Blades at the ready.
When I first jumped into Assassin’s Creed Shadows, I knew I wasn’t getting a Ghost of Tsushima clone (no matter how much I wanted it). I just didn’t know how much of that Samurai magic would be there or what to expect from the Assassin’s Creed formula. But after about 2.5 hours, it felt like a pretty decent balance between Ghost vibes and classic Assassin’s Creed mechanics. I was a bit worried it wouldn’t live up to Ghost (which I’m obsessed with), but Shadows was walking that fine line — and doing it well.
Apart from an initial combat training scenario with Yasuke, you spend a big chunk of the first part of the game as Naoe, a stealthy assassin with a grappling hook and way more finesse. She feels like classic Assassin’s Creed — sneaky, precise, and built for stealth. It wasn’t until later in my 17-hour journey that I finally unlocked Yasuke, a tank of a character who hits hard but trades agility for raw power. At that point, the dual-character setup kicked in, giving me a fresh perspective on how differently both characters play.
Fast forward to now, and it’s safe to say Shadows has dropped the Ghost vibes — it’s full-blown Assassin’s Creed through and through. We’re talking map exploration, scouting, and clue-hunting like it’s nobody’s business. Missions follow that familiar pattern: “Explore this part of the map, look for clues about your target, and figure out where they are.”
After 17 hours, Shadows has fully embraced its Assassin’s Creed roots — busywork and all.
To reveal locations like Kyoto or a fishing village, you have to explore or send scouts to those areas. If you guess right with the scouts, the target’s revealed. If you’re off? Congrats, you’ve just wasted a scout. You can gain more scouts by helping villagers (aka side quests) or upgrading the ‘study’ in your hideout — which, naturally, means more resource gathering by ransacking enemy areas.
There’s a lot of busywork here — classic Assassin’s Creed stuff. And while it’s not game-breaking, it loops back to that familiar “I swear I’ve done this 20 times already” feeling that sometimes drags AC games down.
Let’s talk characters. While Yasuke kicks things off, you quickly switch to Naoe, who plays more like a traditional assassin — stealth, grappling, and clean kills. I loved her agility and that grappling hook, but it took a minute to get used to. Unlike older AC games where you could climb anything, Shadows feels a bit more grounded, and the grapple becomes essential.
“Naoe’s agility and stealth make her feel like a true assassin, while Yasuke’s brutal strength adds a generally satisfying, but clunky contrast.
Eventually, you unlock the ability to swap between Naoe and Yasuke freely. Yasuke is a tank — slower, stronger, and way less nimble. He’s a brute, but he doesn’t have that satisfying finesse Naoe offers. While his combat skills are powerful, he can’t make those graceful leaps into hay or sneak around as easily.
Weapons-wise, Naoe’s rocking a Katana, Kusarigama (a reaper-like weapon with a deadly ball attached by a chain), and a Tanto dagger. Yasuke rolls with a long Katana and a Tempo (basically a gun). So far? I’m still team Katana with Naoe — it just feels smoother and more satisfying.
I’m playing on my PS5 in balanced mode (40fps with standard ray scaling), and while Shadows generally looks great, I’ve noticed a few things that stick out — and not in a good way. The trees in the background have this weird checkerboard effect, and when you do the classic leap into hay? You just… fall through it with a little splash of hay. I swear previous Assassin’s Creed games handled this better.
It’s still visually solid, but I can’t help feeling it would up the ante on a PS5 Pro or a souped-up PC.
As with any AC game, skill trees and gear upgrades are part of the deal. Building up your hideout means gathering materials like wood and straw, and unlocking new abilities or customising your weapons keeps the grind feeling somewhat rewarding. But I’ve gotta say — it’s hard not to notice that familiar side-quest cycle creeping in. At this point, I’m not even sure if I’m still on the main story path or just deep in side-quest land. Classic open-world confusion.
So, where do I land after 17 hours? Assassin’s Creed Shadows hooked me much faster than Mirage ever did — and it feels as strong and polished as any mainline AC game, right up there with Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla. But don’t expect a revolution in the series. This is still very much an Assassin’s Creed game at its core — and that’s not a bad thing.
The dual-character setup works well, and the story is interesting enough to keep me exploring Feudal Japan. But I’m hoping for a satisfying ending — something Valhalla definitely didn’t nail.
Shadows blends Samurai culture with Assassin’s Creed’s core gameplay, delivering a polished but familiar experience.
For now? I’m fully immersed, but the side-quest grind is starting to creep in. Fingers crossed I can steer back to the main story soon.
✅ Blends Samurai and Assassin’s Creed styles well
✅ Naoe’s stealth gameplay feels satisfying
✅ Strong dual-character system keeps it fresh
✅ A generally gorgeous world
❌ Busywork and side-quest loops can drag
❌ Visual inconsistencies break immersion occasionally
Assassin’s Creed Shadows doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it doesn’t need to. It blends Samurai culture with Assassin’s Creed’s stealth and exploration, giving fans exactly what they expect. It’s not a groundbreaking addition to the franchise, but it’s polished, enjoyable, and feels like a worthy mainline entry. If you’re here for classic Assassin’s Creed gameplay with a Feudal Japan twist — Shadows absolutely delivers.
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