For the creators of Assassin’s Creed, Feudal Japan was an obvious direction for the franchise to dive into, especially due to fans’ heightened expectations. This period in Japan’s history, filled with political intrigue, samurai duels and ninja espionage, is heavily intertwined with the video game’s famous emphasis on stealth, combat and exploration. After 20 years and a dozen installments later, Assassin’s Creed finally took this particular setting into account with the release of “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” in which players can finally live out a shinobi-samurai-assassin fantasy.
But with Feudal Japan based video games such as “Ghost of Tsushima” and “Rise of the Ronin” already on the market, fans can’t help but wonder if “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” has enough going for it to stand out from these titles. A more important question is whether “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” actually has something to offer rather than being fan service for a drawn-out franchise.
Taking place during the turbulent Sengoku period of Japan, the video game follows Naoe, a young female shinobi, and Yasuke, an African samurai based on a real life historical figure, as they embark on a shared path of justice and revenge. Their quest to try and bring peace to themselves and Japan brings them across different locations throughout the country. They go from quaint countryside villages to bustling cities overlooked by imposing castles.
Their journey also leads them to interact with other historical figures such as the legendary warlord Oda Nobunaga. Given their different backgrounds, Naoe and Yasuke are provided with different means to tackle their objectives, with Naoe being stealth-based and Yasuke having the more loud-and-proud combative approach.
If there’s one word that could describe Assassin’s Creed games in general, it would be “immersive.” “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” is no exception, especially with its portrayal of a war-torn Japan. The game’s atmosphere mimics other media set in the Sengoku period such as “Shogun” and “Seven Samurai,” portraying a grim and brutal Japan where danger and conspiracies lurk around every corner.
The newly implemented weather system provides players with a tactical edge, allowing them to sneak across tall grass and snow, all the while offering some cinematic moments. The stealth mechanics have taken a few pages out of other games such as “Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain,” with the addition of crawling and being able to hide within shadows, which is a breath of fresh air considering the fact that Assassin’s Creed has relied on cover-based stealth throughout most of the franchise’s existence. Tools such as the grappling hook are also resourceful when it comes to getting over castle walls and quickly evading enemies.
As gimmicky as having two protagonists sound, Naoe and Yasuke serve as perfect complements to each other. This dynamic is not only due to their different playstyles, but also due to their distinctive backgrounds and the way they go about trying to seek peace for themselves as well as bringing justice to Japan. Both Naoe and Yasuke have their moments and individual methods when it comes to certain quests, whether it comes to defeating certain bosses or finding different pathways to continue on.
Should players become bored with consistently using a katana, a variety of weapons ranging from spears, shurikens and firearms are offered to keep the gameplay fresh. The game’s graphics are a big step up from other installments, and it particularly shines when players walk across areas filled with green pasture, snow and cherry blossoms.
The game’s rock and rap-tinted soundtrack, albeit contentious to some, arguably puts a new twist on the samurai and shinobi perspective. Although this has been done before in works such as “Kill Bill” and “Afro Samurai,” the utilization of different genres along with a traditional Japanese orchestral arrangement further distances the game from the soundtracks of other games set within Feudal Japan. Whether it’s immersion-breaking or not, the game’s soundtrack is undoubtedly a major hype-booster especially when it comes to arduous boss fights.
Although there are many new concepts and features in the game to differentiate itself from its predecessors, it’s not to say that “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” follows the same formula as many of the other role-playing games within the franchise. Players can find themselves understandably numb at the tedious process of being given a list of targets and having to go across the map just to assassinate them only to repeat the process once again.
“Assassin’s Creed Shadows” has its own fair share of filler content although not as much as “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.” The game’s skill progression, or “knowledge points,” particularly has a sense of dreariness to it as characters can only obtain new techniques by completing side activities. Not only does the game mechanics force players to side quest in order to unlock better skills, but it also disrupts the flow of the main story especially when these skills are needed against tougher enemies.
“Assassin’s Creed Shadows” does struggle a bit when it comes to balancing out the two protagonists, both story and gameplay-wise. Naoe is clearly the favored character, as she is given the ability to use a grappling hook, free run and take out enemies quietly. Conversely, Yasuke is locked in a stereotypical brute role in which he can do nothing but move around lethargically and smash everything in his way.
Additionally, Naoe can hold her own against a number of enemies almost just as well as Yasuke. Given that this is a stealth-oriented game, players are more than likely going to pick Naoe most of the time. The story also seems to focus on Naoe’s journey more with Yasuke being along for the ride. Naoe visibly has a lot more screen time than her counterpart with enough time to develop her story. It wouldn’t have hurt to explore Yasuke’s story even more especially given his unique background.
The game isn’t perfect, especially when compared to other well-established Feudal Japan-set games like “Ghost of Tsushima,” but it hits the mark when it comes to delivering players a ninja and samurai experience. As much as it is flawed, “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” still earns its place among the best of samurai-related video games.
The newest features within the game barely hold out against the monotony of the game’s objectives, which fans of the series will find good enough. The story, although not really compelling, provides a take on the samurai and shinobi lifestyle unlike any other seen in video game media. Fans of the series and connoisseurs of the period won’t be disappointed when it comes to living out their Feudal Japan era dreams.
Verdict: Despite its gameplay and story quirks, “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” delivers on its word of being an immersive video game focused around ninjas, samurai and the turbulent medieval era of Japan.
