Review of Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Ubisoft’s Journey in Embracing Imperfection

You might be familiar with the Japanese art of ‘kintsugi,’ which translates to ‘golden repair.’ It’s an intriguing blend of philosophy and artistry that involves repairing cracked pottery using lacquer mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. The purpose of kintsugi is to reveal and celebrate the object’s damage, creating beauty and meaning out of its imperfections and honoring its unique history.

Ubisoft seems to have embraced this concept with Assassin’s Creed Shadows, their endeavor to “kintsugi” their iconic 18-year-old franchise. The game continues to showcase its known flaws—such as a cluttered UI, a deluge of map icons, awkward parkour, and clunky combat—but it’s clear Ubisoft isn’t trying to gloss over these shortcomings. Instead, they lean into them, highlighting the breathtaking moments interspersed within the chaos. Each mediocre “follow this character” mission is offset by a spectacular set-piece, elevating the experience. For every flaw, there’s a glimmer of brilliance.

One of the standout aspects of the Assassin’s Creed post-reboot era, starting with Origins, is the way it presents a plethora of targets on its expansive objective screen. This time, set in the intriguing backdrop of Sengoku-era Japan, Shadows introduces an even more intricate web of shadowy organizations for players to dismantle. These layers of intrigue and targets keep the game engaging, making the eight-minute horseback rides between prefectures worthwhile. While the core narrative revolves around a vengeful tale of taking down 13 foes, the game continuously piles side missions on you. The varied encounters with different factions, each with distinct tactics and hideouts, make the overarching goal of “find ’em, kill ’em” far more dynamic than in previous titles.

Providing players with the choice between two contrasting characters, Naoe and Yasuke, Ubisoft emphasizes the game’s focus on combat. While the mechanics aren’t vastly different from past entries like Origins, the choice of playstyle adds depth. Whether you prefer Naoe’s stealthy approach or Yasuke’s brute force, the game caters to diverse player preferences, allowing seamless switching based on the task at hand.

The game isn’t without its technical quirks. Occasionally, the AI can be underwhelming, and the collision physics might act up, but these issues barely detract from the satisfaction of executing a perfect fighting maneuver. Engaging in battles where your tactical positioning leads to victory feels incredibly rewarding, and the quirky touches, like enemies’ hats flying off, add amusing layers to the seriousness.

Visually, the game is stunning. I explored it on a PS5 Pro, primarily in Quality mode, and often found myself pausing to admire the breathtaking landscapes. Autumn, with its vibrant tapestry of colors, is particularly captivating. This sensory feast is a testament to Ubisoft’s ability to craft an evocative setting, making it perhaps the most visually appealing entry in the series to date.

While the mechanics of seasonal changes in the game might not significantly impact gameplay strategies, the visual distinction across seasons provides aesthetic variety, ensuring the journey through the expansive world never feels monotonous.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows invokes the concept of ‘wabi-sabi,’ appreciating imperfections and the transient nature of its elements. Ubisoft acknowledges these inherent flaws, allowing them to stand as part of the franchise’s rich tapestry. The game not only acknowledges its issues but turns them into compelling features, intertwining narrative depth and player progression in ways reminiscent of modern roguelikes.

Overall, despite some shortcomings, Assassin’s Creed Shadows delivers a compelling narrative and an engaging gameplay loop, infusing every action with purpose. This installment might be among the franchise’s largest, but it feels meticulously crafted, offering an experience that keeps drawing players back for more. In anticipation, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to release on Xbox Series, PS5, and PC on March 20, 2025, following a brief delay earlier this year.