Feudal Japan Fantasia or Historical Faux Pas?

The Assassin’s Creed franchise, a stalwart in the open-world action-adventure genre, has finally journeyed to the long-requested setting of feudal Japan with Assassin’s Creed Shadows. After much anticipation and a couple of minor delays, does this latest instalment deliver a truly immersive and authentic experience, or does it fall short of capturing the mystique and intensity of this iconic historical period? Read on to find out!

Blades in the Bamboo or Bumbling Bushido?

Set in 1581, during the tumultuous late Sengoku period, Assassin’s Creed Shadows casts players into the intertwined destinies of two distinct protagonists: Naoe, a nimble shinobi from Iga province, and Yasuke, the legendary African samurai who served under Oda Nobunaga. This dual narrative offers a compelling premise, allowing players to experience the era from contrasting perspectives, one emphasising stealth and agility, the other brute force and direct combat. The narrative unfolds against a backdrop of political intrigue and conflict, as the pair seek vengeance against a shadowy group of twelve individuals who have irrevocably altered their lives.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows tells a deep, multifaceted story, and the early story sees you being able to take control of both Naoe and Yasuke as they enact their respective parts of the story. After that initial introduction to both characters, however, the story then switches sole focus onto Naoe, with Yasuke being removed for this part. You do indeed get to play as Yasuke again, of course, but it takes an incredibly long time because the story doesn’t get to the part that concerns him for a very long time. To give you an idea of how long it might take, I can confirm that it took me 14 hours to be able to meet up with Yasuke again. However, I am a slow player when it comes to open world games, as I like to spend a large amount of time exploring and investigating, and most players will probably reach the dual-protagonist part of the story after around 5-7 hours.

This may seem like a deterrent, and it’s clear to see why, but rest assured that it is well worth the wait as controlling two players opens up the game in an entirely new way, allowing you to be creative in your approach to missions (of which there is a plethora).

The Way of the Ninja or the Warrior’s Code?

Gameplay in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is defined by the contrasting styles of its two leads. Naoe excels in stealth, utilising the cover of darkness, manipulating light and shadow, and employing classic shinobi tools such as kunai, shuriken, and smoke bombs to evade detection and execute silent assassinations. Her grappling hook and parkour skills gracefully facilitate infiltration and traversal through the intricate environments of feudal Japan.

In contrast, Yasuke embodies the power of the samurai, engaging enemies with brutal precision using a variety of traditional Japanese weaponry, including katana, bows, and naginata. He is also an absolute tank of a man, with the ability to literally run through solid doors using his body as a battering ram. His brute force and strength alone makes him a formidable foe, but be sure not to be surrounded as escaping via a quick ascent up a wall and across a rooftop is rarely an option for him like it is for Naoe.

Conversely, Naoe excels in stealth, assassinations, and quick (often silent) escapes. Yasuke, on the other hand, looks and sounds like a herd of wildebeest as he slowly climbs across buildings and thunders across rooftops!

Assassin’s Creed Shadows features a significantly overhauled combat system, a standout element that provides greater versatility in battle compared to previous Assassin’s Creed games. You have access to numerous attack options, with even more unlockable through the skill tree. This allows for adaptable combat, where you choose your strategy and adjust as needed. Ultimately, Assassin’s Creed Shadows delivers what is probably the best combat system/experience in any Assassin’s Creed game to date.

As mentioned, you can indeed switch between these two characters when their paths cross, choosing the approach that best suits either your chosen playstyle or the demands of a particular mission. The switching mechanic, however, is a little clunky, feeling as if there are perhaps one or two steps too many. It would have been nice to switch via a simple button-press combo, rather than having to go through menu options to get there. Aside from that, however, the experience of being able to select your preferred character at any point (once possible) is a fun one which opens up the game entirely from a strategic perspective.

The game world encourages exploration, rewarding those who scout their surroundings (by use of literal scouts that you can deploy) to gather vital intelligence and build a network of spies to uncover new areas and targets. Recruiting allies with specialised skills further enhances the strategic depth of gameplay.

Ink Wash Landscapes or Blocky Brushstrokes?

Visually, Assassin’s Creed Shadows presents a stunningly detailed rendition of feudal Japan, from the grand scale of castle towns and bustling ports to the serene beauty of peaceful shrines and pastoral landscapes. One of the standout features is a dynamic weather system and changing seasons, which not only enhance the aesthetic but also impact gameplay, influencing visibility, enemy behaviour, and access to certain areas.

Character models also look incredible, featuring some of the best in-game hair that I have ever seen. However, most characters’ facial animations could do with being more animated, as the majority of characters tend not to move their faces much when speaking, other than their mouths opening and closing. Given that Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a great-looking game, it is let down somewhat by robot-like, expressionless faces. However, this is likely something that can easily be fixed in a future patch, and in no way makes the game any less enjoyable.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows also boasts spectacular sound design. Every footstep thuds, splashes or squelches very satisfyingly. The swish of katana blades as they’re drawn from their sheaths and swung through the air, cleaving into their targets’ bodies, all sound absolutely wonderful and exactly how you would expect them to sound. There is also background music which adjusts according to the scenario that you find yourself in, subsequently enhancing the immersion further still.

A Scroll Unfurling or a Tale Too Soon Told?

The replay value of Assassin’s Creed Shadows is huge. The dual protagonist system encourages multiple playthroughs to experience both Naoe’s and Yasuke’s unique storylines and gameplay styles. The fact that you can, in theory, play the majority of the game from just one perspective (where the story allows for it) means that you can have two distinctly different experiences, which branch out uniquely from one another too.

Furthermore, the open world is filled with side activities, collectibles, and opportunities for exploration, promising hours of content beyond the main narrative. In fact, it’s hard to keep up with just how many side missions present themselves to you in the first few hours of gameplay alone.

In addition to that, the dynamic seasonal system and the ability to customise your character’s hideout also add layers of engagement that extend beyond the core missions.

Conclusion

Assassin’s Creed Shadows offers a fresh and compelling take on the franchise by transplanting its core mechanics into the rich historical tapestry of feudal Japan. The contrasting playstyles of Naoe and Yasuke provide a dynamic gameplay experience, while the detailed world and engaging narrative promise a captivating journey. The early game, however, is very much a slow burn, and this could put people off, especially if they are not fully immersed in the story. However, once you reach the point where the two protagonists’ paths cross, the game truly excels. Given the incredible graphics, best-in-series combat system and gripping story, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is very much a worthy addition to the series and certainly a must, both for fans of the series and newcomers alike!

Grade: 8.5/10