Assassin's Creed: Shadows Unveiled
Ubisoft has once again expanded the rich universe of Assassin’s Creed with its latest installment, “Assassin’s Creed Shadows.” This game promises to take players on an exhilarating journey through time, blending historical events with the intricate lore of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. In this blog, we’ll explore everything that Assassin’s Creed Shadows has to offer, from its storyline and setting to gameplay mechanics and new features.
One of my oldest videogame wishes is about to be granted. Assassin’s Creed Shadows is finally bound for Japan, but I’ve resisted getting too excited until I see it in action. Ubi says Shadows will return to the series’ roots as a stealth game, similar to last year’s Mirage, but it also said the same thing about Valhalla.
I caught an hour of hands-off Shadows gameplay during Summer Game Fest—Ubisoft also showed off gameplay during its Ubisoft Forward showcase—and it’s mostly good news. Stealth looks just as deep and viable as Mirage, combat seems surprisingly fun, and I want to know more about Naoe and Yasuke. I would’ve loved to play it myself, but in lieu of that, here are some thoughts based on a single mission that Ubi played through as both characters.
Storyline
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set in the enigmatic and turbulent period of Feudal Japan. The game masterfully weaves a narrative that spans across the lush landscapes of the Edo period, a time of samurais, shoguns, and ninjas. Players step into the shoes of Aiko, a skilled assassin of mixed heritage, trained in both the ways of the ninja and the traditions of the samurai.
The first chunk of the hands-off demo focused on combat. Shadows is still firmly in the territory of Valhalla combat—lock on, dodging, animation cancelling—but I noticed some improvements. Enemies seemed less spongy, and in general both Yasuke and Naoe are more deliberate (less spammy) with their attacks. The pace of combat was a bit slower, and looked really cool. It’s also great to see enemies actually react to each of Yasuke’s strikes. Nothing pulls me out of an Assassin’s Creed fantasy faster than guards who tank hits like it didn’t even bother them.
Visuals
The game’s visuals are breathtaking, with stunning attention to detail in architecture, landscapes, and character designs. The use of advanced lighting and shading techniques enhances the overall aesthetic, creating a visually captivating experience
The soundtrack, composed by renowned artists, features traditional Japanese instruments blended with modern orchestral elements. The music complements the game’s atmosphere, evoking the tension and beauty of Feudal Japan.
Exploration mode is back
The demo began with a quest to track down a corrupt samurai. Similar to Mirage, Shadows won’t always direct you straight to a target. It’ll give you hints collected by quest givers—the general area they’re in, what they look like, their job—and leave the rest up to you. This feature worked pretty well in Mirage, though sometimes it was too easy to find targets or locations.
Naoe seems to be just as good
Ubi has been saying that Yasuke is the more capable fighter of the duo, but that doesn’t track with what I saw. Sure, Yasuke has more brutal finishers, but the Ubi dev piloting my demo cut down handfuls of guards just as easily with Naoe’s katana and chain blade. I was already planning on playing Naoe most of the time, and now I don’t know what Yasuke has going for him beyond chopping guards’ heads off every time he triggers a finisher.
Ubi has been talking up Shadows’ new dynamic lighting and how it enhances stealth. Our presentation didn’t call much attention to it, but I spotted a light meter at the center-top of the UI that indicates how hidden you are. When Noae was in a full shadow, she seemed nearly invisible. It’s a good thing the indicator was there, because the environment itself wasn’t very dark. Alleyways with no light sources were still fully readable, and after the demo pilot snuffed out a lantern with a kunai, I could barely see the difference.
Lots of stealth games are allergic to simulating real darkness, probably because it’s too hard of a design challenge unless you have Sam Fisher’s night vision goggles, but contrast between light and dark is really important when you’re asking players to stick to the literal shadows. I’m worried that Shadows’ promising new nighttime sneaking will be dulled by an overabundance of light. Hopefully cranking down the gamma will do the trick.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows stands out as a remarkable addition to the Assassin’s Creed franchise. With its compelling storyline, innovative gameplay mechanics, and immersive world, it offers both long-time fans and newcomers an unforgettable adventure. Whether you’re a fan of stealth action, historical narratives, or open-world exploration, Assassin’s Creed Shadows promises to deliver an experience that will keep you enthralled from start to finish.