Shadows represents something of a significant milestone for Assassin’s Creed as a franchise.

On the one hand, it finally provides the setting players have been asking about for the longest time – Feudal Japan, and thus it is a reason to celebrate and get excited. On the other hand, this is a franchise that has suffered from fatigue due to the overwhelming length of the game and the grind that can be associated with that.

While AC: Valhalla was an incredible achievement and may very well be the definitive benchmark for the franchise now, there were hundreds of hours of content to plough through across all of its content with a live nature to it that encouraged replayability. Basically, it felt a bit like going to an all you can eat buffet and not leaving enough room for dessert because you loaded your plate up with too many carbs.

So here we have Shadows, following the well received (and much shorter) Mirage. And while Shadows feels like it could definitely venture into Valhalla territory if allowed, there’s something about the structure and pacing which make the game feel more manageable and provide this logical sense of progress.

Yes, the map is still pretty massive, but rather than see you scrolling out and around for ages to see every inch, you can comfortably circle around the whole thing in an analog rotation. There’s still at least 50 hours of content here, but you’re not having to zoom right out so you can visit other regions with their own vast regions.

This time, Ubisoft have gone for quality over quantity and it shows. From the ability to change seasons and affect the flow of weather, to each area having its own distinct size and feel, even cosmetics that make it feel as they’ve been earned from particular areas. But also the structure.

You’ll start out in Izumi Settsu, around the Osaka area, and as with every Assassin’s Creed game before it, find vantage spots to survey your surroundings, discover areas and gradually build out the map. But the setting is tailor designed around your level and grows gradually as you do as a player. The same applies to the other areas on the map.

So you’re absolutely encouraged to stay within a specific region to grow and develop, because if, say, you did decide to venture into Yamato as a young, level 3 Assassin, you’ll get completely and utterly mauled by the bandits, samurai and clansfolk that reside there. It’s a great way to make the experience feel contained, at least to begin with, until you’re ready to venture further afield and have got to grips with the game.

Which is sorely recommended, by the way, because combat definitely takes some getting used to. It largely follows the usual AC style, but there’s a lot more emphasis on dodging and parrying, which sort of brings it closer in-line to a Souls-Like. Not quite as brutal, maybe, but you will need to avoid some unblockable attacks, you’ll have to get your timing down right and you will get absolutely bodied by groups in overwhelming number.

Some Elites, for example, have a lot of armor that you need to consider as well when fighting and have much stronger attacks. And then in Castles and Palaces, you’ll have Samurai you need to dispell and defeat in order to claim the riches of the particular landmark. You can, of course, still use your assassination techniques to give an advantage but Shadows also plays with some concepts to make it trickier than usual to just swoop down and one-shot your enemies.

As mentioned, armor plays a part in that and can only temporarily stun an enemy before they get back up in a bloodrage, but going back to what we were saying about regional toughness of enemies in comparison to your level, some enemies can completely block your assassination attempts and casually push you aside.

There’s a real strategy to the combat now, which will likely be the largest adjustment for players and can feel both tedious and rewarding in equal measure. In fact, depending on your experience with combat-first games like Elden Ring, you might even find yourself dialling it down to the lowest setting in order to maximise your enjoyment. Because the death screen comes up a lot.

For AC games, you tend to get in a bit of a flow with them and it sort of feels like one-long extended run, but enemies hit hard in Shadows, they will swarm you, they can reach you from long distances and it’s not always clear to see where they’re attacking you from. In true Ninja style.

Of course, being a Ninja Assassin, there’s also a degree of stealth to factor into this, so you can crouch between tall grass and hide behind columns to then sneak attack your enemies. There’s also a variety of weapons to choose from – like epic, far-reaching Kusarigamas to Katanas and Tanto – so you can really mix up your playstyle however feels appropriate as you play.

Speaking of equipment, as with previous AC games, you can customise your apparel to suit between different types of body-armor, headgear and a Trinket you wear on your belt. Each item has its own custom traits as well as rarity. But if you so choose, you can even customise the style of these things to suit how you want to present your character, even if that’s not its original design. It’s really cool!

For character development as well, you can level up your character gradually by defeating enemies, completing objectives and gathering rare loot, as well as completing various optional activities through the map. And when you do you’ll earn points which can be spent on various weapons, as well as general player skills, such as Shinobi and Assassin.

For example, on Katanas, you can spend on damage dealt, and even earn abilities which can be used in battle and for character traits, you can spend on passive abilities like shallow water breathing or even add things to your repetoire like attack deflection and vaulting.

Certain tiers will also be locked to start, really lending to this idea of the game gradually opening up to you overtime and you can only open up those tiers by gaining ‘Knowledge Points and Ranks’ which are earned through completing optional, orange objectives on the map – like finding lost pages or praying at the monuments. Once you get new knowledge ranks through earned points, you can more enhanced abilities which will make your journey through later game even easier.

Pacing is something Shadows does very well and that extends to its main plotline where you have a vast array of things you can do but it all centers around defeating The Onryo, the masked Ninja Assassin group that influence the path your characters take throughout the game. No spoilers, but suffice it to say this game definitely follows the tropes of a good old fashioned Japanese revenge saga.

Similar to previous AC games, you’ll learn more about each of the Onryo as you play and eventually, with the sole purpose of assassinating those targets. Eventually, when you learn enough about one of them through your friendships and earning trust of your new companions, as well as defeating smaller, sub-groups within the regions, you’ll have missions to track and have to fulfil various criteria in order to get close. Like learning how to mingle at a tea ceremony, or building an army to tackle an imminent threat or even stealing certain items to prove your worth.

Each mission, of course, has a level difficulty attached to it, so you should be aware of that as you go, and try to build yourself up to the game’s tougher missions. But there’s also a lot of random missions to take on too, such as Animus specific which have weekly, unique objectives. You’ll then earn points which can be spent on the store and even have the option to buy more Helix Credits to buy all sorts of customisation options. If you so choose.

The other cool part of Shadows is your Hideout, which you can continuously build out over the course of the game and add new rooms, features and ornaments to it as you find, buy and unlock them in the game. Upgrading the rooms is also possible by gathering and collecting resources using your spy network or looting chests / bodies. And upgraded rooms give you access to new features and new ways of monitoring your progress / uncovering things in the game, as well as opening up new quests for richer rewards.

AC Shadows is just so deeply layered with so much possibility but also structured in a way that the player shouldn’t feel too overwhelmed by options and know exactly where they should stick to and what they should be doing, though some mission objectives are left a bit ambiguous at times and you do find yourself running around aimlessly trying to find a specific person or item and that can get quite frustrating.

But let’s also talk about how beautiful Shadows is, because this game might just be the most stunning in terms of scale and depth, environment variety and character definition we’ve seen this generation. When you’re standing out on rooftops observing and you’re looking far afield about what lies ahead, and you just keep seeing trees, houses, buildings, open water go for miles, despite the more constrained map here, it still feels like there’s a massive open world to explore and even that still feels overwhelming.

The detail when you look on the ground and can see people moving, then zoom on them to get an understanding of who they are and mark them for interest, even being able to see individual bridges, wells, and water. It’s spectacular.

Between the seasonal changes where you can see snow coat the ground and paint the architecture in snow white, to walking through a cherry blossom garden and seeing a flurry of pink all around you as the light bursts out from the open skies, you’ll really feel and see Japan in a truly authentic way. The care and attention to detail here is about the most stunning, true recreation of the region you can find in games but also just really sets the scene and is tantamount to you just running around and exploring as much as playing the game’s story.

The transition between night and day is also truly beautiful as you genuinely see the sun creeping up from behind the trees and the sky gradually changing in color from reds to purples and bright blues. There’s even full blown snow and rain storms with blizzards that block your view and rain that completely douses you. Shadows is about as grand of a statement for owning a 4K TV as you can find.

Even the music and sound effects just anchor you in this world, between panpipes, shamisen and taiko, the game is so enriched by the dramatic sounding effects and score that it just really captivates and soothes you, really adding to the atmosphere and the vibe. You can just sit back, watch and listen, so comfortably and just feel quite satisfied by the game without even engaging in the content. Ubisoft have crafted a truly beautiful world here that you just want to explore to the full and also really give you the bug to go visit Japan while you’re at it!

Shadows is not a perfect game, but it is among the best Assassin’s Creed games I have played and ranks right up there with Black Flag for me. The combat is definitely an adjustment, the mission objectives can feel a bit aimless at times and finding what you need does become a bit of a chore on occassion. There’s also still a lot of repetition here and it often feels like you’re doing the same things over and over. Even some of the mini games are just a bit tedious.

But all in all, as a game I’ve lost hours and hours to Assassin’s Creed: Shadows. I will likely lose even more in the weeks ahead and for the DLC to come and I would do it all over again. The characters and cutscenes are mostly enjoyable, the pacing is steady and sensible, and I am absolutely in love with the world design, building and feel. There is just so much to see, do and enjoy, and it all feels very manageable.

If you’ve never played an Assassin’s Creed game before, Shadows is perfect. If you’ve played them all before, Shadows is also a wonderful addition to the series. And if you’re looking for another vast open world and adventure to dive into, there’s few better on the market right now.

Verdict

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows is the finest addition to the series in years. It adds just the right balance of content, pacing and progression to keep you invested, gives you just enough but not too much so you don’t feel overwhelmed, adds a total overhaul of combat that offers both a satisfying challenge but makes the game stand apart from its brethren and offers perhaps the most captivating environments the series has ever had. Despite some uncertainty around certain mission objectives, a quite brutal difficulty curve and some repetition in content, there is no finer current open world offering on the market right now. Especially if you’re pining for a visit to Japan and need more cherry blossoms in your life!

 

Pros

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Assassin’s Creed Shadows is out now on PC, PS, and Xbox 

Played on Xbox Series X

Code Kindly Provided by Ubisoft for review purposes