DebasishHear me out! I freaking love Assassin’s Creed games—been a massive nerd for this series since day one. My journey kicked off with AC 3, then I dove back to AC 1 just to soak up the story. I’ve played every single one—even those quirky little side-scrollers nobody talks about. I’ve got the whole collection, man! But holy crap, Shadows? It’s so damn boring I had to tap out.
I was hyped at first—my initial impressions were solid, even with some red flags waving in my head. But then it hit me like a brick: the same mess I feared. Too much stuff thrown at you, a map drowning in clutter, and a vibe that just… fizzled out. Let me break it down for you, blow by blow.
Story: Epic Start, Epic Snooze
The opening? Cinematic gold. I was hooked—sucked into feudal Japan with a grin plastered on my face. But 3-4 hours in? Bro, it’s basic as hell. They slap this giant objective board in your lap and say, “Pick your path!” I’m all for side quests I can tackle my way, but the main game? Give me a straight-up mission—a clear Templar-killing spree with a rival who’s got my number, some happy highs, epic showdowns, and a few gut-punch tears. Instead, I’m bouncing between “do this” and “do that” like a headless chicken. Five hours in, I’m lost—zero clue what’s happening. Where’s the kickass linear vibe I signed up for?
World: Pretty, But a Pain
The world’s a stunner, no lie. Particle effects? Rain pattering down? Summer fields and winter chills? It looks and feels amazing—like, next-level eye candy. But MY GOD, it’s SO FUCKING BORINGGGGGGGGGG. Jungles? Just a wall of trees smacking you in the face—no paths, no visibility, just me blindly stumbling while my character’s lost in the green. Navigating from point A to B? Stick to the roads or you’re screwed. Who thought this was fun? I’m over here yelling, “WHYYYYY??”
World Activities: Heroic ‘Til It’s Hell
At first, I was all about the world activities—saving poor innocents, feeling like a badass hero. YAY, right? But then—OH MY GOD—every five seconds, another helpless soul pops up. Walk ten steps, bam, another one. RDR2 nailed this—every encounter had a story, a reason, and I felt like a legend. Here? It’s overdone to death. And the collectibles? Switch to focus mode, and it’s a million glowing icons screaming, “Pick me! Pick me!” I want to soak in the beauty, not play treasure hunt simulator. Sure, I could skip ‘em, but when you plaster them on my screen, I’m wired to grab ‘em all!
Missions: A Slog on Horseback
Missions killed me from the jump. Post-tutorial, it’s: travel 1000m, chat for 2-3 minutes, ride 2000m, kill a couple dudes, linger for 10-15 minutes, then haul ass another 1000-3000m. I DON’T WANT THISSSS! Give me tight, consecutive segments—500m tops, with parkour, not my horse clopping along like I’m in a medieval Uber. It’s just sad dialogue, endless travel, and me zoning out. Where’s the flow, Ubisoft?
Stealth: Shinobi Vibes Shine
Okay, stealth? They nailed it. Sneaking around, popping off kills—it’s satisfying as hell. Kunai, smoke bombs, quick animations—chef’s kiss. Running and blending into shadows feels slick, like I’m a legit shinobi. The sound thing, where footsteps change by surface? Cool idea, but I didn’t care enough to tiptoe indoors—it punished me a bit, sure, but I’d rather go loud than sweat it. Still, big props here.
Fights: Fun ‘Til It Fades
Combat’s a blast at first—animations are crisp, not as spongy as I feared. Landing hits feels good, parries are easy with that slow-mo flex, and perfect dodges hit the spot. But then… it dulls fast. Same few kill moves on repeat—yawn city. New weapons spice it up, though—switching and slashing gets the blood pumping again. Solid, but it needs more variety to stay fresh.
Finding Objectives: Exploration Overload
Exploration mode’s dope—figuring out paths to big goals is my jam. But when every convo sends me back to “find the spot” again? Nope, too repetitive. Mix in some markers with the hunt, please! Mini-objectives—like hunting samurais for a legendary chest—are the worst. I spent 30 minutes scouring a massive castle for five dudes, and it was pure misery. Not fun, just frustrating.
Graphics: A Visual Win
Graphics? Flawless. It’s gorgeous—smooth as butter on my rig, with jaw-dropping details. The lighting, the textures, the seasons shifting—it’s a feast for the eyes. No complaints here; they crushed it.
Facial Animation: Budget Bin Vibes
Facial animations? Ugh, let’s skip it. Stiff, lifeless, like a low-budget indie team phoned it in. I’ve seen better in games half this size. Cringe.
The Breaking Point
I couldn’t take it anymore—I quit. Thank God it was my friend’s account, not mine. Will I try again? Maybe when it’s 90% off with all DLCs included. Recommend it? Hell no, I’m sorry.
Now I’m back on my Lies of P 2nd playthrough—fresh off beating Laxasia, closing in on the end. That’s where my heart’s at. Expect a full write-up on that soon!
Assassin’s Creed Shadows had me at hello with its stunning world and slick stealth, but it lost me hard with a cluttered map, a story that fizzled, and missions that dragged like a horse through mud. I’m a diehard AC fan, but this one’s a pass—back to Lies of P for me. Want more? Check my wild first night with Shadows [Assassin’s Creed Shadows: My Wild First Night in Japan], my pre-hype ramble [Assassin’s Creed Shadows: A New Era Begins], or my Witcher 4 worries [Witcher 4: Confronting Open World Fears]. What’s your take—did Shadows flop for you too? Hit me up below!
