The reviews reflect a graphically stunning and immersive world in Assassin's Creed Shadows, lauded for its setting and visuals. The duality of protagonists offers diverse gameplay, yet the game suffers from storyline coherence issues and world engagement. Despite these flaws, the game's attention to detail and enhancements in stealth mechanics received praise. However, technical issues and performance stability were points of concern. Overall, while the game captivates visually, some players found it bland in narrative execution.
Positive Points
The game features stunning graphics and an immersive world set in feudal Japan, with detailed and atmospheric environments that players have enjoyed exploring.Players appreciated the dynamic weather and seasonal changes, adding to the immersive experience and visual appeal.The dual-protagonist system, featuring Naoe and Yasuke, offers contrasting playstyles, allowing for varied gameplay experiences between stealth and combat.Stealth mechanics have been praised for being well-implemented, with social stealth elements and the ability to manipulate light sources to enhance stealth effectiveness.The hideout-building mechanic adds a layer of customization and personal expression, letting players create unique bases while unlocking gameplay benefits.Negative Points
The story was criticized for being disjointed and sometimes difficult to follow, with repetitive elements and pacing issues.The game world, while visually stunning, was seen as empty and lacked meaningful interactions or dynamic elements, leading to a sense of lifelessness.Some players experienced technical issues, such as frequent crashes and performance problems, particularly on PC.The pathfinding and traversal systems were frustrating for some, with limited ability to navigate mountains or areas off the main path effectively.Yasuke's role and characterization were noted as being less engaging and not fitting well within the traditional Assassin's Creed framework.Mixed Points
Combat was seen as both satisfying and too easy, with a balance that sometimes favored style over substance, resulting in mixed experiences depending on players' expectations.The open world size and exploration received mixed reactions; some players loved the vastness, while others found it bloated and filled with repetitive tasks.Voice acting quality varied, with Japanese voiceovers recommended over English due to better emotional delivery in the context of the setting.Common Themes
The balance between classic Assassin's Creed stealth mechanics and RPG elements from recent entries was a recurring topic, with varying opinions on how well it was executed.Comparison with Ghost of Tsushima was frequent, with opinions divided on which game did the Japanese setting more justice in terms of story and world design.The struggle to integrate two protagonists and their distinct playstyles into a coherent narrative and gameplay loop was a common discussion point.Updated 4/30/2025, 8:41:28 PM UTC
