Assassin’s Creed Shadows: our review of Ubisoft’s game set in feudal Japan

Feudal Japan as you’ve never seen it before… After several postponements, Ubisoft’ s Assassin’s Creed Shadows, previously known under the code name Red, is now available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series on March 20, 2025.

Synopsis of Assassin’s Creed Shadows:

“A new creed rises. Play as Naoe, a shinobi Assassin from Iga province, and Yasuke, the powerful and legendary samurai of African descent. Against the turbulent backdrop of the late Sengoku era, these two unexpected allies will discover the destiny that unites them as Japan enters a new era“.

As far as gameplay is concerned, the trailer unveiled at the June 2024Ubisoft Forward revealed more about combat, particularly with Yasuke. And it’s with old jars that the best jams are made, since the gameplay doesn’t change too much from the latest cuttings. Note, however, that the two playable characters have a different approach, with Yasuke going for the kill while Naoe is more into infiltration (with a few new mechanics, all the same).

The map is larger than Valhalla‘s, but not as extensive asOdyssey‘s, offering less guidance and more freedom of exploration. Also noteworthy is the presence of seasons, with all that this entails for the environment.

Our review of Assassin’s Creed Shadows :

Playing time: 30h

HasUbisoft succeeded in restoring the reputation of its franchise, which has unfortunately been criticized (and not necessarily rightly so) by many gamers? The answer is yes! Although Assassin’s Creed Shadows doesn’t revolutionize the genre, it does offer a little glow-up that it would be a shame not to mention, thanks to a meticulous AD, particularly for the landscapes, and much prettier graphics in general, but especially in the particularly beautiful cinematics. It’s beautiful, it’s good…

Gameplay-wise, we’re a little more reserved: not that the mechanics are bad, quite the contrary, but the approach of the two gameplays is uneven. In the end, Yasuke doesn’t serve much purpose other than running into the crowd and kicking down doors, unlike Naoe, who concentrates all the technical aspects of the mechanics around infiltration and assassination. A character who takes longer to master (at least at the start of the adventure), which doesn’t help develop Yasuke‘s techniques. It’s a pity, but the pairing still works in the story, when their gameplays are intertwined. And unfortunately, you can’t climb most of the walls.

As for thestory, it’s also well-written, as Ubisoft does so well with the various games in its franchise. It’s not as memorable asOdyssey, but you quickly get hooked, following the destiny of the two heroes who end up working together towards a common goal. It’s an ergonomic game, too, designed to navigate the expanses of Japan via the map, with the option of activating the terrain aid to reach the desired point. This comes in handy when you have to cross the many mountains in the landscape, which you won’t be able to climb here.

But that doesn’t detract from the fact thatAssassin’s Creed Shadows is an enjoyable game to play. It will appeal to both fans of the franchise and newcomers to the genre. A great experience for fans and the curious alike. All you have to do is make up your own mind!

Assassin’s Creed Shadows trailer:

For other trailers, click here:

This page may contain AI-assisted elements, more information here.