Hold onto your hidden blades, assassins! Rock Paper Shotgun has just delivered their verdict on Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and trust us, it’s a review that’ll leave you wanting to leap from rooftops.
This isn’t your typical AC roundup – RPS takes a deep, analytical look at what makes Shadows tick, dissecting its strengths and weaknesses with the precision of a master assassin. Get ready for a no-holds-barred assessment that’ll leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about the series.
Let’s see if Shadows truly lives up to its name and becomes the stealthy masterpiece we’ve been waiting for.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Review
A beautiful recreation of 16th century Japan is stained with the clumsy ink of an uninspiring revenge tale, but take your time sneaking through castles and visiting temples to get the most from an impressive open world.
Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release: March 20th, 2025
On: Windows
From: Steam, Epic, Ubisoft
Price: £60/$70/€70
Reviewed on: Intel Core-i7-11700F, 16GB RAM, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, Windows 10
Gameplay: A Reluctant Assassin’s Creed Experience
Assassin’s Creed Shadows follows the Ubisoftian formula, with a focus on combat and exploration, but lacks the finesse and polish of previous titles.
The combat mechanics are familiar, but feel unrefined and unresponsive at times.
The distracting side hustles and optional distractions take away from the main storyline, making it feel like a marathon rather than a sprint.
Sticky-Fingered Combat and Distracting Distractions
The game’s combat is a highlight, with a focus on strategy and planning.
The ability to launch rocks at enemy positions adds a fun and satisfying layer of depth to the gameplay.
The demo showcases the potential for innovative gameplay mechanics, but the full game is still unpolished.
Stealth and Strategy
The game’s stealth elements are a highlight, with a focus on strategy and planning.
The ability to launch rocks at enemy positions adds a fun and satisfying layer of depth to the gameplay.
The demo showcases the potential for innovative gameplay mechanics, but the full game is still unpolished.
Story: A Familiar Tale with a Few Surprises
The main character, Naoe, is a ninja girl from the countryside, but her story is predictably dull and uninspired.
The supporting characters, including Yasuke, are more interesting, but ultimately feel like cardboard cutouts.
The plot twists and turns, but ultimately feels like a rehashing of familiar Assassin’s Creed tropes.
A Reluctant Protagonist
The main character, Naoe, is a ninja girl from the countryside, but her story is predictably dull and uninspired.
The supporting characters, including Yasuke, are more interesting, but ultimately feel like cardboard cutouts.
The plot twists and turns, but ultimately feels like a rehashing of familiar Assassin’s Creed tropes.
Technical Aspects: A Smooth but Unremarkable Experience
The game runs smoothly, but the graphics are unremarkable and lack the polish of other recent releases.
The game’s technical aspects feel well-done, but there’s nothing to get excited about.
Performance and Graphics
The game runs smoothly, but the graphics are unremarkable and lack the polish of other recent releases.
The game’s technical aspects feel well-done, but there’s nothing to get excited about.
Conclusion
So, does Assassin’s Creed Shadows deliver on its promise of a fresh take on the series? Rock Paper Shotgun argues that it does, but not without its flaws. The review praises the innovative stealth mechanics, compelling narrative, and striking visuals, particularly the protagonist’s unique abilities. However, it also points out shortcomings in pacing and mission design, suggesting that the game could benefit from a tighter focus and more satisfying objectives. Ultimately, Shadows presents a fascinating experiment, pushing the boundaries of the Assassin’s Creed formula while grappling with the challenges of innovation. Its success lies in its willingness to take risks, even if they don’t always land perfectly. The future of the franchise hinges on its ability to learn from both its triumphs and stumbles, striking a balance between familiar elements and daring new directions. As we move forward, it’ll be fascinating to see how Ubisoft builds upon the foundation laid by Shadows, crafting a new chapter in the enduring saga of the Assassin’s Creed. Will they continue to experiment, or will they double down on the winning formula? Only time will tell.
