Assassin's Creed Shadows Reviews
Ubisoft is definitely trying to streamline and remodel the model of its flagship IP, following, at least in part, fan feedback. Assassin's Creed Shadows is definitely a step forward from the past, as it lightens certain aspects of its predecessors by fishing out what good had already been done with the Mirage experiment. To make the real quantum leap, however, it still needs that something extra, that quid that a historical saga like Assassin's Creed must have: by this, however, I do not mean that Shadows is a failure; on the contrary, it could be a crucial step toward the definitive breakthrough that all fans have been waiting for.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Assassin’s Creed: Shadows is, without a doubt, the most complete entry in the series to date. If not for a few minor issues with the story’s presentation and some small gameplay flaws, it could very well have been a strong contender for Game of the Year. However, it still carries some of the recurring problems that have long affected the franchise—issues that, unfortunately, even Shadows hasn’t managed to fully overcome.
If you’re privy to how the last few Assassin’s Creed games maneuver, you’re in for more of the same in Shadows, just in Japan. Being content with enemy levels, grinding out your abilities, and a slow burn story are a must to have fun here. With anywhere from 30 to 70 hours of gameplay, this should tide over modern AC fans as well as anyone looking for another ninja/samurai fix.
Not everyone will agree with me when I say this is probably the best Assassins Creed game to date and that is totally OK. Whilst I can draw many comparisons to Ghost Of Tsushima and still find that game a bit better, it comes very close in terms of scope and polish. Assassins Creed Shadows features a map that is absolutely stunning, it feels lived in and full of intriguing and interesting wildlife. You can approach everything stealthily Tenchu style or go in and kick some ass. Yes the story is predictable and some of the missions are pretty much fetch quests or go and kill someone. But half the beauty of this game is exploration and engaging with the side quests, soaking in the cutscenes and admiring the season changes along with their elements. Whilst I wasn't lucky enough to receieve a review code, I feel I needed to write about this experience as it is up there as one of Ubisofts best for sure.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows finally delivers to players what has always been demanded, a franchise adventure set in the world of ninjas, shinobis, samurai, and ronin. It is somehow boosted and hampered by its dual protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, and their place in the narrative, but the underlying systems are where the game truly shines bright. There is still room for improvement, but if you are looking for a substantial adventure where gameplay is king rather than the storytelling, then feudal Japan beckons.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows was the second game I’ve reviewed being placed in the Sengoku period recently. In fact that gives me a good idea for a feature: a comparison of both games and what one did better than the other. But back to this game. I loved that the two protags had different fighting styles idea since you can’t just have use keeping doing the same thing on loop. Having something different is always refreshing for the body and soul. It honestly has me wanting to get the rest of the games and see what else I’ve missed out in this series!
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is an excellent new chapter in Ubisoft’s popular saga, with countless reasons to dive in and fall in love. However, the way Ubisoft delivers its games, and the lack of care in post-launch support, can quickly become a barrier that brings the adventure to an early end.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Ubisoft is no longer the same developer it was in the 2000s. I wondered whether it could deliver a refined and engaging experience set in such a beloved and highly requested period of feudal Japan. In some ways, Assassin's Creed: Shadows succeeds—it captures the atmosphere and offers moments of brilliance. But in other areas, it feels inconsistent, with mechanics and pacing that don’t always come together for a smooth gameplay experience.
Assassin's Creed Shadows is a game of lights and shadows. On one hand, it marks a welcome partial return to the series' origins, with gameplay focused on stealth and a narrative closer to the Assassin's Creed. On the other hand, it presents some critical issues, especially on a narrative level, with a disappointing ending and sometimes uninspired mission structure. Despite these flaws, Shadows is a solid gaming experience, graphically and artistically top-notch and capable of entertaining for several hours, albeit without ever surprising. Ubisoft has certainly respected Japanese culture and the implementation of the game world works, but the sense that this could have been much, much more seems quite evident. It's a good game, that's undeniable. But this, perhaps, might not be enough anymore
Review in Italian | Read full review
This is an intimidating series to go into cold, but Shadows may be the best jumping on point since Origins in 2017. Here we travel to the end of the 16th century, during the last part of Japan’s Sengoku period, a time of attempted unification, rebellion, foreign traders, and, of course, bloodshed.
Overall, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a must for fans of the franchise and is a great choice for players looking for a massive open world to explore with a gameplay loop that is both memorable and addictive.
Ubisoft is heading in the right direction, with Assassin’s Creed Shadows simply being a mind-blowing experience. However, it’ll take much more than this to make Ubisoft great again.
Assassin's Creed: Shadows is a great addition to an already great series. Japan is a wonder to explore, like many it is a location I very much wanted to visit, and I was not disappointed. While playing as two characters is not a new feature to Assassins Creed, having two main characters is. Needing to swap between them for various activities is a good way to shake up the gameplay with their differing styles. Overall I thought the game was very well done, with enough new features to keep the game fresh while still staying true to the series.
Despite a lacklustre and sometimes intrusive story, there’s just so much fun to be had exploring this beautiful world.
Assassin's Creed Shadows is one of the best games in the series in a long time, and is one of my favorites. The Japanese setting fits perfectly within the context of the game, and the world feels more alive thanks to the physics and changing seasons. The combat is very engaging, both in close quarters and when assassinating, and I looked forward to each fight. The story is a bit predictable, but the dual protagonists have very interesting character arcs that make them feel more compelling. Shadows isn't perfect, and it feels like more of what we have seen in previous entries, but the good outweighs the bad. As for playing Shadows on the Steam Deck, I am truly amazed that it is playable at all. I wouldn't expect anything above 30 FPS with a high battery drain, but the fact that it is playable and mostly stable is quite amazing. It won't be 100% stable, but if you have no other way to play, it will be enjoyable on the go.
Assassin's Creed: Shadows is an interesting and fun video game that takes us on a journey through feudal Japan. It has a lot to discover and very charismatic characters, and it could have easily shined more without the name Assassin's Creed. As for the latter, it's what it lacks the most.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Assassin’s Creed Shadows greatly blends the classic Assassin’s Creed stealth with the RPG elements of recent entries. Its dynamic world, seasonal changes, and improved stealth mechanics make exploration a joy, but Yasuke’s restrictive gameplay, overall story, and a half-baked notoriety system hold it back.
Assassin's Creed Shadows offers a fresh take on the series, blending rich storytelling with stealth-focused gameplay in feudal Japan.
I don’t think Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a bad game, but I don’t think it’s a great one either. With patches I think it could seriously become a great game, but as it stands with what I was playing, I’m not impressed with the systems/gameplay. I really, really want to like Shadows more because of how much the total package feels, but those few issues are enough to really hamper that.
Assassin's Creed: Shadows is a title that is visually stunning at first glance. With a recreation of feudal Japan at a level of detail and atmosphere that we have never seen before in a game. It will immerse you in an iconic era of oriental history. You'll enjoy its incredible technical aspect and a story told in a new way and riddled with cinematics.
Review in Spanish | Read full review