Like many fans of the Assassin’s Creed Series, I have been waiting for a proper Feudal Japan entry for years. When Shadows, an Assassin's Creed title was announced, I received the news with a hint of optimism. Could Ubisoft, after all these years, offer a different experience while still keeping the essence of the game alive? This was the primary question circling my mind. Fortunately, now that I have spent several hours intricately traversing the brilliant open world, conquering enemies in both stealthy and fast-paced combat, I can confidently say that Shadows is, in fact, one of the most compelling entries in years even with some drawbacks.

A Story That Shines in Personal Moments

In the year of 16th century's Eld Japan where disorder was rampant in shadowy valleys and mountainous regions, two Samurai warriors Naoe – trained in stealth and her assassination technique and Yasuke – a powerful skilled warrior with sad past came to unite to accomplish a common noble goal of bringing justice in place of corrupted shogunate's rule. But the shed blood of innocent common folk in civil wars is commendable and turns understandable when put into one name: Justice.

With Feudal Japan as the background, the game indeed has one of the most intriguing plots in the entirety of Assassin's Creed, however, my enthusiasm for the game started to dwindle with every action packed scene coming to a close. Several arcs come off as incohesive, and the cliche fast wrap up made me feel as though vital information was edited out long before reaching the final stage Mona Lisa staring at a painter devoid of soul. Notwithstanding the game lacks in Hephalus, the story remaining unfinished is more haunting than Arion himself and undeniably so, especially Naoe or Yasuke.

Gameplay and Mechanics

The gameplay in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a satisfying blend of old and new. Ubisoft has smartly split its core mechanics between its two leads: Naoe embodies classic stealth, parkour, and assassinations, while Yasuke offers a more direct combat approach with his samurai skills.

Stealth finally feels meaningful again, thanks to mechanics like going prone and manipulating light sources to stay hidden. Parkour is more fluid than ever, enabling effortless and polished movements over rooftops. Yasuke, on the other hand, has felt like a walking tank. His combat is heavy-hitting and gratifying, evoking memories of Ghost of Tsushima.

While I couldn’t swap characters freely during main story missions, it never felt restrictive or disrupted the gameplay flow. The freedom to approach missions in different ways still stood out. I relied on Naoe’s stealth but never felt locked into that playstyle, Yasuke’s brute force was just as effective. However, the limited enemy variety and repetitive mission structure became noticeable in the latter half of the game. The thrill of assassinations and duels remained, but a bit more variety would have enhanced the experience.

Graphics and World

Without a doubt, Assassin’s Creed Shadows features the best world in the series to date. Every bit of Feudal Japan, From its beautiful majestic castles to serene villages and Lush forests are realized beautifully. Looking into history, aht the game offers, in combination with an active season changes in the game, makes it the most immersive in the exploration field. Instead of just being cosmetic, changing seasons impact how the game is played too. For example, snow affects mobility, and frozen bodies of water create new paths for travel.

The way the world is designed encourages exploration without overwhelming players with a cluttered map. Unlike previous entries, synchronization points now simply reveal what’s nearby rather than filling the map with icons. This makes the world feel more organic, encouraging players to uncover secrets naturally rather than chasing checklist objectives.

That said, while the world itself is stunning, some side activities feel repetitive. The loop of collecting hidden pages, liberating areas, and tackling assassination contracts can become predictable over time. While I enjoyed these tasks at first, by the end, I was longing for more variety in how these activities were structured.

Final Thoughts

So far, I have spent time on Assassin's Creed Shadows, and from the perspective of a new- comer, it is one of the best entries in the series. The comeback of relevant stealth, sophisticated parkour, and the dual lead character, like in the Syndicate, give it an identity which, along with its breathtaking setting, makes it a pleasure to revisit.

However, it is not without faults. The principal storyline slumps during the second half, mission grinding gets tiresome, and there isn't enough enemy variation available to fully employ the melee combat system. In spite of these issues, Shadows infuses new life into the Assassin's Creed franchise and indicates that the series is not as waning as many think.

For those who have long been waiting for the feature of Feudal Japan, this game is a wish come true. And for those who, just like me, have been getting disillusioned with the series, Shadows provides the convincing argument to get hooked again.

Score 8/10