Gaming

A tale of two assassins in feudal Japan
Rs. 4,999; PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

Sometimes you need to take a few steps back to see a clear picture, and that’s what Ubisoft did with the latest Assassin’s Creed game. They took longer than usual to release an open-world Assassin’s Creed game, and the extra months of development seem to have worked for the latest installment.

The Assassin’s Creed Shadows tells the story of two protagonists — Naoe and Yasuke. Naoe is a young shinobi assassin from Iga province in Japan, while Yasuke is a foreigner who arrives in Japan as a slave but after a Japanese lord, Oda Nobunaga, sees the potential and trains him to be a powerful samurai. Thus begins the story of good and bad between corrupt coalitions and assassins who follow the way of the hidden blade against the backdrop of the Sengoku period. 

Dual protagonists are not new to the franchise. Ubisoft has experimented in the past, but the developmental effort is evident in the Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Playing as Naoe or Yasuke, you are guaranteed a different playing experience. Both have different backstories, which you can play through various side quests. A textbook assassin, Naoe is nimble, stealthily kills enemies, and even performs parkour with ease. As an added advantage, she also gets a grappling hook, which makes climbing easier. Yasuke, on the other hand, is a grunt suited for melee combat and brutal assassinations. Combat styles, weapons, and tools also differ for both Naoe and Yasuke, and playing with either will eventually come down to your preference, as both are equally adept and can be swapped any time during the game, except main quests where the game asks which one to proceed with.

Both characters have different skill trees that can be upgraded or unlocked by earning Mastery Points and improving Knowledge Rank. The multi-tiered Knowledge Rank seems fine in theory, but it forces you to complete side activities, which get repetitive and monotonous after some time.  

The world in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is beautifully designed that capture the essence of feudal Japan. It’s scenic with beautiful vistas, vibrant, and feels more alive. The introduction of season changes also adds liveliness to the world. It brings environmental elements into play like improved hiding in tall grass during summers or muffled footsteps during snowstorms in winter. The game also features scouts who help to smuggle resources to the hideout or locate objectives, or allies who can be summoned briefly during combat. 

Speaking of hideouts, the Assassin’s Creed Shadows brings basebuilding that can be upgraded and improved. It can be designed with different buildings and enhancements that upgrade weapons and gears, abilities of allies, scouts, and more. 

Ubisoft transformed the Assassin’s Creed franchise into an open-world RPG historical adventure and the Shadows has improved upon the RPG elements and even addressed fan feedback like adding the Canon mode. Overall, a lot of things like dual protagonists, and a feudal Japan setting work for the Assassin’s Creed Shadows, making it an enjoyable play and a strong addition to the two-decadal successful franchise. 

WE’RE IMPRESSED Gameplay, Feudal Japan
WE’D IMPROVE Skill tree upgrade experience
THE LAST WORD Assassin’s Creed Shadows refines the franchise with dual protagonists and an immersive world, giving a fresh yet familiar Assassin’s Creed experience.