Assassin's Creed Shadows: between heritage and modernization of the Assassin's Creed myth
Assassin's Creed Shadows marks an important turning point in Ubisoft's famous series. Released on March 20, 2025, this fourteenth installment continues the evolution of a long-standing franchise while incorporating bold creative choices that are worth exploring.
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© Visuel officiel fourni par Ubisoft, extrait du Assassin’s Creed Shadows Fan & Key Art Kit.
Source: gameplay: YouTube – Assassin JorRaptor 23-01-2025
An immersive journey into the heart of feudal Japan
Shadows transports players to 16th-century Japan, a time of conflict and social upheaval. The setting is rich and dense: countryside, villages, shrines, bustling ports, and deep forests make up an open world that is perfect for exploration.
This immersive staging is accompanied by a carefully crafted visual and audio atmosphere, which helps bring every corner of the Sengoku period to life.
Two heroes, two play styles
One of Shadows' main strengths is its dual protagonists:
- Naoe, an agile shinobi specializing in infiltration and stealth.
- Yasuke, a powerful samurai inspired by a real historical figure, equipped with an arsenal of weapons and varied combat techniques.
This dual perspective offers flexibility in approaching missions, encouraging the player to think tactically: some quests are better suited to stealth, while others benefit from a more direct and violent approach.
An evolution of historical gameplay
Traditionally, Assassin's Creed focuses on infiltration and fluid movement. With Assassin's Creed Shadows, Ubisoft has chosen to emphasize a tactical and dynamic experience, sometimes at the expense of certain classic mechanics. For example, social stealth, where you blend into crowds, is absent here, in favor of a more immediate and reactive ninja style.
This choice demonstrates a desire to renew the series experience while exploring new ways of approaching assassination missions and combat.
Critical and public reception: contrasts and debates
Upon its release, Assassin's Creed Shadows received mostly positive reviews on certain platforms, with favorable ratings from players and critics highlighting the richness of the world, the combat mechanics, and the overall atmosphere.
However, the franchise has not escaped criticism:
- Some players feel that the story lacks depth compared to expectations.
- Technical bugs sometimes marred the experience.
- The first major DLC was poorly received by the community due to technical issues and a storyline that was deemed uninspiring.
Evolution and loyalty to the license
Assassin's Creed Shadows continues the evolution of the series since Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla. It retains a high degree of freedom of exploration, rich storytelling, and detailed environments, while seeking to refine the link between action, stealth, and RPG.
This mix of genres shows that Ubisoft wants to satisfy both long-time fans and new players, without simply repeating a formula that has already proven successful.
Key points of the analysis
- Artistic ambition and immersion: a vibrant and detailed feudal Japan
- Duality of protagonists: multiple tactical choices depending on Naoe or Yasuke's playstyle
- Gameplay renewal: more dynamic stealth, less focused on crowds
- Mixed reception for expansions: recent DLCs have not convinced everyone
- Place in the franchise: an important step in the evolution of Assassin's Creed
Conclusion
Assassin's Creed Shadows is a game that combines tradition and innovation. It offers an immersive experience in a fascinating era, enriched by two complementary gameplay approaches.
While some aspects may disappoint, especially in the expansions and certain technical details, it remains a landmark episode that pushes the franchise in new directions without denying its heritage.
For anyone who loves rich open worlds, historical narratives, and games that blend action and strategy, Shadows deserves a prominent place in the discussion about the evolution of Assassin's Creed in 2026.
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