GamesRadar+ Verdict
Assassin’s Creed Shadows thrives on boldness.
The bulk of the story revolves around unmasking and assassinating these targets, and is largely non-linear.
From a mechanical perspective, the dual protagonist system is executed phenomenally.
Naoe is the opposite she’s far more fragile, but much better at stealth and parkour.
Combat itself is the best it’s ever been in Assassin’s Creed.
Yasuke and Naoe’s individual drawbacks are just as important as their strengths.
This freewheeling nature clashes with the narrative, though.
Likewise, Yasuke and Naoe’s stories never quite come together.
Even Ubisoft’s signature open world fare has a lot more purpose than we’ve seen before.
At a bigger picture, there’s a nice level of interconnectedness to Shadows' optional busybodying.
Did it help the investigation, or start a side quest?
Japan is also the perfect setting for photo mode devotees.
Seasons are indicative of a much broader statement Assassin’s Creed Shadows wants to do it all.
It wants to be the shinobi fantasy as much as the samurai fantasy.
The cherry blossomsandthe snow.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows was reviewed on PS5, with a code provided by the publisher.
