Review: Assassin's Creed Shadows (Switch 2) - A Captivating Series Refresh with a Twist
Ubisoft's flagship series, Assassin's Creed, has been a time-hopping adventure for two decades, captivating fans with its expansive open-world exploration and RPG elements. With a glut of expansions and spin-offs, the franchise has built a loyal following. However, the latest installment, Assassin's Creed Shadows, takes a bold step away from the traditional structure, offering a unique take on the series.
Shadows, available on other platforms since March, marks a pivotal moment for the franchise. It arrives at a time when Ubisoft's output has been under scrutiny, with the previous title, Mirage, receiving a lukewarm reception. The long-awaited feudal Japanese setting, a bold move, mostly pays off, creating one of the most engrossing worlds in the series. The game introduces two distinct protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, each with their own engaging playstyles, adding a layer of depth to the experience.
This release is also significant as it marks the first time a mainline Assassin's Creed title has graced a Nintendo console since Black Flag on Wii U in 2013. Shadows is a technical powerhouse, competing with Cyberpunk for the Switch 2's performance. The game's visuals and performance are solid, with some caveats, but more on that later.
Set at the end of the Sengoku period, Shadows follows two parallel journeys across Japan's Kansai region. Naoe, driven by revenge, hunts down the Onryo, a masked clan of villains, while Yasuke, a Mozambican slave turned samurai, serves under Nobunaga, a pivotal historical figure. Their paths eventually converge, and they become allies, fighting against corrupting forces and taking down the Onryo.
The game introduces a unique hook: stark mechanical differences between its dual heroes. Naoe, the traditional assassin, is athletic and sneaky, utilizing the hidden blade. Yasuke, on the other hand, is a brute in armor, capable of breaking through gates and dominating enemies. This contrast in playstyles adds variety, allowing players to choose between sneaky approaches and one-man army raids.
Combat is versatile, with both protagonists offering various weapon and projectile choices. Naoe's Kusarigama moveset and Yasuke's Teppo build (long guns and explosives) are highlights. Players can also collect and upgrade gear, with cosmetic options available. Microtransactions provide more elaborate gear, but they are optional.
Shadows offers a vast array of activities, with a main quest that can take 80-100 hours and hundreds of side quests. The game encourages exploration, with numerous organizations to dismantle and new objectives constantly appearing. It's designed for players who want to invest several hundred hours in a single game.
However, some quests feel repetitive, involving long treks to speak with NPCs and back. Despite this, the game includes engaging activities like a painting minigame and a base-building mechanic with cute animals. The simplicity of Altair and Ezio's adventures is missed.
Performance-wise, Shadows on Switch 2 is mostly good. Ubisoft has been transparent about tuning the game for Nintendo's hardware. DLSS and VRR are used for upscaling and stable frames in undocked mode, ensuring a smooth experience. Visual sacrifices have been made to preserve stability, and while some character models may appear waxen in dialogue scenes, the overall game remains impressive-looking.
The open-world design is a technical achievement, with rich environments and atmospheric details. Racing through the countryside, the game creates a sense of natural splendor with seasonal changes and ever-shifting biomes. Touch controls are available for menus and base building, but mouse controls are missing. Ubisoft Connect allows progression transfer across consoles.
In conclusion, Assassin's Creed Shadows is a refreshing addition to the series, offering a captivating open world and distinct playstyles. It caters to current fans and introduces new players to the franchise's unique take on feudal Japan. While not a perfect port, it is a colossal achievement and one of the best-looking games on Nintendo's console.
