Secrets beneath the shadows
By Paul Hunter
The Assassin's Creed franchise has ventured into various historical settings over the years, from ancient Egypt to revolutionary France, but with Assassin's Creed Shadows, the series takes a fresh step into Japan’s Sengoku period. Developed by Ubisoft Quebec and published by Ubisoft, this new chapter lets you experience feudal Japan through the eyes of two very different protagonists with distinct gameplay mechanics: Naoe, a skilled and stealthy shinobi, and Yasuke, a samurai warrior with unmatched strength.
The Sengoku era was a time of constant war, with shifting allegiances and powerful daimyōs controlling vast regions. Against this historical backdrop, both character stories explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the cost of war. Both characters begin with their own unique journeys, but eventually destiny and ambition weaves them together. The historical setting, filled with rich cultural references, truly feels alive, providing a captivating stage on which to experience the personal stories of these two warriors.
While Shadows carries on the series' tradition of expertly blending history with fiction, it also offers enough fresh ideas to keep things interesting. Let's explore what Ubisoft's next big action RPG has to offer!
Japan’s Sengoku period is exciting era defined by its relentless warfare and shifting allegiances. Naoe and Yasuke find themselves caught in the chaos of this violent era. Naoe, a cunning shinobi, is tasked with infiltrating enemy strongholds, gathering intelligence, and eliminating key targets with stealth. In contrast, Yasuke, a samurai with unmatched strength, is driven by his unwavering sense of honour, charged with protecting his lord and family at all costs.
Their paths intertwine as they uncover a conspiracy that threatens to destabilize Japan. The mysterious “Shinbakufu,” a secret faction with ambitions to control the country, operates from the shadows, manipulating key figures and orchestrating violence to further their agenda. Naoe and Yasuke must navigate a web of political intrigue, betrayal, and conflict as they try to expose the faction’s plot before it plunges the country into more bloodshed.
Naoe’s journey is shaped by her growing doubt about following orders or pursuing a more personal sense of justice. Yasuke, on the other hand, struggles with the conflict between his duty as a samurai and his personal bond with those he cares about, all while navigating the complex world of feudal politics. While the game does allow you to choose how to respond during key dialogue moments, you can also set the game on "canon" mode the witness the story as the creators intended it.
The writing does a fantastic job of weaving these stories together, creating a narrative where every decision feels impactful. As Naoe and Yasuke grow as characters, so too does the world around them, but the personal stakes keep the narrative grounded even amid the grand historical events. Your decisions can affect whether you side with honour or take the path of the shadows, all while shaping the fate of Japan.
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the gameplay focuses heavily on stealth mechanics when playing as Naoe, while Yusuke is all about intense combat. As Naoe, you’ll spend much of your time sneaking through enemy fortresses, avoiding detection, and eliminating targets without a trace. The game’s stealth mechanics are refined, requiring precise timing and clever use of environmental objects and shadows. Hiding in dark corners, distracting guards with carefully thrown objects, and navigating rooftops are just some of the tools at your disposal. The satisfaction of pulling off a flawless infiltration, where you take down multiple enemies without being noticed, is one of the game’s most rewarding moments.
On the other hand, Yasuke’s gameplay focuses more on direct combat. Wielding a katana to start, you engage in fast-paced, skill-based battles, cutting through enemies with fluid combos and precise strikes. The combat is challenging, requiring you to master the timing of attacks, blocks, and counters. Soon enough into the adventure you'll find alternative weapons for each charcter, like Yasuke's Kanabo, essentially a thick baseball bat, or Naoe's fast and furious Kusarigama sickle and chain. The upgrade system allows you to enhance Yasuke’s or Naoe's abilities, expanding your arsenal and gameplay options as you progress through the game.
As you'd probably expect, Assassin's Creed Shadows includes a wealth of side missions and collectibles across its gigantic game world. Whether it’s helping villagers, meditating about your past, tracking down rare scrolls, or exploring hidden catacombs, these tasks provide a lot of opportunities to explore Japan’s vast landscapes and put your gameplay skills to the test.
My favourite side mission type are the yellow ribbon runs that require you to leverage all of your parkour skills to swing, slide, hop and climb over tricky terrain to eventually find a loot chest at the end typically offering sweet new gear. These and other such side activities are great for breaking up the pacing of the main story and providing a satisfying sense of accomplishment.
On the collectibles front, from hidden scrolls to rare weapons and armour, each item you discover adds to the game’s lore and gives your character a boost. Some collectibles unlock new abilities or provide extra backstory, making them more than just optional distractions. If you're a completionist, these collectible quests can keep you busy for dozens of hours, rewarding your curiosity with valuable upgrades or lore that flesh out the game’s world.
The presentation in Assassin's Creed Shadows stands out with its striking blend of realism and artistic flair—particularly on the PS5 Pro where I reviewed it. The environments are beautifully detailed, from the sweeping vistas of feudal Japan to the intimate, atmospheric interiors of ancient castles. Every location feels alive, with a variety of weather effects and dynamic lighting that shift the tone of each scene. The first time I saw winter turn into spring, and witnessing the snow melt in real-time, it was awe-inspiring.
Character models are impressive, with intricate clothing designs and lifelike animations that breathe life into each assassin and NPC. The facial animations do an excellent job of conveying emotion, though there are occasional moments when the expressions fall short of matching the intensity of the scene.
Performance-wise, Assassin's Creed Shadows runs buttery smoothly. The frame rate remains stable, even during intense combat sequences or when the screen is packed with enemies. Load times are suprisingly quick given the game world's size, and transitions between exploration and combat are seamless, allowing you to stay immersed in the world without interruption.
The sound design is another highlight. The score expertly blends traditional Japanese instruments with more modern orchestral elements, creating a soundtrack that fits both the setting and the game's tone. The ambient sound effects are equally well done, with the rustling of leaves, distant birdsong, and the rhythmic clashing of weapons all helping to pull you deeper into the experience. The voice acting, while generally solid, could use more variation at times to better match the emotional weight of key moments, though this doesn't detract from the overall quality.
Final Score: 8.5/10 - Great
Developer: Ubisoft Quebec
Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Action Role-Playing
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
The Assassin's Creed franchise has ventured into various historical settings over the years, from ancient Egypt to revolutionary France, but with Assassin's Creed Shadows, the series takes a fresh step into Japan’s Sengoku period. Developed by Ubisoft Quebec and published by Ubisoft, this new chapter lets you experience feudal Japan through the eyes of two very different protagonists with distinct gameplay mechanics: Naoe, a skilled and stealthy shinobi, and Yasuke, a samurai warrior with unmatched strength.
The Sengoku era was a time of constant war, with shifting allegiances and powerful daimyōs controlling vast regions. Against this historical backdrop, both character stories explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the cost of war. Both characters begin with their own unique journeys, but eventually destiny and ambition weaves them together. The historical setting, filled with rich cultural references, truly feels alive, providing a captivating stage on which to experience the personal stories of these two warriors.
While Shadows carries on the series' tradition of expertly blending history with fiction, it also offers enough fresh ideas to keep things interesting. Let's explore what Ubisoft's next big action RPG has to offer!
Japan’s Sengoku period is exciting era defined by its relentless warfare and shifting allegiances. Naoe and Yasuke find themselves caught in the chaos of this violent era. Naoe, a cunning shinobi, is tasked with infiltrating enemy strongholds, gathering intelligence, and eliminating key targets with stealth. In contrast, Yasuke, a samurai with unmatched strength, is driven by his unwavering sense of honour, charged with protecting his lord and family at all costs.
Their paths intertwine as they uncover a conspiracy that threatens to destabilize Japan. The mysterious “Shinbakufu,” a secret faction with ambitions to control the country, operates from the shadows, manipulating key figures and orchestrating violence to further their agenda. Naoe and Yasuke must navigate a web of political intrigue, betrayal, and conflict as they try to expose the faction’s plot before it plunges the country into more bloodshed.
Naoe’s journey is shaped by her growing doubt about following orders or pursuing a more personal sense of justice. Yasuke, on the other hand, struggles with the conflict between his duty as a samurai and his personal bond with those he cares about, all while navigating the complex world of feudal politics. While the game does allow you to choose how to respond during key dialogue moments, you can also set the game on "canon" mode the witness the story as the creators intended it.
The writing does a fantastic job of weaving these stories together, creating a narrative where every decision feels impactful. As Naoe and Yasuke grow as characters, so too does the world around them, but the personal stakes keep the narrative grounded even amid the grand historical events. Your decisions can affect whether you side with honour or take the path of the shadows, all while shaping the fate of Japan.
In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the gameplay focuses heavily on stealth mechanics when playing as Naoe, while Yusuke is all about intense combat. As Naoe, you’ll spend much of your time sneaking through enemy fortresses, avoiding detection, and eliminating targets without a trace. The game’s stealth mechanics are refined, requiring precise timing and clever use of environmental objects and shadows. Hiding in dark corners, distracting guards with carefully thrown objects, and navigating rooftops are just some of the tools at your disposal. The satisfaction of pulling off a flawless infiltration, where you take down multiple enemies without being noticed, is one of the game’s most rewarding moments.
On the other hand, Yasuke’s gameplay focuses more on direct combat. Wielding a katana to start, you engage in fast-paced, skill-based battles, cutting through enemies with fluid combos and precise strikes. The combat is challenging, requiring you to master the timing of attacks, blocks, and counters. Soon enough into the adventure you'll find alternative weapons for each charcter, like Yasuke's Kanabo, essentially a thick baseball bat, or Naoe's fast and furious Kusarigama sickle and chain. The upgrade system allows you to enhance Yasuke’s or Naoe's abilities, expanding your arsenal and gameplay options as you progress through the game.
As you'd probably expect, Assassin's Creed Shadows includes a wealth of side missions and collectibles across its gigantic game world. Whether it’s helping villagers, meditating about your past, tracking down rare scrolls, or exploring hidden catacombs, these tasks provide a lot of opportunities to explore Japan’s vast landscapes and put your gameplay skills to the test.
My favourite side mission type are the yellow ribbon runs that require you to leverage all of your parkour skills to swing, slide, hop and climb over tricky terrain to eventually find a loot chest at the end typically offering sweet new gear. These and other such side activities are great for breaking up the pacing of the main story and providing a satisfying sense of accomplishment.
On the collectibles front, from hidden scrolls to rare weapons and armour, each item you discover adds to the game’s lore and gives your character a boost. Some collectibles unlock new abilities or provide extra backstory, making them more than just optional distractions. If you're a completionist, these collectible quests can keep you busy for dozens of hours, rewarding your curiosity with valuable upgrades or lore that flesh out the game’s world.
The presentation in Assassin's Creed Shadows stands out with its striking blend of realism and artistic flair—particularly on the PS5 Pro where I reviewed it. The environments are beautifully detailed, from the sweeping vistas of feudal Japan to the intimate, atmospheric interiors of ancient castles. Every location feels alive, with a variety of weather effects and dynamic lighting that shift the tone of each scene. The first time I saw winter turn into spring, and witnessing the snow melt in real-time, it was awe-inspiring.
Character models are impressive, with intricate clothing designs and lifelike animations that breathe life into each assassin and NPC. The facial animations do an excellent job of conveying emotion, though there are occasional moments when the expressions fall short of matching the intensity of the scene.
Performance-wise, Assassin's Creed Shadows runs buttery smoothly. The frame rate remains stable, even during intense combat sequences or when the screen is packed with enemies. Load times are suprisingly quick given the game world's size, and transitions between exploration and combat are seamless, allowing you to stay immersed in the world without interruption.
The sound design is another highlight. The score expertly blends traditional Japanese instruments with more modern orchestral elements, creating a soundtrack that fits both the setting and the game's tone. The ambient sound effects are equally well done, with the rustling of leaves, distant birdsong, and the rhythmic clashing of weapons all helping to pull you deeper into the experience. The voice acting, while generally solid, could use more variation at times to better match the emotional weight of key moments, though this doesn't detract from the overall quality.
The Verdict
Assassin's Creed Shadows offers a fresh take on the series, blending rich storytelling with stealth-focused gameplay in feudal Japan. The game’s striking visuals, smooth performance, and deep customization deliver a rewarding experience. Beyond the main storyline with its captivating twists and character-driven narrative there are hundreds of side missions that are mostly fun and offer great rewards. All in all, Assassin's Creed Shadows is a must-play for fans and newcomers alike, easily the best entry in the series over the past ten years.Final Score: 8.5/10 - Great
Assassin's Creed Shadows details
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PCDeveloper: Ubisoft Quebec
Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Action Role-Playing
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.