Assassin's Creed Shadows

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Hands-On – Mature, Grounded, and Incredibly Enjoyable

Ubisoft has declared that the latest in its long-running Assassin’s Creed franchise will be the ultimate incarnation. After playing the game four hours, I do see their point.

Watch our Assassin’s Creed Shadows preview with new gameplay below.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is another welcome break in formula to the mainline series. Make no mistake, Shadows remains large scale along the lines of Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla––I mean it is a banquet of content in comparison to the snack we had in Mirage. However, the emphasis is balanced to favour drama and combat rather than galloping over the hills every chance you get.

Ubisoft has put a lot of effort into delivering the focused approach from Mirage while at the same time expanding the world without making it feel as overly large and empty as Valhalla.

As a result, we have the Sengoku period of 16th-century Feudal Japan. It is lush, beautiful, ornate yet fiercely brutal as any of us could have hoped from Assassin’s Creed. If you were among campaigning fans, Shadows seems to be well worth the wait. A strong theme in Shadows is the concept and execution of the regional wilderness and rural calm with the horrors of war, accelerated by recent advancements in technology. It is a world that looks and feels functional in all the best and worst ways.

Assassin's Creed Shadows Map Size Same Origins Egypt

This has required Ubisoft’s artists to up their game in terms of natural surroundings and astounding attention to detail that gave ancient Japanese craftsmanship its reputation. To find yourself placed quite convincingly in the centre of it all, partly owing to authentic NPC wardrobe and behaviour, makes Shadows feel so authentic. Even a slow stroll through a village results in a street where everyone seems to have their daily roles to play.

You then step outside of the town, and it doesn’t take long to get lost in the remarkable surroundings. Every landmark calls your name, and every pathway demands exploration. I can see myself getting lost for hours here. Not to mention snapping away hundreds of photographs at every stunning vista.

Essentially, Ubisoft has taken the best of both worlds approach when it comes to the game’s mechanics. For those who think the series was too action-based, Shinobi Naoe offers the old-school slow and steady approach. For those who enjoyed the action, Samurai Yasuke comes with a brute force approach.

Assassin's Creed Shadows

Almost everything about this dual protagonist system plays differently. Exploration and combat are where it shines. It is a bold approach from Ubisoft and it pays off. Unlike previous games where multiple playable characters were just a simple skin swap, Shadows is a tough decision to make between agility and stealth, or tactical bulldozing.

Both heroes’ stories are compelling and equally inspiring. Yasuke becomes the champion to be recognised by a keen-eyed warlord, Oda Nobunaga. Naoe strives to avenge her father with a ninja’s deadly, silent grace. Between them lies strategic depth, combining efforts to infiltrate enemy strongholds and target groups of more powerful, ‘named’ individuals.

Yasuke and Naoe share many techniques; both can block, parry, and dodge. However, Yasuke’s intention is to pile on the pressure where deflected strikes stagger his foes, leaving them vulnerable. Naoe, on the other hand, parries to put distance between her opponents and must be careful not to dodge herself into a corner. Combat does feel more like player preference is a factor, since both are strong, but your choice doesn’t limit the experience in any way.

Assassin's Creed Shadows

With parkour, however, the differences are far more pronounced, and fans of the series may initially find Yasuke quite cumbersome. While Naoe has the same freedom, with a more stylish approach, as former Assassin’s Creed heroes. She hunts from rooftops and is just as comfortable on the ground. Yasuke does not share the same agility, though, and must find alternative routes.

Further, speaking of breaking tradition, the world of Shadows is discovered gradually through player recon. New destinations are spotted from vantage points which are best reached while controlling Naoe. You’ll then pick up target information using the Observe mechanic. Of course, the big change here is the inability to call upon your eagle friend to fly around and pick up conversations. Essentially, this adds to the game’s sense of exploration and grounds the player in realism.

The map system is also discovered and unlocked differently in Shadows too. While vantage points reveal the majority of a nearby area, the map will still require a lot of exploration to fill in the unknown spots. You can also discover areas on the map by walking through it. Sort of like a classic fogged map. In past games, unless you scouted the map from a high spot, even walking through the area would result in the mini map and main map showing nothing at all.

Assassin's Creed Shadows

You can also send scouts around the world to bring back intel on areas and items around the game. This further contributes to the “new world” experience Shadows is trying to deliver. This idea that this unknown part of Japan is yours to discover.

Then there’s one of my most exciting features – the return of a base building mechanic. Ubisoft only shared information on the system but didn’t let us try it. Essentially, the mode will let you invest in your hideout and upgrade it using currency and materials. Upgrades then unlock perks for your recruited allies as well as customization options for weapons and gear. It borrows from previous entries but seems a bit more fleshed out this time around.

In many ways, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is best compared to the move we saw between Assassin’s Creed II and Assassin’s Creed III. It feels more mature, grounded, and less bogged down by scale. Shadows pushes hard to have its themes of conflict taken seriously, while the past few games since 2017 have felt more like a sightseeing treat.

Assassin's Creed Shadows Delayed March 2025 Ubisoft

A change of pace, dual protagonists, and keen focus on precision combat aligned with deep progression show how seriously the project has been approached on all levels. This game feels unusually important to Ubisoft from a creative standpoint, making us hope that extra time in development has done justice to the much-built-up excitement.

I can say that if you’re remotely a fan of the series, this feels like the entry we have been waiting for. That setting you only dreamt about while carting through London in Syndicate and scaling the walls of Notre Damn in Unity. The fact that we are finally going to live the Japanese Assassin fantasy is a big deal here, and I think Ubisoft knows how much pressure they are under to deliver.

Thanks to Paul Davies for helping us with this preview! 

Marco is the owner and founder of GLITCHED. South Africa’s largest gaming and pop culture website. GLITCHED quickly established itself with tech and gaming enthusiasts with on-point opinions, quick coverage of breaking events and unbiased reviews across its website, social platforms, and YouTube channel.

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