Assassin's Creed Shadows Review – The New Game in the Popular Hidden Assassin Series

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Assassin's Creed is one of the most famous series in the gaming industry and one of Ubisoft's most successful franchises. However, it seems that the developers are not always sure of the direction in which to move forward. When analyzing the events related to Assassin's Creed in recent years, one can notice that the main guideline for the developers is the demands and preferences of the audience. This desire to satisfy player needs is reflected in changes to gameplay mechanics, the plot, and the overall concept of the games in the series. Each new part strives to take into account the opinions of fans, which in turn can either strengthen or weaken the uniqueness of the franchise.

Is this approach the right one? Let's find out. After criticism of the excessive content in the game Valhalla, Ubisoft offered the more compact Mirage. Despite good sales, it did not achieve hit status. The company then announced Assassin's Creed: Shadows, set in feudal Japan—a setting fans had long dreamed of. This should have been an obvious success, but it's not quite that simple.

After the announcement of Shadows, players began to express dissatisfaction due to historical inconsistencies. Some noted inappropriate architecture, while others questioned the authenticity of the weapons featured. Furthermore, the company's decision to include a dark-skinned Yasuke in the game was hotly debated. While this character did exist in real history, it is unclear whether he was a samurai as depicted in the game. In response to the criticism, Ubisoft decided to delay the release to address the most glaring flaws.

Assassin's Creed: Shadows was released in March 2025 and became an average entry in the series. The game doesn't stand out as either the best or the worst, but simply takes its place among other titles. However, Shadows demonstrated that Ubisoft needs a clear strategic vision to further develop the franchise. Currently, the company seems to lack this vision, as it strives to please its audience, which affects the quality and originality of its games.

Assassin's Creed: Shadows is set in 16th-century Japan, during an era when warlord Oda Nobunaga sought to unite the disparate territories of his country. Although Nobunaga plays a prominent role in the story, he is not the central character. The main characters are the shinobi Naoe and the dark-skinned samurai Yasuke. However, Yasuke is somewhat lost in the background against the female ninja, which is reflected in both the gameplay and the development of the story. Assassin's Creed: Shadows offers a unique blend of historical events and mythology, immersing players in the atmosphere of samurai and ninja, making the game exciting for fans of the series and new players.

For the first thirty minutes of the game, players will control Yasuke. The opening episode briefly recounts his story: he arrived in Japan with Portuguese missionaries and immediately caught the eye of the renowned warlord Oda Nobunaga. Nobunaga accepted the dark-skinned warrior into his circle and offered him the opportunity to study under a distinguished master, after which he took him with him to war against the Iga province, home of the Naoe clan. This moment underscores Yasuke's uniqueness as a historical figure and his important role in Japanese history.

At the height of a fierce battle, control passes to a young woman who watches as Nobunaga's troops burn her home village and kill her loved ones. She manages to escape, but soon Naoe faces another horrific event: a group of masked assailants brutally murder her father. Before his death, he manages to pass on to his daughter a hidden blade—a unique weapon of assassins. Over the course of approximately ten hours, Naoe becomes the central and sole character of the story, seeking to find her father's killers and learn more about her parents and the mysterious Hidden Blade. This story immerses the player in a world of revenge and uncovering dark secrets, focusing on the heroine's inner struggle and her quest for justice.

The developers use this lengthy episode to introduce players to the updates to the stealth mechanics. The story of Naoe, who prefers stealth over open combat, serves as a tool to explain the intricacies of the new mechanics related to stealth assassinations. These changes allow players to dive deeper into the gameplay and use stealth as a strategy in their actions, opening up new possibilities for a tactical approach to completing missions.

Enemies in Shadows have become more alert and can now spot the assassin as they move across the rooftops. This seemingly minor element has significantly enriched the stealth gameplay, adding additional layers of complexity. Hiding from enemies has now become more difficult, forcing players to employ new strategies and tactics. The game's designers have implemented a variety of mechanics to adapt to the increased vigilance of enemies.

The heroine has a unique ability to fall on her stomach and crawl, which significantly helps her navigate the low-rise Japanese buildings. Furthermore, Naoe can extinguish light by breaking up light sources in the area. This makes her virtually invisible in the shadows, opening up new tactical possibilities for stealth and avoiding confrontations.

Clearing enemy camps is most effective at night. In the dark, enemy visibility is significantly reduced, providing a strategic advantage. Additionally, guards become more sensitive to sound, so it's important for the heroine to choose routes that minimize noise. This will allow her to move stealthily and successfully complete her objectives.

In Assassin's Creed: Shadows, new features highlight the interesting aspects of the changing seasons. Every few hours of gameplay, the seasons change, giving the world a unique character and atmosphere. Players will be able to witness the environment transform, creating new experiences and opportunities for exploration.

Summer is a period when gameplay follows a familiar rhythm. However, autumn and spring bring rain, which masks the sound of Naoe's footsteps and alters enemy behavior. During these times, enemies tend to hide indoors and patrol less frequently. In winter, some rivers freeze, opening up new opportunities for stealth in the fortress surrounded by water. Furthermore, icicles hang from the roofs of houses during the winter season. If accidentally touched, the icicles will fall and break, attracting enemy attention. These changes in weather conditions not only influence gameplay strategy but also add depth to the gameplay, encouraging players to adapt to different situations and use the environment to their advantage.

Despite the presence of interesting innovations and details in gameplay mechanics, not all of them prove useful. For example, turning off the lights in an area is rarely worthwhile: it is much easier to approach enemies and eliminate them using the light of a lantern. Elements like rain that masks the sound of footsteps and icicles that break and attract guards' attention are interesting ideas, but unfortunately, they're only occasionally used, just a few times during a lengthy playthrough, which can take up to a hundred hours.

The AI ​​does have its issues. No matter how many times the stealth mechanics are updated, enemies sometimes fail to notice that a hooded character is dispatching a fellow soldier just a few steps away. In other cases, even in complete darkness at a great distance, enemies might suddenly see a small fragment of Naoe's clothing protruding from behind a parapet. This leads to an open battle, which becomes a real test for the heroine, especially at the beginning.

The physical weakness of the fragile The shinobi girl's superiority is offset by her exceptional agility and speed. These skills are seamlessly integrated into a revamped combat system based on parries and counterstrikes. The character has two types of attacks: quick ones that deal less damage, and powerful but slower strikes. This variety allows players to flexibly adapt to various combat situations and utilize tactical techniques to achieve victory.

It's important to understand that simple enemy attacks won't always be effective. Many enemies are able to successfully block Naoe's attacks, and some are protected by armor. To succeed in combat, a more strategic approach is required. Play defensively, pay attention to parry timing, and timely dodge unblockable attacks. This will allow you to expose your opponents' vulnerabilities, opening up opportunities for powerful counterstrikes and special moves that will significantly reduce their health.

Leveling up Naoe and acquiring additional combat skills significantly increases her effectiveness in battle. She can quickly leap over enemies and appear behind them, opening up new tactical possibilities. Combined with items like shurikens, kunai, and smoke bombs, Naoe's agility and speed make open battles more dynamic and engaging. However, it's important to remember that Naoe is primarily a stealthy assassin, not a samurai. This is emphasized in the game through the leveling system and gameplay mechanics, making her combat style unique and engaging.

Character leveling in Assassin's Creed: Shadows plays a key role in the development of gameplay. Players can improve their character's skills and abilities, allowing them to effectively deal with various tasks and enemies. The leveling system includes several aspects, such as improving physical characteristics, developing unique abilities, and mastering new combat techniques.

Players can earn experience points by completing missions, exploring the world, and fighting enemies. These experience points are used to unlock and upgrade skills, opening up new opportunities in the game. Furthermore, the leveling system allows you to tailor your character to your individual playstyle, making each playthrough unique.

Assassin's Creed: Shadows also features customization elements that allow players to not only improve stats but also change their character's appearance. This adds an additional layer of engagement and allows you to create a truly unique hero. Optimizing leveling and skillfully managing experience points can be crucial to successfully completing the game.

Naoe and Yasuke each have several unique branches, each with a specific specialization. One branch focuses on mastery of the katana, while the other offers additional options for Naoe's shinobi equipment. There is also a branch that allows Naoe to develop her assassin skills. Thus, each character can choose a suitable path that suits their playstyle and preferences.

Each skill tree offers players the opportunity to acquire a variety of skills that open up new gameplay aspects. Each skill requires a skill point to purchase, but it is not possible to level up your desired skills immediately. Skills are divided into six tiers. To unlock higher-tier skills, you must accumulate a sufficient number of mastery points. These points can be earned by completing various tasks in the open world, such as praying at temples, meditating, and other activities. The skill system is simple yet effective, allowing players to develop their character in the direction they desire.

The game's combat system fully unfolds when playing as Yasuke. This dark-skinned warrior returns to the story after a lengthy episode dedicated to Naoe. The player can switch between characters at any time, adding variety to the gameplay. Naoe and Yasuke act as allies, and you can complete the game as either of them. However, if you have any questions about why Naoe would choose to partner with a samurai who served under Oda Nobunaga and was involved in the deaths of her loved ones, save those thoughts for when you play the game—it will answer that question.

Yasuke, while lacking Naoe's agility and speed, or the shinobi's ability to quickly scale tall temples, excels at defeating enemies thanks to his strength. Yasuke's primary combat mechanics focus on parries, counters, and finishing moves, but he can also use a simple attack that allows him to easily dispatch opponents. He delivers tremendous blows with his katana, ignoring enemy armor. Yasuke also has a unique skill: while sprinting, he can destroy not only enemies but also doors. Every gameplay element emphasizes his destructive power, making him one of the most powerful warriors in the game.

You've probably noticed a problem: after a few hours of playing as Yasuke, it becomes obvious that his gameplay is limited and repetitive. This character has fewer opportunities to explore the open world and doesn't fully fit the spirit of the series. In the storyline, Yasuke acts more as a supporting character to Naoe. Apparently, the developers recognized this and added quests to the open world that only Yasuke can complete to give his presence in the game more meaning and significance.

While playing as Naoe, I came across an ancient tomb, one of many scattered across the map. I had explored similar dungeons before and knew how they worked. However, in this case, the entrance was blocked by stones. "Puzzle!" I thought, but then felt the developers' mockery. It turns out there are red explosive barrels lying at the entrance, and only Yasuke, thanks to his physical prowess, can pick them up, carry them to the rubble, and detonate them to clear the way. This adds a strategic element to the game and highlights each character's unique abilities, making tomb exploration even more engaging.

All the activities unique to each character can be seen as an attempt to diversify the exploration of the open world, which has traditionally been the weak point of the series Assassin's Creed. Unfortunately, Ubisoft is known for creating visually stunning, but often overly large and lifeless worlds. This creates a contrast between the gorgeous graphics and the lack of depth in the gameplay, which can be frustrating for players looking for a more rich and interactive experience.

Shadows continues the problem seen in previous games in the series. Attractive and meticulously crafted environments with rice fields, cherry blossoms, and mountain peaks are impressive, but traveling between regions can take up to 15 minutes of real time, with nothing interesting happening along the way. Assassin's Creed continues to waste the player's time without much purpose, and no unique activities can remedy this situation.

Despite this, it is worth noting that the open world in Shadows is not as large or cluttered as in Odyssey and Valhalla. However, another problem arises: along with the reduction in the size of the game world, the volume of available activities and the variety of tasks have also decreased. This limitation may negatively impact the overall experience of the game and its appeal to players seeking a wealth of content and engaging quests.

Assassin's Creed: Shadows features a standard set of missions, complemented by elements unique to the setting. The bulk of the story quests focus on finding and eliminating targets. While interesting missions occasionally pop up, such as Naoe's participation in a tea ceremony, the primary focus is still on hunting down Naoe's father's killers and other villains. Side quests often offer unexpected twists and turns, but overall, they lean toward familiar objectives, such as clearing enemy camps or eliminating corrupt officials. Assassin's Creed: Shadows offers players familiar mechanics, but with unique elements that make gameplay engaging.

The open world of Assassin's Creed: Shadows offers many opportunities for engaging activities. One interesting option is exploring ancient tombs, where you can find valuable resources and loot. It's also worth paying attention to enemy camps, which may hide useful items. Additionally, you can search for scrolls in temples and pray at altars, which earns mastery points needed to upgrade your character. To accumulate these points, it's worth finding meditation points and arenas where you can hone your combat skills through quick-time events. Another exciting activity is photo hunting: you can sneak up on animals in the wild and capture them in drawings as they go about their daily business. These activities not only add variety to the gameplay but also help maximize your character's progression.

The open world of Shadows features a number of random events in which bandits attack peasants. However, overall, the game lacks engaging content. Unfortunately, even those elements that are present are primarily focused on resource gathering and skill point accumulation, which limits the variety of gameplay.

A decorative open world doesn't require complex navigation—placing markers on the map is enough for the player to easily navigate. However, Ubisoft has been actively trying to rethink the navigation system in its games for several years, starting with Assassin's Creed Odyssey.

This game implements a unique concept in which there are no clear quest markers on the global map. Instead, players receive instructions in the journal, such as "the objective is located in the north of a certain region, in a specific city and district." Previously presented as an optional mechanic, this idea has become a standard feature in Shadows with some refinements. This solution promotes deeper immersion in the gameplay, allowing players to explore the world and find objectives on their own, which adds an element of exploration and adventure.

In most cases, a marker is not placed on the map, and you are only told what to look for in a certain area. However, now you have scouts that you can send to a given area to find your target and mark it on the map. The problem is that this process remains only in your imagination and in the game's narrative.

Mechanically, the process of sending scouts on the global map is simple: you simply point the cursor to the area of ​​\u200b\u200binterest and press a button to send them on their way. To make this mechanic more meaningful, the developers decided to introduce a limit on the number of scouts that can be used to find targets. When scouts are depleted, you have two options: either pay money to restore their number or wait for the season to change. This creates an element of strategy and resource management, which adds depth to the gameplay.

This mechanic does not impose any obligations on you. You can independently explore a given area, use eagle vision and find the target on your own. Scouts in this context are just an element that highlights the innovations in the Shadows game.

Shelter building - A shelter is an important step in ensuring safety and protection from unforeseen situations. When designing a shelter, many factors must be considered, including its location, size, materials, and level of protection. Proper shelter construction can significantly increase the chances of survival in emergency situations. Initially, a suitable location should be selected. The shelter should be located away from potential threats, such as floods, landslides, or other natural disasters. Ideally, it should be located in a protected area with access to natural resources, such as water and food. The choice of materials also plays a key role in shelter construction. To ensure reliable protection from external influences, it is worth using durable and destruction-resistant materials such as concrete, steel, or special composite materials. These materials provide reliable protection against radiation, chemicals, and physical impact.

The size of the shelter should be appropriate for the number of people who will be occupying it. It is important to provide enough space for comfortable living, storage of supplies and equipment. It is also necessary to take care of ventilation and lighting to ensure comfortable conditions for a long time.

Finally, it is worth considering equipping the shelter with the necessary survival tools, such as food and water supplies, medical supplies, tools and communication equipment. This will help ensure safety and comfort in the event of an emergency.

Building a shelter is a serious and responsible matter that requires a careful approach and thorough preparation. A properly designed and built shelter can save lives and provide protection in critical situations.

In Assassin's Creed: Shadows, players are given the unique opportunity to build their own shelter - a small settlement where the main characters and their allies can live. This element of the game is implemented in the format of a primitive strategy with a top-down view, which allows you to place buildings on a compact map. In addition, the game provides the ability to decorate the shelter. Players can place various elements, such as bushes, cherry blossoms, rocks, ponds, lanterns, and wooden bridges, creating a cozy atmosphere. Given the game's setting in Japan, the decorative elements perfectly reflect its culture and aesthetics. Why is upgrading buildings worthwhile? One reason is that some buildings increase the number of available scouts. At the beginning of the game, you only have two scouts, which is clearly insufficient to effectively complete tasks. Furthermore, the aesthetic aspect is worth noting. If you spent a lot of time decorating the Rooms of Requirement in Hogwarts Legacy, you understand how important this is. If you do not attach importance to this, then the main motive will still be an increase in the number of scouts.

The disadvantages mentioned Previously, this creates the main problem of Assassin's Creed: Shadows - the game does not effectively hold the player's attention. Inconsistent narrative at the beginning, unjustified need to switch between characters, and disjointed quests that often lack real value make it difficult to understand the main goals and objectives of the game. This prevents the player from focusing on key aspects of the gameplay and can negatively impact the overall experience.

Shadows does not have a traditional quest log, which creates certain difficulties for players. Instead, it presents a large canvas with portraits of targets and characters providing quests. This means that players often find themselves without clear directions and a plan of action. An overabundance of random events, flashbacks, and many forgettable names further hinder the overall story. This approach can negatively impact player engagement and their understanding of what is happening in the game.

The game's story is not engaging enough to hold attention. There are elements of intrigue surrounding the origins of the Assassin Brotherhood in Japan and its activities, but if you're familiar with the Assassin's Creed series, you'll quickly realize there won't be any significant revelations. The overall fantasy mythology of the Shadows franchise brings little to the table and doesn't expand on established concepts. Yasuke is particularly unfortunate. Naoe is certainly not the most compelling character, but her portrayal is interesting thanks to her unique origins. A dark-skinned samurai living in feudal Japan is a rare and interesting character, and one that could have been the basis for a compelling story. As an outsider and a foreigner, he could have served as a guide for players, introducing them to the unfamiliar and exotic world of Japan, immersing them in its culture and customs. However, from the very first minutes, Yasuke blends in with the other characters, easily mastering Japanese, and seamlessly assuming the role of a samurai riding a horse alongside Nobunaga. This approach robs him of depth and personality, and instead of a vibrant story, we get a standard set of clichés.

Yasuke, a Japanese samurai, stands out from traditional warriors with his unique history and origins, making him an important element of the narrative in Assassin's Creed: Shadows. While his role begins to take on a deeper meaning by the end of the story, it's disappointing how Ubisoft's writers failed to fully realize Yasuke's potential as a character. His cultural heritage and personal trials could have enriched the story and given viewers a better understanding of his significance in the context of the game.

Assassin's Creed: Shadows isn't a clear step backwards. It significantly enhances its stealth and combat mechanics, demonstrating Ubisoft's commitment to improving gameplay. However, it's worth noting that these elements weren't the primary issues requiring immediate attention. The developers could have focused on other aspects of the game that could have improved the overall player experience.

So, what needed to be done? It was crucial to present an open world, fill it with content, and build a narrative and overall structure that would focus the player's attention on specific and understandable aspects. However, to address these shortcomings, it's important to recognize the problem at hand. It's essential to have a clear vision for the project, rather than simply developing another iteration of a popular franchise, focusing solely on audience demand and marketing metrics. Creating a unique gaming experience requires a deep understanding of what makes a game interesting and engaging for players.

Aligning player feedback is an important aspect of game development, but relying solely on it can lead to getting stuck in minor fixes and a failure to embrace the overall concept. Shadows is a prime example of Ubisoft failing to see the big picture. As a result, development can lose focus, and the final product may fail to meet audience expectations. It's important to find a balance between player feedback and maintaining the original vision of the project to create a truly high-quality gaming experience.