Assassin’s Creed Shadowsis the latest game from Ubisoft and marks a huge moment for both the developer and the franchise. While recent entries have all scored relatively well with critics, fans haven’t quite warmed to them, with each entry being bogged down with a myriad of issues, from lackluster parkour to a deviation from the series' bread and butter: stealth. As a result, Ubisoft has been attempting to curry favor with fans by pouring everything it has intoShadows, including delaying it numerous times to ensure it doesn’t suffer from the same launch-day issues asStar Wars Outlaws.
Considering howShadows’glowing reviews compareto previousACgames, it would appear that Ubisoft’s efforts weren’t wasted. Primarily, it looks like everything Ubisoft has done to differentiateShadowsfrom its predecessors - specificallyOriginsonward - has paid off, withShadowsoffering a significantly different experience, despite retaining a lot of what worked about those more RPG-heavy experiences. From a shift in focus to a reduced scale,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsmay be a different type ofACgame, but it is nevertheless an incredible one by all accounts.
10Bigger Focus On Stealth
There Are A Lot More Stealth Mechanics
One ofAssassin’s Creed Shadows’biggest changes from bothValhallaandOdysseyis its focus on stealth. WhileOrigins,Odyssey, andValhalladid include stealth mechanics, they were not at the forefront of the experience.Miragerectified this somewhat, butShadowshas gone above and beyond, implementing farmore stealth-focused mechanicsthan any other entry - outside of the original games, of course.
Shadows’greater focus on stealth is great for fans of theAssassin’s Creedgames pre-Origins, which made direct combat a far riskier move than sneaking around enemies. It also helps differentiate the game’s two protagonists, as Yasuke is more akin to Eivor and Kassandra, whereas Naoe plays more like theAssassin’s Creedprotagonists of old.
9The New Hideout Mechanic
Players Can Build Their Own Base
Assassin’s Creed Shadowshas carried overValhalla’sbase-building mechanicbut made it far more feature-rich. UnlikeValhalla’smore restrictive base building,Shadowslets players place buildings wherever they’d like and even add decorations, customizing everything from the trees surrounding each building, to their interiors, making it more akin toThe Simsthan previousACgames.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Voice Actors On The “Multitudes” Of Naoe & Trophy Hunting Tricks
Assassin’s Creed Shadows actors Miyuri Shimabukuro and Mutsuki Iwanaka talk their in-game roles, trophy hunting, and where the series should go next.
That’s great for players who enjoy base-building games, or having greater control over the design of their bases. This base, known asthe Hideout, is a fundamental feature and intrinsically tied to bothShadows’gameplay and narrative. Players can upgrade their gear, improve their stats, and more throughAssassin’s Creed Shadows’hideout, making investing in it a must. It’s a huge step up fromValhalla’sbase-building and a fun addition toShadows.
8Smaller Open-World
It Is Far More Manageable
Assassin’s Creed Odysseyhas the biggest open world in the series, andValhalla’sseveral open environments are also incredibly huge. Exploring them can be a treat visually, but it can also be a little exhausting - which is likely whyOdysseyadded automatic horse riding to give players' thumbs a rest. Fortunately,Shadows’world is much smallerthan bothValhallaandOdyssey, although that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in content.
Players can rest assured that there’s still lots to do inShadows’stunning recreation of Japan. From its numerous side quests to its many surprises hidden throughout, the smaller size actually makes discovering this much easier, allowing Ubisoft to reduce just how many markers it fills fans' maps with. While some may preferValhallaandOdyssey’slarger maps and more guided gameplay style, many will also appreciate the more player-driven experience ofShadows.
7Much Shorter Runtime
It Is Almost Half Valhalla’s Runtime
In addition to its smaller world,Assassin’s Creed Shadows’lengthis also significantly shorter thanOdysseyandValhalla’s. BothOdysseyandValhallaare incredibly long games, withValhallaeven taking 148 hours to beat if people want to complete absolutely everything, according toHow Long To Beat. Fortunately, at least for those who are tired of incredibly long games,Shadowstakes roughly half that amount of time to beat everything it has to offer.
Where Assassin’s Creed Shadows Takes Place In The AC Timeline
Assassin’s Creed Shadows fits into the complicated Assassin’s Creed timeline, spanning centuries of history across four different continents.
That makes sense, especially considering Ubisoft’s move to make shorter games andShadows’smaller world size. However,AC Shadows’story is still relatively lengthy, in large part thanks to its more cinematic narrative, lasting around 40 hours. So, people who love a longerAssassin’s Creedexperience can still sink their teeth intoShadows.
6No Season Pass
Expansions Are Coming At A Later Date
Assassin’s Creed Shadowsused to have a season pass, much like all of Ubisoft’s games. It included the game’s upcoming expansions, as well as cosmetics and other rewards. However, after the numerousAssassin’s Creed Shadowscontroversies, and Ubisoft’s struggling business model,it switched tactics, completely ditching the season pass and the three-day early access which has become increasingly popular with modern games- evenDeath Stranding 2has a three-day early access bonus for those who pre-order.
Fortunately, Ubisoft also decided to throw in itsfirst 10-hour-long DLCfor free for those who pre-orderAssassin’s Creed Shadows. It’s a great bonus, especially considering that it would likely cost upwards of $30 after launch.It remains to be seen whether Ubisoft will stick with this strategy going forward, but one can only hope it does, as paying for content before it comes out has always been a huge risk, especially with Ubisoft games.
5Dual Protagonists
Two Is Better Than One
One ofShadows’most obvious changes fromAssassin’s Creed ValhallaandOdysseyis its inclusion of dual protagonists. WhileOdysseyandValhallahad two gender options for their protagonists, there was only one in the actual story. However,Assassin’s Creed Shadows’dual protagonistsboth appear in the story, have a relationship with one another, and can be switched between at any point while exploring.
It’s an interesting dynamic forAssassin’s Creed- although not the first time the series has done this- one that elevates the story and lets the writing team explore Japan and its multifaceted culture from numerous perspectives. It was a smart move, especially as both Naoe and Yasuke have vastly different experiences living in Japan, and it also allows for more diverse gameplay that helps keep players interested even after 40 hours.
4Varied Seasons
The Seasons Change Every Few Days
Assassin’s Creed Valhallashowcased its stunning recreation of medieval England through numerous seasons, as well as letting players explore the snow-capped peaks of Norway. However, these seasons were specific to certain locations, with certain regions of England being blanketed in snow, while others were drenched in summer’s sun.Shadowshas more dynamic seasons, with it switching between them after a certain number of in-game days.
While the seasons don’t impact gameplay too much, they will change certain aspects of the environment, such as freezing over lakes, preventing Naoe from hiding within them. Regardless, it makes exploration feel more exciting, and the world feel more alive, even if seasons changing every couple of days isn’t particularly realistic.Assassin’s Creed Shadows’approach to seasons is a huge change from its predecessors, but novel nonetheless.
3No Eagle Vision
Naoe Nor Yasuke Has An Eagle
TheAssassin’s Creedgames have been relying on its eagle vision mechanic for a number of years now, with the protagonist able to send an eagle into the sky to scan enemy camps, castles, and villages. It was, at least originally, an interesting way of allowing players to mark enemies, but eventually stopped feeling realistic, as every protagonist had to have some sort of skill and affinity with a flying animal just to make it work.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Review: A Gorgeous Japan That Plays It Too Safe
Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows is easy on the eyes, but a generally basic simulation, scant upgrades, and bland side activities weaken the effect.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows, unlikeValhallaandOdyssey, doesn’t feature eagle vision, at least in the way that players have come to know it. Naoe does have an eagle vision ability, but it just allows her to see through walls. Both Yasuke and Naoe also have an ability called Observe, which allows them to tag enemies, highlight collectibles, and get a general idea of their environment. So, while not drastically different from past entries,Shadows’take on eagle vision is still a departure from what fans know.
2More Dynamic Story
Ubisoft Has Upped Its Cinematic Budget
Ubisoft’s games have always struggled a little with their stories. While not every Ubisoft game has had a bad story -Far Cry 3, for example, has a great one -the majority of newer games often feel underwhelming when it comes to narrative.Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora’svillain appears only a handful of times in the whole game,Watch Dog Legion’slack of a main character made it feel less meaningful, and evenValhalla’sstructure made it an exhausting slog at times.
Ubisoft games also lack genuinely good cinematics, which makes even the best stories lack impact. Fortunately,Shadowshas both a great story and amazing cinematics, making it one of the most compelling narratives in the entire series. For those who prefer story-driven experiences,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsdelivers that in spades, as well as offering a fun open-world adventure to embark upon.
1No Modern-Day Story Content
It Is All In The Animus Hub
In addition to having a strong, cinematic, historical narrative, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has absolutely no modern-day story content in it. Unlike Valhalla, Odyssey, and all of the Assassin’s Creed games before it, the modern-day content of Shadows all takes place in the new Animus Hub. So, players don’t need to worry about being taken out of the action to learn what’s happening in the real world.
Do You Need To Play Any AC Games Before Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
Whether you’re new to Assassin’s Creed or a veteran of the franchise, AC Shadows doesn’t require any special knowledge, though it might help.
Some may be disappointed by this, especially those who really care about the greater lore and worldbuilding of theAssassin’s Creedseries. However, the modern-day content has been a sore point for many fans, as a lot of fans tend to find it detracts from the enjoyable gameplay. Regardless, it is another way thatAssassin’s Creed Shadowsis different fromValhalla,Odyssey,Origins, and even the originalACgames.
