Assassin’s Creed Shadows Review – Is the Feudal Japan Setting Worth the Hype?

It’s surprising that after almost 20 years, Assassin’s Creed Shadows finally takes us to feudal Japan. Shadows makes great use of this setting, letting players experience both stealth as a shinobi and the power of a samurai. The heroes, Naoe and Yasuke, are well-written and fun to play — whether you’re sneaking through castles or fighting in intense battles.

This time, Ubisoft improves some systems with cleaner maps, simpler skill trees, and tougher, more focused combat like we saw in Assassin’s Creed Mirage. While it’s not a full reset and some imbalances remain, Shadows feels like a strong return for the series.

The story is full of familiar themes — honor, revenge, corrupt rulers, and wandering warriors — much like what you’d find in Shogun or Kurosawa’s movies. But it’s still engaging, with moments of reflection and complex moral choices that keep things interesting.

Both leads shine in their own way. Naoe, the last shinobi of her clan, is smart and determined. Yasuke, a powerful samurai, seeks justice and peace. Their bond grows as the story unfolds, and together they balance the dark, revenge-filled plot beautifully.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows may not top the series’ best moments, but it offers a memorable journey through Japan’s Sengoku period — one that fans of the franchise should definitely explore.

A Story You Can Enjoy at Your Own Pace

The story in Assassin’s Creed Shadows feels like Valhalla—you explore nine regions, each with its own chapter. The good part is that this time, the story and characters don’t disappear once you leave a region. Some lords and merchants stay relevant, making the world feel more connected. The pacing is also better—moving between chapters feels faster and less full of boring side tasks. Sure, there are still moments of “go here, do that,” but the story is easy to follow and enjoy, almost like reading a good book.

Missions start from an objective board, a bigger, improved version of what we saw in Assassin’s Creed Mirage. It fits the theme—you gather clues to find secret enemies trying to destroy Japan. This board makes tracking quests and characters easier than the old quest lists, though it does reduce some of the fun of exploring naturally. A few times, I killed someone by chance and later found their name already crossed off on the board. Still, I prefer this system.

Picking a quest gives you clues to locate your target, making you actually think and study the map. You can also use scouts from your hideout to help. They mark areas where hidden objectives might be but don’t reveal exact locations. Scouts are limited and hard to replace, so using them is risky, especially early in the game.

Exploring the Countryside Feels Truly Enjoyable

Instead of filling the map with too many icons, Assassin’s Creed Shadows keeps things simple. You’ll only see a few points of interest, making you curious to explore and find out what’s really there. Even when you climb high points, the map won’t give everything away — you need to get down and see it for yourself.

I really liked this because it made me stop worrying about checking off tasks and just enjoy exploring the world. Sometimes, I found castles with special gear or villages to visit, but I never knew until I explored.

I also enjoyed doing world activities — small tasks that give you knowledge points to unlock new skills. Some were simple, like finding missing scrolls, while others, like horse archery challenges, were fun and offered a nice break from the action.

Tons of Cosmetics Unlocked Just by Playing

Between missions, I spent time at the hideout — similar to Valhalla’s Ravensthorpe. You gather resources like minerals, crops, and wood from the world and use them to build or upgrade buildings. The forge was where I managed my gear most, while other places added passive boosts or unlocked features like summoning allies from the dojo. Luckily, I didn’t need to spend too much time decorating, but if you enjoy customizing, you’ll have plenty of options. I unlocked tons of cosmetics naturally while completing tasks and looting.

The real beauty, though, is in the open world. 1500s Japan looks stunning — colorful hills, clear lakes, and changing seasons that bring gorgeous autumn reds or deep white snow. The weather effects are impressive, too. Watching storms roll in, birds flying off, and animals scurrying made the world feel alive. Plus, the game ran smoothly with very few bugs for such a massive world.

Naoe Feels Perfect for Most Quests

The main story, which takes around 40 hours, follows both Yasuke and Naoe as they hunt down members of a secret group called the Shinbakufu. Each mission gives you the option to approach situations with Yasuke’s strength or Naoe’s stealth.

While there are moments where Yasuke’s power is useful, most missions feel better suited for Naoe. She’s great at parkour, sneaking, and exploring—everything that fits the classic Assassin’s Creed style. Yasuke, on the other hand, is powerful in combat but struggles with stealth and climbing because of his size.

Though I enjoy playing as Yasuke, his style feels limited, and many missions don’t seem designed to fully use his strength. There are some standout missions where both characters shine—like castle assaults where Yasuke fights head-on while Naoe sneaks around—but those moments are rare. Most of the time, Naoe just handles things better and more easily.

Combat Feels Tougher but Exciting

Shadows does a great job of designing some missions to match both Yasuke and Naoe’s skills, and those moments feel awesome.

Overall, combat is harder than past games. Enemies are aggressive, attack in combos, and use unblockable moves. Many are armored, making fights feel like you’re breaking through two health bars. You really need to dodge, block, and use your abilities smartly. The fights are fun, though the camera struggles to keep up, especially indoors.

Yasuke shines in direct combat—he’s powerful, uses swords, a naginata, a kanabo, bows, and even guns. He can smash through walls and handle lots of hits. Naoe, meanwhile, is fast but fragile. She deals damage when enemies are weak but struggles against armored foes or large groups. If she’s outnumbered, it’s usually smarter to drop a smoke bomb and escape than fight head-on.

Shadows Lives Up to Its Name

Naoe excels in stealth, thriving when striking from the shadows. The game’s focus on darkness and stealth adds depth to her gameplay. With new features like crawling and dodging while prone, plus returning abilities like Eagle Sense to see enemies through walls, Naoe becomes one of the best assassins in the series. Yasuke, on the other hand, can’t compete in this stealth-focused area.

Combat is more engaging with skill trees that feel impactful. Naoe’s chain sickle can be upgraded to pull enemies into obstacles or off cliffs, while Yasuke’s range options didn’t appeal to me, as his strength lies in close combat.

However, Shadows takes a step back with its inventory system. Too much random, tiered gear drops that barely make a difference in combat. Legendary gear, on the other hand, provides powerful perks like turning enemies into explosive shrapnel, which feels far more satisfying than basic stat bonuses.

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Conclusion

Assassin’s Creed Shadows refines the series rather than changing it completely. Combat is more intense and requires good timing and skill. Exploring Sengoku-era Japan feels rewarding, with a map that focuses less on collecting icons and more on the experience.

Naoe and Yasuke are great characters with different playstyles — Naoe is skilled in stealth, while Yasuke is strong in combat. However, Naoe’s stealth feels more useful overall.

The story is predictable but enjoyable. While Shadows won’t win over people who never liked Assassin’s Creed, it offers a fresh and exciting experience for longtime fans.