If you’re a fan of Japanese culture, you’ve probably heard of ‘kintsugi,’ which translates to ‘golden repair.’ It’s a blend of philosophy and art where broken pottery is mended with lacquer and powdered gold, silver, or platinum. It’s all about highlighting the beauty of imperfection and celebrating an item’s unique history. Ubisoft seems to have taken a page from this book with their latest entry, Assassin’s Creed Shadows. They’re not shying away from exposing the series’ long-standing flaws like cluttered UI, excessive map icons, awkward parkour, and clunky combat. Instead, these imperfections are embraced, and for each, Ubisoft offers something breathtaking in return. For every tedious ‘follow this character’ mission, there’s a stunning set-piece that takes your breath away. Each crack in the system seems to be filled with gold.
The post-reboot era of Assassin’s Creed, starting with Origins, gave players a sprawling objective screen full of targets to eliminate. Shadows, set in Sengoku-era Japan, doubles down on this with multiple overlapping circles of shady organizations to dismantle. These missions form the core of the open-world experience, making the lengthy horseback rides between locations worthwhile. While the main plot follows a typical revenge arc, the constant side missions keep you engaged. Each ronin or shinobi you hunt down requires a unique approach, adding a creative twist despite the repetitive ‘find and kill’ mandate.
Ubisoft offers players the agile Naoe and the powerful Yasuke as playable characters. While the combat feels familiar if you’ve played since Origins, it’s the small touches that make it enjoyable. Whether you opt for stealth with Naoe or an all-out assault with Yasuke, each encounter brings a thrill. The game’s combat quirks, like over-the-top finishing moves and the slapstick of enemy hats flying off, offer both intensity and humor in equal measure.
Immersive Mode with subtitles enhances the narrative experience, with a Japanese and Portuguese mix that’s more engaging than the sometimes odd English voiceovers. Kudos to Ubisoft’s stellar cinematic art direction and to Japanese psych-rock band TEKE TEKE for their vibrant, Tarantino-esque contributions to key scenes. Yet, the pacing must be noted: the game takes its time to get going, with a lengthy prologue before opening up the expansive world.
Character swapping is handled cleverly to maintain pacing, letting you switch between Naoe and Yasuke as the situation demands. I found myself leaning towards stealth with Naoe, but gearing up Yasuke for some fun, head-on action kept things fresh and exciting.
Even the franchise’s traditional chores, like collecting items, are reimagined here. The collectible mission involving origami cranes surprises in its execution. Meanwhile, the game also offers a base-building component that can be largely ignored, but engaging with it yields narrative depths and gameplay advantages like ally reinforcements and upgraded gear.
Shadows knows when to slow things down, too, encouraging players to find serenity amidst chaos through tasks like temple visits or meditation. Surprisingly, these moments don’t feel like filler. After intense battles, taking a breather feels refreshing and authentic within the rich, vivid world Ubisoft has crafted.
Visually, Shadows is a masterpiece. On the PS5 Pro in Quality mode, the landscapes are so beautiful that I often paused gameplay just to admire them. Each season brings its own breathtaking palette, particularly autumn, with its striking colors. Though the seasons don’t significantly alter gameplay, they add visual variety to travel sequences.
The game resonates with the principles of ‘kintsugi’ and ‘wabi-sabi’—accepting imperfection and celebrating the transient nature of things. Ubisoft doesn’t try to fix what’s innately flawed in its formula. Instead, they make these elements shine, turning potential drawbacks into part of the game’s charm.
While it’s not without its issues, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a thrill to play, with a gripping narrative and rewarding systems that keep you moving forward. There’s a sense of discovery and accomplishment for every action, akin to modern roguelikes. Each tiny flaw often leads to a surprising delight on the other side, marking it as a remarkable and enjoyable experience.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches on Xbox Series, PS5, and PC on March 20, 2025, following a short delay earlier in the year.
