Assassin’s Creed Shadows Feels Like the Best of Both Worlds

There was once a time when the Assassin's Creed template was straightforward and defined by its action-adventure roots. Ubisoft then flipped the script with 2017's Assassin's Creed Origins, and due to its success, the studio forged ahead with even more entries like it. While these RPG entries make for some exciting adventures, the past is looking retrospectively bright. So, luckily, Assassin's Creed Shadows aims to deliver on both fronts.

Assassin's Creed Shadows is still very much ingrained in that RPG approach, but Ubisoft has also added a few optional features that help it feel like one of those earlier entries. Both canon mode and instant assassinations go a long way in making this experience accessible to those fans, while the main gameplay loop may also be the best iteration of the Assassin's Creed RPG yet. Even if the studio only plans to dabble in that classic formula occasionally, this approach feels like it delivers the best of both worlds.

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By Vlad Mazanko

Assassin's Creed Shadows Juggles Both Approaches for the Better

Shadows Plays Like the Other RPG Entries

Players who have checked out the likes of Origins or Valhalla should know exactly what to expect with Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The game tosses players into a massive 16th-century Japan and has them explore it to their heart's content. Much like other RPGs, the world is tied to a leveling system; there is countless gear to collect, massive skill trees to plunge points into, and players are given the ability to choose just how the story evolves.

Since Assassin's Creed Origins, it's felt like Ubisoft has struggled to strike the right balance between a fun-filled experience and a massive RPG. With Shadows, it seems like that balance has been struck.

Shadows Also Lets Players Experience a More Traditional AC Title

At the same time, Assassin's Creed Shadows is also aiming to appeal to those who may miss parts of the older entries with a couple of optional features. One of the biggest comes in the form of Assassin's Creed Shadows' Canon Mode, which lets players experience the entire game without any dialogue choices. Instead, they get to playthrough Ubisoft's intended story, much like how previous games' stories were told. This locks down many of the ally and romance options as it is supposed to show players what these characters actually did rather than what players want them to do.

Along with that, players can also turn on instant assassinations, which helps make Assassin's Creed Shadows feel like the original games. In the RPG entries, assassinations are not always guaranteed, especially if the enemy has armor or is a higher level. But, with this toggled on, the hidden blade once again becomes the ultimate weapon. However, players will still have to ensure they have mastered the art of stealth, or they may never have the chance to use it.

While Assassin's Creed Shadows may still very much be an RPG entry, these optional features also really help make it appealing to those who may miss how these games used to be played. If Assassin's Creed Mirage's design ethos is anything to go by, it seems like Ubisoft may not be done with that formula just yet. So, whether it is through optional features or an entirely new game, Assassin's Creed seems to be trying to keep both pockets of its fanbase enthralled in its historical landscapes as best it can.

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