At the end of my gameplay impressions video, I had this to say about Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Like most modern AC titles, it is probably not going to become an industry darling, but for fans of the franchise, it delivers exactly what we were waiting for – the standard AC formula, set in Japan, with a huge map waiting to be explored.
After spending nearly 40 hours playing the full game, I stand by what I said. At the time of writing this review, the game has been out for a little over a month, and has seen more than 3 million players already, which is a huge number by games in general, but at the same time, is also not such a huge number for AAA games, which are generally expected to sell much more. Player reception has been either mixed or positive depending on the platform, but it’s safe to say that the game hasn’t been a complete disaster like some outlets were expecting it to be before launch.
For those who won’t watch the entire video, here’s a summary. If you’re a longtime fan of the franchise who’s still hoping that the newer games will live up to the standards set by Assassin’s Creed II, you will once again walk away disappointed after playing Shadows. However, if you’re someone who has accepted the fact that the franchise is now a collection of well-produced historical fiction simulations, then there’s a lot to love in this game, which takes you on a memorable tour of 16th century Japan.
The dual protagonist experiment, which was last tried ten years ago in AC Syndicate, doesn’t really work here, as the game is unfairly balanced towards the stealth-focused Naoe, but the aggressive style of Yasuke does have its moments.
The combat is quite simple, and the RPG experience has been drastically toned down compared to previous entries. The entire game is basically a crash course for ancient Japanese culture, and if you treat it that way, it’s an enjoyable ride all the way till the end.
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