Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set in feudal Japan. It is the first title in the Assassin’s Creed franchise that will allow you to play two distinctively different in almost every aspect characters.
Table of contents
A turbulent 2024 for the game and the studio
Assassin’s Creed Shadows has been under the public eye for a while now. Displeased fans voiced their concerns when the first trailer was released regarding Yasuke’s origins and his relation to the real person bearing that name in Japan’s history.
In November of 2024, Star Wars Outlaws released, and didn’t meet the expectations of many players and press. There were different reasons for this, but gameplay, story, or performance are among the most popular ones.
This only increased the fans’ concerns about Assassin’s Creed Shadows and the pushback grew even bigger. Ubisoft decided to delay the release of the game not once but twice. First from November 15th to February 15. And then once more, to March 20.
As a result of the delay, all the pre-orders were canceled and there won’t be multiple editions for the game like it was originally announced.
My assumption is that they really wanted to polish the game so the criticism is reduced to the minimum because they really can’t afford to have the game flop.
Months before the first delay, Ubisoft released a video showcasing things like the game’s UI, story bits, combat, and other game mechanics. As far as we know, none of these have been significantly changed after the new release date was announced. And a number of them are borrowed or modified versions from the Open World Assassin’s Creed trio Origins-Odyssey-Valhalla.
Expansion, Season Pass and Pre-Orders
Pre-ordering the game grants access to an additional quest and the upcoming expansion, Claws of Awaji. In this expansion, Naoe and Yasuke will travel to a mysterious island and attempt to obtain a treasure. All of this while being stalked and ambushed by a new enemy, the Sanzoku Ippa.
If you don’t pre-order the game and want to play the expansion, you will have to purchase it separately after release day. There is no set date for Claws of Awaji but at least we know it’s coming in 2025. Claws of Awaji is expected to bring around 10 hours of new content.
Before the game’s first delay, we were getting a Season Pass, but that has been canceled and now the Claws of Awaji expansion is part of the pre-order bonus.
Thrown to the Dogs is the name of the mission that all players who pre-order will get access to.
There are three editions you can pre-order; Standard, Digital Deluxe, and Collector’s. All of them have different price tags and perks. You can also play the game on launch day with Ubisoft+, Ubisoft’s subscription service which costs $17.99 a month. Playing it this way grants the benefits of the Digital Deluxe Edition. The following table shows what you get with each edition.
| Standard Edition | Digital Deluxe Edition | Collector’s Edition | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $70 | $90 | $230 |
| Pre-Order Bonus: Expansion | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pre-Order Bonus: Cosmetics and Gear | No | Yes | Yes |
| Deluxe Pack: Cosmetics | No | Yes | Yes |
| Mastery Points | No | Yes | Yes |
| Physical Content | No | No | Yes |
The Collector’s Edition comes with the following items:
– Steelbook
– Naoe and Yasuke figurines
– Naoe’s life-sized Katana Tsuba
– Wall Creed Scroll
– Collector’s Art Book (76 pages)
– 2 sumi-e lithographs
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is available for pre-order and launches on March 20 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Amazon Luna, Macs with Apple silicon via the Mac App Store, and Windows PC through the Ubisoft Store, Steam, and the Epic Games Store.
Story
Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes us to feudal Japan. An era when several Daimyos were trying to get as much political and military power as possible.
The two main protagonists of the game, Naoe and Yasuke come from different places. She is from a village that was attacked by one Oda Nobunaga, one of the most powerful Daimyos, and eventually, one of the three great unifiers of Japan. On the other hand, Yasuke is one of Nobunaga’s loyal and trusted servants.
The situation that brings them together is for you to discover. Both characters are committed to their new shared purpose. To make a difference in a place and time where hope and light seem to almost vanish.
Combat Styles
The two characters have a large set of abilities and limitations that shape their unique styles. You can switch between Naoe and Yasuke at any time during gameplay. Following a short loading screen, the newly chosen character will spawn in the exact same place.
Being able to play as a Samurai or a Shinobi comes with different combat possibilities, but first, let’s start with the basics. Light attacks are quick and reliable but their damage is small and it’s not a good idea to use them against heavy armored enemies.
Heavy attacks do higher amounts of damage and can stagger your opponent but they are slower.
Posture attacks is a mechanic that lets you charge an attack to increase the damage. They are particularly good at breaking an opponent’s guard. Both light and heavy attacks can be postured.
Vulnerable State is a moment in battle when you are encouraged to use a Posture Attack or ability to deal maximum damage. This is met under specific conditions such as doing a perfect dodge.
Dodging is simple but there is a difference depending on which character you use. Naoe can roll away in multiple directions while Yasuke is only going to take a few steps. There is a small recovery period after doing a couple of dodges in a row when playing Yasuke. This does not apply to Naoe.
Parry and Deflection vary depending on who you are using. Yasuke’s physical power will make the enemy bounce back while Naoe deflects the attacks to the sides.
Blocking is an exclusive mechanic to Yasuke only. He is able to use his katana to stop things like arrows or kunai.
Stronger enemies can’t be assassinated without having enough Assassin Hidden Blade upgrades. There are three colors that indicate what will happen when attempting an assassination:
- White means instant kill
- Yellow is for those who will receive damage but remain alive
- Red is a complete denial of the attempt.
Weapons and tools
The styles of Yasuke and Naoe are very different. In order to truly live the experience of a Samurai/Shinobi, you will have different weapons at your disposal. All of them with a specific purpose.
Naoe
There are three available weapons for Naoe. The first one is the Katana, a light and versatile weapon that is good for close combat, high damage, and a decent defense. Using a Katana unlocks the ability to assassinate through shoji doors.
Kusarigama is a good weapon for crowd control. It has a ball-and-chain that can reach and assassinate enemies that are up to 10 meters away while the scythe is good to take down enemies that get too close.
Tanto and Hidden Blade are the perfect weapons for close, quick, and stylish assassinations. This weapon unlocks the ability to do Double Assassinations.
Smoke bombs let you escape a problematic situation or kill low-rank enemies without being spotted.
Shinobi Bells are great to distract and lure enemies away from specific spots.
Kunais are sharp knives that can be thrown from a long distance. It is possible to one-shot an enemy if you aim properly.
Shurikens are star-shaped weapons that, like the kunai, can be thrown from a distance. Shurikens can stun enemies or cause distractions.
Yasuke
Yasuke wields a Long Katana, a weapon to fit not only his size but the physical power of this samurai. The best weapon to duel an enemy and probably the most satisfactory way to win a duel.
The Naginata has a long wooden handle with a big sharp blade tip. This weapon is good for crowd control and dealing damage to multiple enemies at once.
Yasuke’s Kanabo is probably the most intimidating weapon in the game. This spiked mace is great for destroying armor and breaking any defenses. Keep in mind that due to its size and weight, Yasuke’s speed and mobility will be heavily reduced. Timing is everything when using this deadly weapon.
The Yumi Bow is the most reliable way for Yasuke to attack from a considerable distance. There are different types of arrows that suit different situations. Increasing the accuracy stat will translate to more precise shooting.
Teppo Rifles are devastating weapons that can crush anything at a distance. The drawbacks are its very slow fire rate and reload times. It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to use it more than once in a single fight. I can’t think of a better way to announce your arrival than with the Teppo Rifle.
Stealth
The new Observe mechanic will allow you to toggle additional information depending on what you want to do next. Identify a target, tag/monitor enemies, highlight stashes, collectibles, or quest objectives.
Eagle Vision is going to let Naoe highlight the position of enemies behind walls or objects, as well as isolating the sounds that the character makes.
These two mechanics are independent of each other. The information revealed is unique so you’ll have to combine them when possible.
It’s important to point out that only Naoe has full access to Observe and Eagle Vision.
During nighttime, we will be able to become invisible to the enemy by hiding in the shadows. This will encourage being careful and using the darkness to our advantage.
As stealthy as Naoe can be, running when multiple enemies are nearby will still put them on high alert. To avoid this, we will be able to crouch, reducing both our visibility and the sound of Naoe’s footsteps.
This is going to be even more useful specifically when navigating buildings with floors that are made of materials that tend to creak whenever someone steps on them.
Both Naoe and Yasuke are able to go prone in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. In Naoe’s case, she can roll in any direction by pressing the dodge button when prone.
Double Assassinations are coming back to Assassin’s Creed Shadows. To do this you must equip the Tanto as one of the two main weapons to unlock the skill. It is limited to enemies standing next to each other but it’s still a very efficient way to deploy two birds with one stone.
Naoe can grab enemies and drag them anywhere to assassinate or knock them without alerting other enemies. This only works while you are undetected.
Speaking of being detected. There will be non-combatant NPCs that will alert the guards if they spot you. Locations like castles or fortresses are divided into independent districts. If you are discovered in one area not every single guard will be rushing to your position, just those in that specific district.
Enemies
Japan is filled with different kinds of warriors. All of them with different allegiances, strengths, weaknesses, weapons, and combat styles. Here are some of the types of enemies you will encounter and what is unique about each one:
Outlaws
Your classic low-rated villain that prey on the weakest ones. They are not organized but their odd tactics and big numbers still make them a threat.
Ashigaru Soldiers
A combination of conscripts and volunteers who serve as the main force of the clan’s armies. Their tactics are as standard as their weapons.
Ronin
These former Samurai’s allegiance lies with money. Despite their scruffy-looking appearance they are well-trained and will attack on sight if they recognize you.
Samurai
Powerful and fierce warriors. As Yasuke, they carry multiple weapons and wear thick armor. Naoe can take them down fairly easily if she remains unnoticed but facing them in direct combat is a completely different experience.
Samurai Daisho
These tough enemies can only be found inside military castles. They have fighting styles that combine multiple techniques, making them very formidable opponents. Defeating them can grant some of the b tests loot in the game.
Guardians
A group of elite samurai appear in the game as reinforcements when an alarm is raised. They have white manes and facemasks that make them easy to recognize. Among the most difficult-to-kill enemies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Exploration
Initially, the world map will only reveal region names. As with almost every other game with a world map. Each region, sub-region, and local landmark will reveal more details the further you explore. Undiscovered locations are labeled with question mark icons.
If you have played an open world game from Ubisoft, you should be very familiar with their design and what you will see in Assassin’s Creed Shadows will not surprise you.
Climbing viewpoints will reveal nearby points of interest as you watch the surroundings at the top of the high point. By point of interest I mean districts, fortresses, temples, and shrines. Pretty much any place that may have a quest or activity related to it. Viewpoints also unlock Fast Travel points.
Unlike other Assassin’s Creed entries, Shadows doesn’t have an eagle to help us view the area from a wider perspective. Instead, we will have to find a vantage point in the area and use the Observe mechanic to search for things like items or important enemies in the surrounding area.
We will have access to Safehouses or Kakuregas. These are an extension of our Hideout and offer some of the same features like refilling stock, accessing the gear stash, managing contracts, or summoning allies.
Due to the tricky nature of the landscape, it can be easy to get lost when not using the roads. The Pathfinder feature will highlight the best path to follow to reach a specific objective or marker.
The Objective Board is where you’ll see quest objectives and the progress of current missions. Characters and encounters that you meet will appear on the board, along with the locations and protagonists related to them.
As we progress through the game, more characters will join us as scouts. They can help locate quest objectives or gather resources. Deploying scouts can speed up the process of finding important objectives. They can also remove Provincial Alerts.
Provincial Alerts work similarly to the Wanted System in Star Wars Outlaws. When an alarm has been rung, Guardians will track and hunt you down. Once the alarm is removed, military patrols will reduce their aggressiveness and you won’t have to worry about the Guardians.
PC Requirements
Playing at the best resolution is always one of PC players’ biggest concerns when it comes to AAA games. The following tables should give you a good idea of how your PC will perform on Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Selective Ray Tracing
| Minimum | Recommended | Enthusiast | Enthusiast | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080p at 30 FPS | 1080p at 60 FPS | 1440p at 60 FPS | 4K at 60FPS |
| Visual Settings | Low | Medium | High | High |
| CPU | Intel Core i7 8700K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | Intel Core i5 11600K AMD Ryzen 5 5600X | Intel Core i5 11600K AMD Ryzen 5600X | Intel Core i7 12700K AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D |
| GPU | NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1070 8GB AMD RADEON RX 5700 8GB INTEL ARC A580 8GB | NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3060TI 8GB AMD RADEON RX 6700 XT 12GB INTEL ARC B580 12GB | NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 3080 10GB AMD RADEON RX 6800 XT 16GB | NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 4070 TI SUPER 16GB AMD RADEON RX 7900 XT 20GB |
Standard Ray Tracing
| RT Minimum | RT Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080p at 30 FPS | 1440p at 60 FPS |
| Visual Settings | High | High |
| CPU | Intel Core i7 8700K AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | INTEL CORE i5 1600K AMD Ryzen 5 5600X |
| GPU | NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 2070 8GB AMD RADEON RX 6700 XT 12GB INTEL ARC B580 12GB | NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 4070 SUPER 12GB AMD RADEON RX 7800 XT 16GB |
Extended Ray Tracing
| RT Enthusiast | RT Extreme | |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 1440p at 60 FPS | 4K at 60 FPS |
| Visual Settings | Ultra | Ultra |
| CPU | INTEL CORE i7 13700K AMD RYZEN 7 7800X3D | INTEL CORE i7 13700K AMD RYZEN 7 7800X3D |
| GPU | NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 4080 16GB | NVIDIA GEFORCE RTX 4090 24GB |
On PC, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will feature:
- Raytraced Global Illumination and Reflections
- In-Game Benchmark Tool for Performance Analysis
- Ultra-Wide Resolution Support
- Upscaler and Frame Generation: Intel® XeSS 2, NVIDIA® DLSS 3.7, AMD FSR 3.1
- Uncapped Framerate
- In-Depth Customization Options
- Dynamic Resolution Support
- HDR Support
- AMD Eyefinity and NVIDIA® Surround Compatible
Accessibility options
Accessibility features are very important to ensure that many players have a good experience playing any game. Colorblind options, subtitles, and now even audio descriptions for cinematics might set the new standard for accessibility in games.
Having the game dubbed in multiple languages is always nice for fans who want an experience in their own language. Personally, I will play Assassin’s CreedShadows in Japanese because, to me, that is more immersive.
Assassin’s Creed games are very fun, but it can be a little overwhelming when you have never played one of its titles. Tutorials, guided mode, and a conversation log will make things significantly easier for anyone who is experiencing Assassin’s Creed for the first time.
Ubisoft’s open world games tend to have more of a hand-holding approach to exploration, so if you are coming to this title from something like Elden Ring, you will feel a very dramatic and stark difference.
Below is a complete list of all the accessibility features confirmed to be available in the game at launch.
Visual
- Colorblind options – Ability to change colors for certain gameplay elements from a list of presets
- Screen Narration – Not only most menu items, but also many HUD modules and time-sensitive elements can be narrated
- HUD Customization – Ability to turn all HUD elements on or off either all at once, or individually, either with shortcut or using presets – increase opacity, resize text, resize Icons or add background to increase readability
- Screen shake on/off toggle
Audio
- Subtitles – Better color modifications, speaker directions and speaker emotions
- Gameplay Captions – Surfacing stimuli and points to their origins
- Audio Description for Cinematics – Cinematic will be audio descripted
- Audio Cues/Audio Glossary – New signs and feedback allowing navigation and path finding with non-visual cues
- Separate, isolated audio sliders
Navigation and Guidance
- FTUE – First time user experience flow is back, offering first-access critical options
- Guided Mode – Offer streamlined systems and remove part of the gameplay to alleviate the requirement for player engagement in exploration and finding content
- Tutorials Section – Tutorials can be found in the Codex section at any time
- Menu Tutorials – Always alerts when there are new menu functions
- Conversation Log – Every line can be perused from the start to the end of a dialogue
Controls
- Control Remapping – Remap gameplay inputs, and their action (hold, press, double-press)
- Many inputs devices – Mouse and keyboard, controllers, combinations
- Lock-On Camera – Lock the camera on an enemy
- X and Y axis inversion – Ability to invert the axis for aiming actions
- Stick inversion – Invert the analog-stick behavior
Gameplay
- Stealth and combat each have four separate difficulty settings
- Guided Mode – Offer streamlined systems and remove part of the gameplay to alleviate the requirement for player engagement in exploration and finding content
- Canon Mode – Enable automatic selection of narrative decisions for the “canon” story to unfold
- Melee Attack Mode – Simplifies the combat by using a single input instead of multiple buttons or complex combinations
- Quick Timed Events – Type of input required to complete Quick Time Events can be simplified, or skipped entirely
- Aim Assistance – Four levels of aim assistance are offered (off, light, moderate, full)
