simplistic-combat system. However, where Assassin's Creed Shadows stumbles is in its lackluster enemy AI, which often behaves irrationally, and its consistently low difficulty level, even at the highest setting.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Ubisoft's big, bold swing with Assassin's Creed Shadows mostly connects, proving that it was right to hold off on the Hail Mary Feudal Japan setting until it had honed the series' RPG trappings. Shadows' attempts at new ideas don't all land the same, but it excels in the areas that matter most in these games with a gorgeous, rich and well-researched world to explore, compelling stealth gameplay and a story full of intrigue and fresh takes on historical figures.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows will make longtime fans happy with all the new things they can try and experience. Meanwhile, newcomers to the series can enjoy the game for its beautiful visuals.
If you’re a fan of Assassin’s Creed, hooked from the very first game, you’ll find a lot of love for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. It feels very familiar, but still manages to do a great job of adding extra relish in terms of combat, visuals, and storytelling. There’s no doubt that the double protagonist pivot, with different playstyles, is a winning formula.
You know how sometimes you really love a dish and say, “Everything is perfectly balanced, the sauce is amazing! Compliments to the chef!” Then the chef gets excited and says, “If you liked the sauce, let me add more,” and pours another ladle of it over an already well-balanced meal... Assassin’s Creed is that kind of game. It would’ve been better without that final ladle - the main course gets a bit drowned in the sauce, but you still want to eat it...
Review in Turkish | Read full review
A great balance between staying true to the roots of the series and implementing new ideas. We've been waiting for Assassin's Creed in Japan for a long time, and the wait was worth it.
Review in Russian | Read full review
I didn't have high expectations of Assassins Creed: Shadows, as I've really struggled to become engaged with the most recent entries in the series. The setup in Shadows takes a little while, but the resulting payoff is worth it. The gameplay is engaging, but the plot and characters really drive things forward. It must be challenging to develop a game within such a long-running series and have it still feel like something fresh and new, and Shadows is the closest that a game has come to that in quite some time.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is another strong entry in the AC universe, excelling by building on the series’ strengths. Japan is stunning, and both Naoe and Yasuke shine as some of the franchise’s best protagonists to date. However, even for seasoned fans, its repetitive and unimaginative mission structure may be tough to overcome.
The finest steel has to go through the hottest fire, I felt the pressure behind making this title worth the wait and for the most part it did deliver the ideal Assassin's Creed experience besides the occasional difficulty spikes and poor facial expressions during some cut scenes
Review in Arabic | Read full review