Whether or not a follower of the franchise, it is undeniable that ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘It is one of the most interesting titles of 2025. set in feudal Japan, the new iteration of the Ubisoft saga for PS5, Xbox Series and PC, improves the mechanics introduced in’ Origins’ and introduces a stealth system that is presented as the best in the series so far. Now under the umbrella Two different protagonists Driven by revenge, ‘Shadows’ traces a promising new route, balancing the familiarity that their followers are looking for with sufficient innovations to maintain the interesting and attractive formula. But after all, is this trip to Japanese territory?
A trip through feudal Japan
The stage is feudal Japan, a context rich in history, traditions and exciting internal struggles, a perfect theater of operations for the return of a saga that continues to expand its range of times and narratives. In this sense ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ presents two characters whose destiny is marked by revenge, a couple of protagonists who will be involved in a maelstrom of personal justice that will imply deep changes in history.
The beginning of the story presents Naoe, a shinobi who has seen how his village is invaded and whose mission is to avenge the destruction of his home. On the other hand, we have Yasuke, a foreign samurai who keeps the backs of the great leader Oda Nobunaga, whose life is also marked by the tragedy. These two characters, whose personal stories initially face them, end up crossing in a common destination and will form an alliance that will be key to the development of history. With this premise, the narrative of ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ is established on a solid base that constantly makes clear how the world is on the verge of a great transformation, and the protagonists, although of very different origins and interests, fight for what they consider fair.
Naoe and Yasuke’s path
Both characters will be deeply involved in the story of Oda Nobunaga, the great Japanese warrior who tries to unify Japan. The Shinobi seeks to avenge the loss of her family and friends at the hands of the forces of Nobunaga, while Yasuke, an African warrior who was adopted by Nobunaga, has a different vision of the facts and this causes her initial motivations to be very distant. The confrontation between these two protagonists deepens throughout the game. However, the narrative does not always run constantly. The introduction of Yasuke, which takes hours to reach its most relevant point and can interrupt the fluidity of the story, even generate some frustration among those who are waiting for a faster connection with the character.
The conflict between both protagonists is played throughout the game. However, the narrative does not always flow constantly. The introduction of Yasuke, which takes hours to reach its most relevant point, can interrupt the fluidity of the story and generate some frustration if you expect a faster connection with the character.
Stealth and renewed combat
As it cannot be otherwise, the game system applied to ‘shadows’ continues with the franchise tradition. Naoe, is a character for players who enjoy an agile and stealthy approach. His ability to move without being detected, eliminating enemies without causing uproar and moving around the environment without raising suspicions about his presence, also reflects the classical essence of ‘Assassin’s Creed’. The stealth elements, such as the classic “Eye of Eagle”, remain crucial to mark the enemies and objectives on stage, allowing greater control over the missions.
However, in ‘Shadows’, stealth takes one step further and presents a more dynamic system, which allows adapting its orientation depending on the circumstances, offering flexibility that was not so present in previous deliveries. While in this range the mechanics are really satisfactory, the combat continues to be maintained as the priority option, especially when the discretion fails. In this case, the game remains faithful to the franchise, offering combats full of action that require tactical qualities.
Yasuke, meanwhile, is presented as a character configured for battle. The samurai has endowed a more focused gameplay, something that allows it to use variety of offensive tools, from swords to firearms. While he has the ability to perform heavier and more powerful movements than Naoe, his determination to face the most demanding enemies is undeniable. This same duality in the characteristics of the characters also has its reflection in the progression of objectives, since it allows you to choose how to address each situation: take the most stealthy route or directly face a combat situation? The decision is only yours.
Parallel activities and secondary missions
Each mission in ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ has its own narrative weight, and both Naoe and Yasuke face the challenge of confronting their own past. The memories, their training and the way in which each of them has been sculpted contributes to make this trip as shocking as the war that develops around it.
But ‘Shadows’ not only focuses on a line of main missions, but also presents a large number of parallel activities that expand the effective time of the experience. These secondary missions, which deal with traditional elements of the series, provide tasks that range from eliminating enemies to learn and practice Japanese traditions, such as the tea ceremony. This level of detail in cultural interactions is something that is really evident in the game experience, since it invites us to get involved in history in a more active and respectful way. In addition, secondary missions and the progression system, which allows you to improve the skills of the characters through mastery and knowledge points, implement a highly appreciated RPG dimension, since it allows the characters to adapt to our style of play.
Feudal Japan and its world
The ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ design is another element of the elements to be taken into account. Architecture is a show in itself. The temples and sanctuaries, recreated in great detail, reflect the story in their curved columns and ceilings. Walking through these spaces is not only a matter of exploration, but observation. Along with buildings, markets overflow with colors and aromas, clothing and fabrics reveal the fashion of the time and tell a story about the customs of a town. Feudal Japan is represented with impressive detail attention, from the most humble villages to the great temples and castles. Natural landscapes, such as bamboo forests and snow -covered mountains, feel alive, and the representation of the stations, such as the change from spring to winter, adds a layer of depth that few games of this nature achieve.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxtjfdnmo7k
However, the grandiosity of this world also brings some inconveniences. The massive size of the map can sometimes be overwhelming, with many empty areas that offer nothing really special or at least deserve displacement. In fact, this design approach, although visually impressive, can make the player spend a lot of time traveling from one point to another to find something worthwhile.
There is a way to go
While ‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ presents a very attractive story and refined gameplay, there are also aspects that could be improved. The structure of the missions, the organization of the objectives and some technical problems related to graphic optimization should refine before its launch. As well as the massive character of the map and some repetitive missions that can also subtract value from the experience as progress is made in the game.
Conclusion
‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ offers a new direction for the franchise, introducing two complex characters in a fascinating scenario: feudal Japan. With a gameplay that mixes stealth, direct combat and a rich narrative, Ubisoft has managed to create a title that, although with some structural problems, is erected as a very attractive experience for both the usual followers of the saga, and for the new players equally.