With the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, I find myself reflecting on my journey with the franchise. My love for the series was sparked by classics like Assassin’s Creed 2 and 3, and I unashamedly enjoyed Assassin’s Creed Unity when many did not. Although Black Flag initially escaped my grasp, it has since become a proud addition to my collection. I have also explored various spin-offs, cultivating a deep admiration for the Assassin’s Creed series—until Ubisoft decided to pivot the formula.
My concerns were not about the switch to a more RPG-oriented open-world design—at that time, I was quite fond of such games. Instead, I questioned whether this new direction truly suited Assassin’s Creed. Individual rankings of the best titles vary widely among fans; however, my doubts were cemented with the launch of Odyssey and especially Valhalla. Surprisingly, Shadows emerged to reshape my opinion, reigniting my passion for the franchise.
A Dry Spell for Assassin’s Creed Enjoyment
Odyssey, Valhalla, and Mirage Fell Flat
My chief complaint regarding Assassin’s Creed Odyssey lies in its overwhelming scope. Despite my reservations about the series’ modernization, I found enjoyment in Origins. While expansive like other Ubisoft titles, Origins did not feel as excessively bloated as Odyssey. Traversing the vast recreation of Ancient Greece, coupled with incessant level-gating and an overwhelming amount of side quests, made for a gaming experience that felt excessively inflated.
When Valhalla arrived, I hoped for a more manageable experience, and it partially delivered. Though it separates the world into distinct regions instead of offering one continuous landscape, these areas remain excessively large and numerous. Ubisoft’s innovative approach to mission design and emergent gameplay felt promising at first but soon became frustrating, highlighting a lack of depth in Valhalla’s narrative, both central and peripheral. Additionally, the parkour mechanics received a downgrade, making Eivor’s movements clunky and less enjoyable. Consequently, I found Valhalla to be a disappointing installment.
My expectations for Assassin’s Creed Mirage were high, anticipating a return to the series’ foundations. Sadly, however, it also delivered subpar parkour, an unengaging story, and uninspired stealth mechanics, resulting in my inability to fully immerse myself. Like its predecessors, Mirage failed to attract my attention for more than a few hours, leading to a seven-year hiatus from the series. I feared Shadows would follow suit, yet my impulse to experience an Assassin’s Creed title prevailed, leading me to purchase it immediately.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Reinvents the Formula
A Refreshing and Innovative Release
My experience with Assassin’s Creed Shadows has been nothing short of delightful. In fact, I often express my belief that Shadows surpasses Ghost of Tsushima, which many regard as the pinnacle of the Ubisoft formula. However, unlike Ghost, which refined the original formula, Assassin’s Creed Shadows introduces innovative elements that the franchise has yet to explore while staying true to the core aspects that made earlier titles so beloved.
For the first time in the series, Assassin’s Creed Shadows introduces an open-world experience without being overwhelming. Unlike Valhalla’s extensive tutorial zones or Odyssey’s expansive initial islands, Shadows presents players with a series of linear prologues that gradually familiarize them with new characters and gameplay mechanics before unlocking the open world. The game’s layout, defined by hilly terrain and mountains, encourages players to follow pathways that lead to noteworthy discoveries, enhancing the exploration experience.
Shadows revitalizes the stealth element that’s been sorely missed since Unity. The enhanced parkour mechanics shine in comparison to Mirage and Valhalla, making Naoe an engaging character to control. With her versatile toolkit and significantly improved AI, players will feel a genuine sense of tension when sneaking through environments. Combat is also notably enhanced, with Yasuke providing a satisfying power fantasy, while Naoe exemplifies an inspiring adaptation of the Dark Souls combat model. Additionally, the game’s side quests have become more enjoyable, featuring engaging narratives and tangible rewards.
Looking Ahead for Assassin’s Creed
Shadows as a Blueprint for the Future
Assassin’s Creed Shadows highlights the aspects of the current RPG framework that Ubisoft values while discarding less favorable elements. It builds upon lessons learned from Odyssey and Valhalla, particularly in narrative structure and managing level-gating. This segmented narrative framework is well-suited to a game centered on target elimination, despite not facilitating a tightly woven story. While level-gating can be limiting, Shadows finds a balance between accessibility and engagement.
This title distinguishes itself from predecessors through its cinematic narrative, emphasis on stealth, dual protagonists, and a more fluid world design—featuring seasonal changes and intricately developed NPCs. These features are essential for future Assassin’s Creed installments, ensuring the series maintains its revitalized energy. While combat mechanics still require fine-tuning and could benefit from a difficulty adjustment, the successful elements of Shadows should be preserved for future releases to sustain the franchise’s renewed momentum.
Crucially, Ubisoft’s commitment to quality control and creator welfare has emerged as a pivotal area for improvement that needs to extend beyond Assassin’s Creed. The success of Shadows can largely be attributed to Ubisoft’s deliberate choices, including multiple delays and the avoidance of exploitative monetization strategies. The absence of season passes, intrusive microtransactions, and early access offerings has created a more enjoyable gaming experience.
By embracing the advancements achieved through Shadows, Ubisoft can potentially enhance not just future Assassin’s Creed titles but also all its franchises. As the need for games like Assassin’s Creed Shadows becomes ever more pressing, leveraging this successful blueprint rather than reverting to outdated practices is essential for the company’s growth and success.