Assassin’s Creed Shadows Review

I am still waiting for the original promise of the first Assassin’s Creed game, released in 2007, to be fulfilled. The series’ three core pillars – stealth, parkour, and combat – were meant to blend together in a beautiful and brutal choreography, set against a backdrop of historical drama. Unfortunately, two of these pillars, stealth and parkour, are inherently flawed in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The game’s structure is unable to hold up due to these flaws.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• The game features one of the most beautifully crafted worlds in gaming.
• The combat is punchy and has surprising depth at higher levels.
• The dual protagonists offer some variety in gameplay.

Cons

• The parkour mechanics are imprecise and cause more frustration than fun.
• The stealth mechanics are broken due to enemy AI that doesn’t want to chase the player.
• The overly long story lacks meaningful characters or themes.

The game follows two protagonists, Noah, a lithe shinobi, and Yasuke, an enormous samurai. While Yasuke excels in combat, Noah is better suited for stealth. However, the parkour mechanics are marred by imprecise controls, making traversal a chore. The stealth mechanics, which include a visual meter to indicate how quickly enemies will spot the player, are rendered pointless by the fact that enemies cannot climb.

Gameplay and Story

The game’s world is beautifully designed, with a vast open map and a dynamic weather system. However, the story is overly long and lacks meaningful characters or themes. The game’s attempt to blend stealth, parkour, and combat falls short due to the flaws in the stealth and parkour mechanics. The enemy AI’s inability to climb makes the stealth mechanics feel pointless, and the parkour mechanics are frustrating to use.

Visuals and World Design

The game’s world is one of its strongest aspects, with a beautifully realized medieval Japan. The game’s visuals are stunning, with detailed environments and characters. The dynamic weather system and day-night cycle add to the game’s immersion. However, the game’s flaws in stealth and parkour mechanics prevent it from reaching its full potential.

Conclusion

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a game that is close to being great, but ultimately falls short due to its flaws in stealth and parkour mechanics. While it has a beautifully crafted world and engaging combat, the game’s inability to deliver on its core promises is disappointing. Fans of the series may still enjoy the game, but others may want to wait for a more polished experience.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Mac, and is set to be released on March 20.