EverydayBeast
ChatShitGPT Alpha 0.001
Assassin's Creed Shadows is one of Ubisoft's strongest releases in years and continues the studio's modern shift toward large-scale historical RPGs that began with Origins, Odyssey, Valhalla, and Mirage. At this point, Assassin's Creed isn't just a stealth series anymore — it's a full historical open-world franchise. I had Origins as my 2017 Game of the Year, and Shadows honestly feels like a return to that same level of ambition. It doesn't feel like a routine annual entry — it feels bigger, more confident, and more refined.
Anywhere between an 80-100 is considered successful.
The decision to center the game around two protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, gave Shadows a strong identity. The internet controversy around Yasuke being a Black samurai overshadowed what really matters: the gameplay contrast between the two characters is excellent. Naoe is the heart of the experience for me. She represents the classic assassin fantasy — stealth, agility, precision — and her playstyle feels like the evolution fans have been asking for. Whenever the choice came up, I gravitated toward her.
Yasuke, on the other hand, is a powerhouse. He's built for direct confrontation — storming castles, breaking defenses, and overpowering enemies. His heavy weight, size, and perfect-timed attacks make him feel like a walking siege weapon. He reminds me of the juggernaut feel Alexios had in Odyssey, but taken even further.
The hideout I made.
The campaign moves quickly. The central story — avenging your family, dismantling a cult led by a former shogun, and uncovering new regions — provides a strong motivation to explore. I finished the game in roughly 100 hours, and progression feels smooth throughout. By the 30–40 hour mark, your character is loaded with abilities, and the RPG systems start to click. Combat becomes more fluid, and you feel like a true shinobi master rather than someone struggling to survive.
The gear system
Where the game stumbles slightly is in pacing. At times, the gameplay, story, and cinematic presentation feel like they're not fully aligned. Ubisoft's trademark mountain of side quests, collectibles, and gear hunts can distract from the emotional core. Fetch quests and loot chasing — even for top-tier weapons like the Blodeshade Katana or Crimson's Edge — can pull attention away from the narrative. But this is also part of Ubisoft's identity: enormous worlds built for wandering. The strength of Shadows lies in its world design and combat systems more than its storytelling.
As a fan of history, I appreciate Ubisoft's continued commitment to exploring unique time periods. After medieval England and Abbasid Baghdad, Feudal Japan feels like a natural and exciting next step. The map is large and varied, and traveling through regions like Omi with its lakes or the castle-dense provinces never felt dull. The sense of place is one of the game's greatest achievements.
The ally system is another highlight. Recruiting squad members and using tools like the Oni-Yuri sleep dart adds tactical depth. Ally missions aren't just filler — they meaningfully expand your options in combat and stealth.
Overall, Assassin's Creed Shadows feels like Ubisoft refining the formula they've been building for nearly a decade. It may not reinvent the series, but it delivers a polished, confident version of what modern Assassin's Creed has become. I'm left impressed — and curious where they can go next.
What did GAF honestly think of AC Shadows?
