The embargo for Assassin’s Creed Shadows lifted on the 18th, and I caught some early playthroughs on YouTube. Later in the afternoon, streamers began showcasing the game on Twitch, including Ubisoft’s official channel. So far, chat reactions have been more positive than negative, and early reviews are largely favorable.
A Disclaimer on My Perspective
To be transparent: I’m not a fan of stealth gameplay, and I’m terrible at parkour. While I own several Assassin’s Creed (AC) games, I’ve never actually played one. I was looking at Shadows to be my first. I’ve always been interested in the stories they tell, which is why I make it a point to watch each new release at launch.
Visuals and Performance
Visually, the game is stunning. While some PC streamers have encountered minor issues, nothing has been game-breaking. As I’ve mentioned before, if you’re not running a high-end setup, it might be worth waiting to see how well the game is optimized. Many streamers are playing on RTX 4090s, with some even using 5090s. Keep in mind, they’re also using review copies, which may differ from the final release build.
Historical Accuracy – Does It Matter?
One thing that stood out to me was the attention to detail in the world—at times, I could almost imagine being there. However, there have been criticisms that some elements in the game lean more Chinese than Japanese. If that’s accurate, Ubisoft should address it with patches. That said, the average player likely won’t notice or care. Assassin’s Creed has never been about 100% historical accuracy.
If there are inconsistencies, I’d love to see the developers acknowledge them: “We got this wrong, we consulted with historians, and here’s how we’re fixing it.” That would turn any inaccuracies into a learning opportunity rather than a flaw.
Gameplay Styles – Naoe vs. Yasuke
For those who enjoy stealth, Naoe is a perfect fit. She’s fast, agile, and scales buildings effortlessly—exactly what you’d expect from an AC protagonist. Yasuke, on the other hand, plays like a traditional melee brawler.
From what I’ve seen, you start the game as Yasuke for a brief section, but then it takes over three hours before you can play as him again. I haven’t yet seen gameplay beyond that point, but the pacing concerns me.
Pacing Issues – A Slow Start
This leads me to my biggest concern: pacing. AC games are notorious for slow starts—remember how Valhalla took eight hours just to reach the title screen? The more I watched, the more I wanted the story to pick up speed. There’s a lot to explore, but will players feel compelled to engage with all of it?
Streamers are allowed to play the first 20 hours of the game before the 20th. Any guesses on how long the full game is?
Will Yasuke’s Story Be Fully Explored?
Another concern is whether Yasuke will be given the depth he deserves. I was looking forward to experiencing the story from his perspective—an African man navigating unfamiliar territory. But for that to feel authentic, NPCs need to react to him in ways that acknowledge his background. His interactions should feel distinct.
Given the backlash the game received pre-launch, I worry that his story may not be as fleshed out as it should be. Whether Ubisoft handles this well remains to be seen as more gameplay becomes available.
Did Assassin’s Creed Shadows Deserve the Hate?
So far, does the game deserve the vitriol it received? No. Unfortunately, rage baiting is far more profitable than balanced or positive discussions. Constructive criticism is always welcome, but some of the attacks on this game crossed into harassment, stifling creativity rather than encouraging meaningful dialogue.
Who’s Responsible for a Game’s Final State?
It’s easy to blame developers when a game doesn’t meet expectations, but do they really have the final say? In most cases, no. Publishers, executives, and shareholders often dictate deadlines and release decisions. Developers may have concerns about pacing, optimization, or storytelling, but ultimately, they follow directives from higher-ups.
If Assassin’s Creed Shadows struggles in certain areas, that responsibility likely falls on those making the business decisions—not the developers crafting the experience under imposed constraints.
As more gameplay footage becomes available, I’ll share additional thoughts. But for now, Assassin’s Creed Shadows looks like a promising entry in the series. Whether it delivers on its full potential remains to be seen.
