Assassin’s Creed Shadows Review | The Duality of the Shadows

WACO, Texas (Hardwired Gaming News) - *CODE PROVIDED BY PUBLISHER

Reviewed on PS5

Total Playtime: 74 Hours

Move in the shadows to serve the light. This is one of the tenets of the Assassin’s Creed and one the bulk of the last few games had mostly abandoned. I still can’t get over the fact that 15 years into this prominent stealth series we are just now landing on a game about shinobi and samurai set in Feudal Japan. Bonkers that we went for spartans before ninjas. Luckily, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is unapologetic in it’s love for the stealth of the old days, Shadows is a vibrantly ambitious game that builds on the series bumpy history and executes a deeply immersive dual-protagonist story that had me hooked from it’s opening hours until the last foe was slain. Shadows feels like a reclamation of identity for the long running stealth action franchise, embracing every possible avenue of player and giving us what may be the best feeling entry in the history of the series. Encompassing a massive recreation of a large chunk of Sengoku-period Japan, Shadows is a sight to behold, breathtaking visuals that you can take in across four changing seasons, buttery smooth gameplay and some of the best-looking character and costume work in years. Shadows is a perfect next step for the series, with more emphasis on real people affected by the web of secretive wars waged by the brotherhood and the templars and a duo that are well realized characters that showcase the varied heart of Assassin’s Creed. With it’s story asking the question of what kind of power oaths, blood and ideals have over us, mixing in historic Japanese moments with a twisting weave of assassin’s lore, Shadows delivers one of the more tightly focused narratives. Cutting back the established structures of the franchise to sharpen them into a more precise blade, Shadows deemphasizes checklists, clutter and icons in favor of more refined combat, exploration and progression systems. The result is an exemplary entry in the franchise that gives every kind of fan something to love while rediscovering what makes this series so special.

Stepping forward in time from Bassim and Eivor Assassin’s Creed Shadows drops players into 16th century Feudal Japan, amidst a divided country warring over who will unify the people and under what banner. The game’s story follows a split narrative of Naoe, am Igan shinobi woman turned assassin and Yasuke, a slave, who once rescued from his shackles by a Samurai Daimyo becomes a Samurai himself. The two are unlikely companions with very different backgrounds united by a common enemy, the Shinbakufu and the mystery behind this new threat. This hunt puts the spirits of vengeance and grace at odds as you’ll find a nation divided among warring clans. You’ll need to eliminate the desperate war mongers who seek conquest through any brutal means necessary, always claiming to be doing what’s best for everyone. The political intrigue of navigating uneasy alliances, trading favor for information feels the most like a secret agent assassin in any recent game. The tone is notably darker this go around, where the horrors of war way heavy on everyone from children forced to witness the death of their parents to the elderly lost in a haze of uncertainty. The hunt for the Shinbakufu quickly turns from a by-the-books revenge narrative to something larger than its individual members. I can’t say too much here for fear of spoiling some of the absolutely incredible story, but I really loved the way this game focused on hope and allowed people to be human in their interactions. Trauma is the name of the game and every single main actor has some deep-seated pain that haunts their every action. With our two protagonists getting the most time to heal from their traumas. While the story delivers an excellent pace with plenty of great moments it does follow a somewhat predictable path. Ultimately they land the ending so predictable or not the narrative is satisfying. The Assassins and Templar are back in this game, though they are not the main focus their involvement and arcs are some of the most intriguing stuff Shadows has to offer.

Which brings us to a new segment here called, “Nope. THIS is Cannon”. You see, Ubisoft has heard your complaints on the overstuffed choice heavy RPG games that make the over-arcing story more difficult to follow from a cannon standpoint. So you will now have a new option when slipping on the katana and hidden blade of our powerful duo; Cannon mode. This removes the choices from the narrative allowing for a single truly true version of the tale to play out as intended. In hindsight, not choosing this mode may have made my game feel slightly less fulfilling. I mean I love having options but every choice I did make was haunted by a thought of, “but is that cannon”. Leading my choices feeling less important to me personally. So now I either have to replay in cannon mode or wait to see what other people post is cannon. But hey if you like choices this option is still there.

The last few main characters to join the brotherhood’s stabby traditions have been fine. Eivor delivered an incredible performance throughout Valhalla but I never felt particularly attached to his Strifes. Alexios felt like a fake person trying to prove they were real. Mirage’s Basim had one of the most rushed redemption stories ever told and I never really found him to be that fun to follow. So imagine my excitement when BOTH of the main characters in this title had deeply engaging, highly dramatic and believable backgrounds and character development. Naoe is a quick-thinking, agile and undeniably focused shinobi. Her personality can be as sharp as her wrist blade and between Yasuke and her she is for sure more willing to kill out of anger but when she steps into the light, she is a kind and caring woman who truly wants to end the pains of others. Her family story is the heart of the conflicts in the game, with Iga clan being a rebellion of shinobi fighting the Samurai warlords oppressive boot. Yasuke begins the game a slave held by Portuguese Jesuit Priests here as missionaries. His natural warrior’s instincts and honest heart immediately catch the eye of Samurai Daiymo Oda Nobunaga. Years later the now free Yasuke, serves at the right hand of Nobunaga as a Samurai, helping bring the Warlords vision of unified Japan to fruition. Yasuke is a complex character whose actions as Samurai leave him feeling weight of others suffering. He grapples with twisted knots of justice and forgiveness as well as his own sense of purpose and redemption. Yasuke’s characterization is a solid adaptation of the stories told of this foreigner turned warrior lord. The pair’s journey to justice from the shadows is a tale froth with drama, sadness, anger and violence. Delivering a found family tale that feels earned at every turn. Both characters delivered stellar performances, which you can experience in two different ways. Immersive mode makes the default language that of the person speaking’s native tongue, so for the most part Japanese but the Portuguese speak in their native language as well. I chose to play my play through like this to further engross myself in the world. Not only did this help sell the world and story but the Japanese voice actors give phenomenal performances with nuanced emotions and a splendid sense of place. You can also take the default route and play with the English voice cast getting to focus less on reading and more on just the action. Both are excellent, and while some interactions were a little cringe inducing most of the cast does and incredible job.

Combat in Assassin’s Creed has seen quite a few iterations. Origins featured a more souls-esque combat scenario. Odyssey was more ability focused and Valhalla was all about weapons and skills. Shadows takes all these styles and blends them into something more fluid. Offering two dynamic styles of crossing blades when the occasion calls for it. While there is less options in terms of weapon choices, Shadows introduces a much more focused set of tools allowing for more impactful progression in the long run. Naoe can wield her katana for deflection, dissection and deadly force. She can wield the kusarigama using the extended reach of the chain to entangle enemies, do some crowd control and even deliver rushing assassinations. Her tanto works in tandem with the special hidden blade she wears that flips out into a gripable shorter tanto allowing her to close the distance with short jabs, deliver rapid strikes and can even be thrown for an added impact. Naoe is well stocked for dealing with most any threat, but she is a fast but fragile target. On the higher difficulty combat, her health can be depleted in a matter of two swift blades. To make the most of her arsenal, I had to perfect my parry times and stay mobile dodging anything I couldn’t counter. She is built for stealth, not head on conflict. For that you’ll want to bring in the big guy, Yasuke. The Samurai hero is trained in a variety of weapons both bladed and ranged. His katana is swift and mighty and the most versatile of his arms, meanwhile his kanabo is a hefty tool of devastation, staggering large opponents and sending small ones flying. My personal favorite the naginata is excellent at crowd control striking multiple enemies like it’s going for a combo. If ranged is more your speed, then the bow and teppo are at your side. (Side note but in previous games the bow was easily the most lethal tool and with the right one you could remove pretty much any target in your path without ever setting foot near them. Shadows has made them less directly deadly, leaving the focus on the swordplay. I like this choice.) Yasuke is a force to be reckoned with, if you like the fights in Valhalla or Odyssey you’ll love him. He even comes pre-equipped with that trusty spartan kick. The mastery system allows you to earn points to grow your mastery of each of these weapons granting increased power, advanced abilities and major upgrades. I like this system for the most part and you can respec at any time but some of the abilities feel like they shouldn’t need to be unlocked.

One thing Ubisoft really nailed here is the difference in play styles between the two characters. Going beyond just the basic combat, Naoe is granted much more agility and mobility with her skills as an advanced parkourist. Her arsenal of quickly accessible ninja tools allows her to better control a situation that’s heading south. She is also one of those gifted with eagle vision allowing her to mark enemies and see objectives more clearly. Yasuke on the other hand can barely climb. He has the parkour skills of a 2-year-old and when he attempts those famous leaps of faith, he biffs it hard, even destroying the haystack in the process. But his bulky size allows him to barrel through doors and enemies. He doesn’t have eagle vision, so you’ll need to be more environmentally aware. Not to mention the samurai idea of stealth is not a subtle approach. Brutal assassinations take the place of the swift hidden blade, where Yasuke straight up hoists dude up on his blade or quickly decapitates them. Naoe embodies the soft footed, silent predator shrinking in shrouded darkness. Yasuke embodies a 6ft tall bulky warrior in armor deciding he wants to come into your locked castle now, please and thank you. These differences really play to the strengths of both characters personalities.

Swordplay is nice and all but the real star of the show is the return of proper stealth. Disclaimer I did not turn on the option for instant assassinations, which made me have to think things through better and left me clinging to shadows around foes I knew I couldn’t one shot. But you can activate that if doing so will make the game more fun for you. I absolutely love the focus on assassins in the dark. Unlike in previous games, the lights actually matter, so sticking to the shadows actually can keep you hidden. No more looking for conveniently placed haystacks and hidey holes. Simply extinguish that lamp and slip into the dark void. I’ve never felt more like an assassin than grappling up the side of a courtyard, jumping from the roof into a bush and carefully maneuvering in the shades stalking my prey to deliver the puncturing knife to the heart of some unsuspecting guard. You can also go prone, opening up new paths through enemy territory. Kunai and shuriken offer deadly and tactical ranged options to eliminate targets, pesky light sources and alarms. This more refined focus on sneaking around is an excellent starting point but it did ultimately leave me wanting more. I mean sure you can use the shuriken to knockout some lanterns and firepits, but those tiny candles sitting on the a wall mount. Indestructible. An unmovable flame that will burn endlessly until the inevitable heat death of the earth. Like wise I feel like we’ve take a step back in some regards when it comes to the climbing. So few trees are climbable and the ones that are have inexplicable steps and perches on them. It ruins a bit of the immersion and really limits some locations approaches. That gripe aside, I never got tired of out smarting and striking from the very shadows for which the game is named.

It may seem kind of basic at this point to gush about the gorgeous visuals in a modern day Assassin’s Creed game but Shadows is hands down the most vibrantly beautiful game in the series so far. Japan is an unbelievable showcase for the revamped Anvil engine. Forests brimming with life and foliage so deep you can actually get lost in it. Waterfalls and rivers invite you to follow them to enchanting views. Shrines with gloriously detailed statues and buildings dot the world map. I regularly fell victim to the eye candy of flowering trees swaying in a breeze, gentle pushing blossoms through the air. Shadows attention to detail is even more impressive when you look at the scope of the games map. It’s not all of Japan obviously but the heart of the country instead. 9 provinces make up the playable area and from the mountainous divides of Tamba to the bustling logistics hub of Omi every province is unique it what it offers. I could not get enough of exploring the depth of this land. You know what’s lame.? Not having a full four seasons of the year built into your game. Shadows feature all four seasons bringing with it changes to every inch of the ecosystem. Streams freeze over, grass grows taller and the terrain is slightly different. This didn’t do a ton for me but it added in a sense of reality to the world making this Japan more alive. My only real complaint for the world is that with all these unimaginably lustrous locals to go, why did they set most of the major fights in a castle or other indoor location? Why were there no main missions set amongst the cherry blossom tress in spring? I had just hoped for more imagination when it came to making cinematic Samurai-ninja showdowns. But I digress, the world is seamlessly beautiful and runs great in both the 30 fps, ray traced mode and the performance mode for 4K 60fps output. Despite it’s increased fidelity and bonkers scope, Shadows may be – and I hesitate to say this before the games full launch but- MAY BE the most polished Ubisoft game I’ve ever played. In my 70 plus hours with the game, I encountered no more than a few texture issues that were so minor I forgot to even capture them. The extra few months of polish really did help and this illustrious world is proof.

Exploring the vast world of shadows will lead you to plenty of things to do. Explore ancient tombs, perform katas with Yasuke or even sit down and paint a lovely picture of a duck. The world is full of little distractions and a wide range of people in need. Rumors can often be overheard from NPCs talking amongst themselves, leading you to new side quests, like stopping a league of pirates or hunting down a group of corrupt merchants. Your quests are tracked in a large board that groups up mission sets for ease of understanding. I was very pleased with the Ui for the missions and never felt lost or frustrated like I had in many recent entries. Many of the side activities feel like a direct way to engage with the culture of Japan rather than just a thing to do. Side quests can get pretty dramatic also and there are NO fetch quests which is always a bonus.

When it comes to missions you can for the most part, play as whoever you want. There are character specific missions that require you to play as each but in most missions you can play whoever you want. I played most of my game with Naoe but found Yasuke to work best for larger fortresses where I could just brute force may way in. OUr heroes also form a partnership beyond just shared gameplay, a newly formed league needs a fresh new hideout. Family friend Tomiko gifts Naoe her own residence to acquire allies, house new developments and resources and act as a hideout from the enemies. I spent entirely too much time here building my base, placing as many dogs, foxes and monkeys as I could in my carefully curated garden areas. Ultimately this stuff is just for show but that never stopped me from stopping at a local shop to see if they had anything to really tie the place together.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a high flying example of rediscovering your game’s identity. Japan’s world of shinobi and samurai embroiled in a political conflict full of oppressive warmongers and devious tactics was the perfect place to reinvest in the action-stealth roots of the series. It’s story drops the focus on mystical forces controlling peoples actions to walk a tightrope line of historical story telling, grounded by more realistic characters and more believable conspiracy. The duality of the characters works on so many levels, helping them grow together, delivering some wonderful twists along the way and plenty of stylish action. An ambitiously large world, rendered beautifully acts as a fantastic backdrop for a story exploring loyalty, secrets, oaths and the power of an ideal. Naoe and Yasuke have entered the top tier list for Assassin’s in my rankings and Shadows is simply a must play for any Assassin’s Creed fan. Shadows isn’t overstuffed, oversimplified or over indulgent, giving us a balanced game that strikes at the very core of what makes a good Assassin’s Creed game earning it a 9 out of 10 from me. Now if you’ll excuse me I still have like 65% of this map to explore. Be sure to subscribe to Hardwired so you don’t miss any future reviews from us. Until next time I’m Andrew Hamilton.

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