Assassin's Creed Shadows Reviews
A game that faced more negative controversy prior to release than almost any other, yet its actual gameplay is far from the mess many expected. With classic Ubisoft-style open-world gameplay, stunning visuals, impressive lighting effects, and solid action, Assassin's Creed Shadows may fall short of being a masterpiece, but it's still an enjoyable and well-crafted experience.
Review in Korean | Read full review
Assassin’s Creed Shadows successfully revitalizes the franchise by introducing a compelling setting, well-developed characters, and innovative gameplay mechanics. Its blend of action, stealth, and cultural immersion offers a rich and engaging experience that both honors the series’ roots and pushes its boundaries. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the series, Shadows provides a captivating journey through the shadows of feudal Japan.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows delivers one of the best entries in the series. It incrementally refines the Ubisoft open-world formula and impresses with its characters and world-building, outstanding presentation, revamped and distinct combat, and stable console performance. There are several flaws, including storytelling and pacing, unbalanced protagonist gameplay, and some outdated traversal mechanics which stop Shadows from reaching its full potential. Nonetheless, Shadows is the culmination of lessons learned by Ubisoft throughout the years.
In the end, the game consolidates itself as an engaging experience that competently balances the best aspects of the saga — and this, let's face it, is a success amid an almost constant identity crisis.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I think this is the best Assassin’s Creed game in a while, probably at least since 2016’s 'Origins.' After a little more than 30 hours with this gargantuan stabbing simulator, my only real problem with 'Shadows' is that it often feels like a giant boulder being held delicately in place by a single plank of wood.
Assassin's Creed Shadows is a majestic title that exudes passion for feudal Japan and the assassin epic. The setting is breathtaking, the two protagonists well-constructed, the gameplay solid and multifaceted. But the boundless ambition ends up playing against the design. Repetitiveness, dated AI, redundant content management, and a half-hearted ending limit its narrative and playful power. It is, paradoxically, exactly the game we expected. An Assassin's Creed through and through. And it is precisely this that is its greatest virtue-and its most obvious curse.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Some may call it woke, but Assassin’s Creed Shadows has turned out to be slightly better than you’d expect. While the gameplay remains engaging despite some repetition and technical hiccups, the story is passable with sluggish pacing and mixed voice-acting. Long-time fans will enjoy the experience, but it may not win over sceptics of the franchise.
Assassin's Creed Shadows is exactly the masterpiece the series needed. Here, a beautiful and extremely atmospheric game world merges with a beautifully realized emotional story and a very successful combat system with two focal points. The decision to have two different protagonists, who represent different approaches to the Assassin series and largely leave it up to us to decide how to proceed in the end, is really good for the familiar storyline. Both heroes are also beautifully drawn and play really individually. There is also a respectful approach to nature and Japanese culture, as well as a vibrant environment that feels like Assassin's Creed, but isn't so packed with activities that it overwhelms us. There's not much that the developers could have done better, so slight inaccuracies in the course and riding and the somewhat wooden faces in the in-game presentation are the highest of feelings. As a fan of the first hour, who has experienced all the highs and lows of the franchise, I am in any case completely thrilled with this beautiful Japanese spin-off, which has been realized with the utmost love and care and leaves nothing to be desired for me. Assassin's Creed Shadows even achieves what I always thought was impossible: it surpasses the almost unattainable pirate classic Black Flag and, for me, ranks right at the top of the Assassin's adventure list.
Review in German | Read full review
Assassin's Creed Shadows is a visual masterpiece, offering the best stealth and parkour elements of any RPG in the series, keeping it true to its roots. However, the game fails to deliver a solid story or a rich open world, making the Japan experience that gamers have been waiting for years a missed opportunity, even if it's generally decent.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows breathes new of life into the aging Assassin’s Creed games, and one that brings back a lot of the stealth aspects the series is known for. Sneaking around and just wiping a base clean before ever being seen is just as satisfying as it ever was. The two protagonists have complement each other and are able to pick up where the other is weakest, but thankfully not to the point where you must rely on the brute force of Yasuke only. For us die hard fans of the Assassin’s Creed series, the ones who mourn for Desmond on December 21st, Shadows offers a refreshing welcome back to hidden ones.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows brings feudal Japan to life with stunning visuals, and evolving gameplay, but uneven storytelling and lackluster open world rewards hold it back from greatness.
With the exception of some quirks with the quest system, a less-than-stellar English voice track and a storyline that may not be the most compelling of the franchise, it's hard to find major faults with Assassin's Creed Shadows. Ubisoft has found what could be the new formula for the franchise, and it will hopefully retool this formula to keep future titles fresh for players.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is not a bad game, nor is it fantastic. It follows the same recipe as the series’ installments have done for a few years now, where we’re served a story full of intrigue, power struggles, and a revenge motif. The main characters, Naoe, a nimble ninja, and Yasuke, a powerful samurai, provide varied gameplay experiences, but does not quite let the player live out the full fantasy of being either. It’s unfortunate that Ubisoft does not unleash the full potential of finally having an Assassin’s Creed game set in Japan.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
Assassin's Creed Shadows delivers a visually stunning and technically polished experience, with improved stealth and combat mechanics. However, its uneven narrative, repetitive side content, and lack of meaningful NPC interactions hold it back.
If you haven’t picked up an Assassin’s Creed game in a few years, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a welcome return to form.
Assassin's Creed Shadows is more than just another installment in a long-running saga. This time Ubisoft has done too many things right to earn with its Japanese anabasis at least a chance to prove that the brand doesn't belong in the old iron.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Assassin’s Creed Shadows doesn’t change the rules of the game, but it showcases the series in its best form yet. Feudal Japan fits it like a glove, and the balance between stealth and action has never felt more natural. With a carefully crafted world and thoughtful mechanics, the blade of this series is sharp once again.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
Assassin's Creed Shadows has managed to appear before the players as a solid game that provides the innovation and energy that the series needs to some extent. Not a timeless classic, but has a promising future.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Not only does Assassin's Creed Shadows succeed at being a great entry in to the AC series, but it also succeeds at leaving a lasting impression with the players. With breathtaking graphics, amazing gameplay mechanics, and a huge sprawling world, this is for sure the best action-adventure title in recent years!
If you’re not yet tired of Japan filled with samurais, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is highly recommended and a triumphant return to more open-worldy formula. Scratching the surface reveals an experience that feels very familiar and safe in many ways. However, that’s not a negative thing. Sometimes it’s simply really enjoyable to return to familiar video game series that you can almost guarantee it works well. With AC Shadows, it is also noticeable that every aspect in the game has improved since Valhalla.
Review in Finnish | Read full review