Assassin's Creed: Shadows - Ubisoft finally set it in Japan!

(PlayStation 5 code provided by Ubisoft UK)

By Sam Coles 

Assassin’s Creed is a franchise (at the time of writing) that has been around for 18 years, since the release of the original game all the way back in 2007 people have wondered if Ubisoft will set the series in Japan. Fast forward to the year 2025 and we finally have a game that is set in Japan, and it has been met with a lot of hate from various audiences but honestly despite the multitude of attacks on the game it is a fantastic experience.  

The game is set in 16th century Japan, and you play as two protagonists, you have Naoe who is looking to avenge her father’s death and Yasuke who is a black slave who was adopted into the samurai order. They are both met as enemies initially but then learn to work together as there is a bigger threat against Japan. It is a typical Assassin’s Creed plot, where it mostly revolves around revenge due to the death of a loved one, but the dynamics between Naoe and Yasuke work well.  

What stands out with this game is its world, the world itself is a character alone and that is something the series has always got right. However, this time they have gone all out with the detail, this is easily the most detailed game in the series specifically with world details. The foliage is dense in this game, as Japan at this point is mostly countryside vistas and this game really captures that with expansive draw distances. What helps with the added detail is that this is a current generation (PS5 and Xbox Series consoles) focused experience, so they can really go all out with the hardware.   

The moment I was allowed to freely explore in this game my jaw hit the ground, the world felt so organic with the lush and densely filled foliage as you see it sway on a breezy day. That is another aspect that helps this world feel believable, the audio design as it sells you this realistic world of wildlife with birds chirping as well as the wind howling as you hear the grass blades brush against each other. It is a wonderful experience, and one where you can just go and explore at your own leisure looking for viewpoints, as you take in the majesty of the beautiful vistas and horizons. It is these moments that I have got into the habit of walking in a lot of areas, just like in real life when I want to unwind I love just walking around and taking in nature, to help blow off the cobwebs and it can help after a good combat section in the game as they are intense.  

Speaking of combat, it is not all about taking in the views and exploring as at some point you will have to confront the dangers of this world. Combat has been given a massive upgrade in this game; it requires timing and patience as you can’t just spam attacks to win as that will get you killed quickly. No, you must anticipate your enemy’s movements it is not Kingdom Come Deliverance levels of complexity far from it, but you can’t just button mash your way to victory. The combat is brutal, bloody and gory something you would expect from this period coupled with the sickening sound design as you slice through a poor soul and see blood fly everywhere. The combat really gets into a ballet of violence once you get going and feels really satisfying.  

Stealth does play a role in this game, it wouldn’t be much of an Assassin’s Creed game if there was no stealth. Anyway, the stealth gameplay is mostly assigned to Naoe as she is the titular assassin in this game as Yasuke is the brute and more confrontational character. Stealth has been finely tuned, where it seems they have taken elements from the Splinter Cell series. What I mean by that is you can now use light or lack thereof to hide, so you can extinguish candles to hide yourself in darkness, coupled with the ability to go prone and hide in shallow tufts of grass. It adds more to what is already there, and honestly it is a welcome change making it feel like one the best stealth systems in the series.  

Overall, what I have played of Assassin’s Creed Shadows so far has really captivated me, it really helped that Ubisoft delayed the game a couple of times to add polish, and it shows. The Japanese setting is wonderful, coupled with the breathtaking visuals, engaging story and brutal and visceral combat. It is a must play!