Changes for good and for bad

Before I start talking about the game itself, I want to share with you that I have a great affection for the Assassin's Creed franchise, as the first game in the series was a great ally when I was facing depression. Of course, even though the game didn't have any kind of refinement, extra activities in ancient Egypt, memorable characters or anything like that, the parkour mechanics are there and undoubtedly the game was an embryo of the colossus that was to come with Ezio Auditore's saga, which in my opinion are the great moments of Assassin's Creed.

Even though practically no one cared about Desmond Miles' story, I considered that Ubisoft did a good job in maintaining a certain mystery intertwining two distinct periods, in which choices from the past could reveal which steps to take for a better future. A plot that was losing itself with each game, until the developers themselves didn't really know what to do with the poor hero.

With rigid gameplay and many games released in a short period of time, the general public was getting saturated with the formula, which even with interesting innovations, such as naval combat in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, the Frye siblings in Syndicate, the formula had worn out, causing Ubi to make the wise decision to slow down and reintroduce the series as RPG games, bringing a more exploratory side, character evolution, and endless worlds. A great move, but one that didn't please the purists.

The fact is that the franchise is still trying to return to its moments of unanimous glory, but the feeling is that something is missing...which is also my feeling after more than 10 years alongside the Animus.
 

Welcome to Feudal Japan

There is no doubt that Assassin's Creed Shadows has piqued the curiosity of many players for finally bringing Japan as a stage to be explored. It is not only now that we imagined how amazing it would be to have a ninja as the main character and use all his techniques to execute his targets without being seen. But the developers did more and went further.



Assassin's Creed Shadows takes place at the end of the Sengoku period, which occurred between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. This period of Japanese history is marked by a series of battles, some of which are depicted in the game, as well as featuring prominent figures of the time, in addition to all the glamour of the scenarios, which makes everything even more immersive.

The plot unfolds at a time when the powerful military leader Oda Nobunaga was at the height of his power, after invading the province of Kyoto and achieving a series of victories against his enemies. Nobunaga had also invaded the province of Iga, famous for being home to a large number of shinobis. But how far does Nobunaga's power go?

Once again Ubisoft delves deep into the narrated history, detailing much of what is told in books and by the elders. Talking about this is almost trivial, as the developers' fidelity to the eras presented in the games has been so consistent.

It is striking that the game is 100% dubbed in Portuguese, but here is a criticism for the excessive use of current terms, decharacterizing the represented era.

Speed and strength together

Within this scenario, we are introduced to the two main characters of the game, which are certainly the biggest novelty of the game and a very successful move for the unfolding of the plot, especially in the way the stories are intertwined in a natural way, without seeming forced.

Naoe is a ninja who suffered harsh reprisals during Nobunaga's passage through the region in Iga and seeks revenge, even if it is the last thing she does. Facing the worst during her adolescence, the shinobi had to learn all the history already told by her family to understand how the legacy of her people should be used to achieve her goals.

Yasuke, on the other hand, is a warrior rescued and trained by Oda Nobunaga himself early in the adventure. He becomes a skilled samurai through the teachings of his mentor, becoming stronger and turning into a combat machine. However, throughout his journey, he begins to question his mentor's methods and starts looking for a new purpose in his life. Together, Naoe and Yasuke embark on a unique journey, with objectives that go beyond simple revenge or honor.



Choose how to fight

By now, you have probably noticed that Naoe's gameplay is focused on the origins of the franchise, making use of her ninja skills to go unnoticed during an invasion or even when fleeing from a group of enemies. Not that she is not strong enough to face her challenges, but her combat methods are stylish, meticulous.

Naoe's movements are charming, so well executed, meticulously calculated. The way she is able to climb walls even makes the legendary Ezio Auditore applaud.

As for the incredible Yasuke, he is a true war tank. During my experience with Assassin's Creed Shadows, it never crossed my mind that I was facing a greater number of enemies that the samurai could not defeat in a matter of seconds. He has such powerful strikes that only one hit is enough to destroy his target. It is satisfying to perform finishes and feel the weight of each blow delivered by him.

And the best part is that in 90% of the adventure you can switch between the two characters, which brings a lot of dynamism to the game and fluidity. Of course, you can wipe out an army with Naoe, just as it is possible to pass through places unnoticed with Yasuke, but you know when something doesn't make any sense? That's exactly the feeling. It's almost comical to see the samurai perform a leap of faith, completely clumsy to perform such a feat.

A note for the precision of the control, where every press of a button can make all the difference, although the same cannot be said about the lack of mapping.

A Japan at your feet

If we are talking about Assassin's Creed, we are certainly talking about a gigantic map, almost endless, in addition to a series of side missions and extra activities to be carried out to relieve some of the pressure that the missions bring. 

Right off the bat, it's striking how you don't necessarily need the map to move around and accomplish objectives. Of course, you can, but on several occasions I let life take me and I confess it was very enjoyable to find villages, talk to NPCs, pray in temples, and discover more about the characters' past...I felt free from the mechanics of "clearing" the map.



In short, you will use your horse to move around, but know that there are fast travels and even the possibility of using a hook with Naoe to climb rooftops, reach towers, and invade castles.

The game also presents the possibility of building your own base and improving it, to the point where it becomes a true fortress. You will need to collect certain items so that your refuge becomes increasingly impregnable. Still on this system, it will be possible to position objects, leave spaces between houses, just like in The Sims.

Among many other mechanics, you will be able to gather other assassins to carry out side missions, just like in Assassin's Creed Brotherhood. A hit from Ubisoft, which is not perfect only because the mechanics happen in a short period of time and could be better explained. But of course, you get the hang of it.

RPG characteristics

Following the guidelines of a good RPG, Naoe and Yasuke acquire mastery points, which can be distributed in a skill tree, but with the difference that they can be redistributed according to your play style.

As you progress, new branches are unlocked in the skill tree, further refining your play style, making each player's experience unique.

Not only that, but the game's armors are customizable and are divided from common to legendary, depending on the level you are at. The weapons also have this distinction and can be upgraded at a forge, as seen in other samurai and ninja games.
 
The dance of combat

One of the aspects that caught my attention the most in Assassin's Creed Shadows is how the combat is more tactical, even with Yasuke's use. Not only are the strikes extremely more violent, but in many instances it is necessary to use the parry mechanic, commonly present in souls-like games. Relax, I'm not comparing one to the other.

Naoe is able to pull enemies with her hook and take advantage of the shadows in her favor and not be noticed, becoming a relentless ninja. Not only that, but now it is also possible to crawl and use vegetation to silently kill enemies.

Although Yasuke is a tank, he still performs beautiful movements with his swords, especially to finish enemies off in a brutal way. Ubisoft really went all out on the combat, making the game even more visceral.

The beauty of the environment in your favor (or against)

It is very enjoyable to walk through the scenarios of Assassin's Creed Shadows, always very well represented with life, especially when it involves the Cherry Blossoms. It's always a delight to run through the fields and contemplate.

Despite the beauty of the scenarios, there is still the impression of recycling character models. The feeling I had at various times is that I was still playing Assassin's Creed Origins or Odyssey. Of course, there is an improvement due to being another generation, but it didn't seem very significant to me.

Still on how we approach enemies and complete missions, we must take into account the weather, which is now dynamic. For example, in the summer, several invasions can be made through lakes, requiring the character to swim through the path and even attack enemies underwater. But in winter, the lake is frozen and a new alternative will be needed.

Another example is with rain, which makes the enemies' hearing more impaired due to the noise, benefiting you with the weather, even for getting around. Just as snow makes every movement slower and heavier to walk.

A breath for Ubisoft

There is no doubt that Ubisoft made a series of modifications to the gameplay of Assassin's Creed Shadows, bringing a series of innovations in gameplay, especially with regard to more visceral combat, as well as the possibility of shaping the characters to suit each player.

But the feeling is that it is still a game that draws heavily from the sources of its predecessors, as if only the setting were changed, much because the graphics are similar. The feeling is that the soul of the franchise is wandering in the air, waiting for someone to bring it back.

Perhaps it's just my feeling, that the game has lost its essence and should be seen as a new project from Ubisoft, but still carries the nickname of the hidden blade and the Assassin's Creed.

This review was conducted on a PS5, with a copy of the game kindly provided by the publisher.