From the moment it was announced, Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ interpretation of feudal Japan was met with immediate blowback — mostly from the West. The usual suspects were up in arms over the general identities of the protagonists, while others questioned the historical accuracy of the African samurai Yasuke, or the mere idea of having a non-Japanese protagonist when Naoe — a Japanese woman — was already in the mix as one of Shadows’ main characters. Despite it being an installment of a franchise rife with conspiracy and ancient aliens, many loud and proud posters were certain that Japan would hate this game for its theoretical inaccuracies.
But reviews have come in, and it seems that (in combination with pre-orders) Japanese players are more than pleased with what Ubisoft Quebec has produced. [Ed. note: The reviews mentioned in this story, originally in Japanese, were translated by the author of this article.]
While there was some criticism of the game from Japanese audiences in the lead-up to release, little of it had to do with Yasuke or Naoe — most of the pushback involved the use of a historical reenactment group’s flag in Assassin’s Creed Shadows promotional material, which the developer has since apologized for. Critical reception to Assassin’s Creed Shadows in Japan is similar to that of 2020’s Ghost of Tsushima, another historical fiction game set in feudal Japan that received widespread acclaim. Though not as glowing, reviewers from major Japanese outlets such as Dengeki, Game Watch, Gamer, and 4Gamer have otherwise enjoyed their experience with Ubisoft’s interpretation of the Warring States period (also known as the Sengoku period).
For Japanese critics, the lush landscapes of Shadows seemed to recall a familiar place, either from their experiences or memories. 4Gamer noted that while some may find issue with more minute details in environments, the way Ubisoft rendered the fields and mountains was “impressive.” The reviewer went so far as to say that the change of seasons in the game felt “nostalgic,” and that it reminded them of spending time in the countryside with their grandfather when they were a child. Game Watch echoed a similar sentiment, praising Shadows for its immersion and weather effects.
Gamer, by far, had the most glowing opinion, saying that the “towns feel full of life, with the mountain scenery so lush with nature that it feels as if you really are traveling through Japan during the Warring States period.” That said, Dengeki, while also praising an imagined re-creation of Azuchi Castle, wrote that history buffs may find certain details in Ubisoft’s re-creation of the Warring States period a bit of a distraction. The review goes so far as to list locations that more or less deviate from historical fact, from historical figure Ukita Naoie appearing when he should have very much been dead at the time the game takes place to the state of “completeness” of Osaka Castle.
However, one of the highest points of praise concerns one of Assassin’s Creed: Shadows’ dual protagonists: Naoe, a young woman from the esteemed Iga clan. Game Watch went as far to say that “Naoe embodies the spirit of an Assassin’s Creed protagonist, and that she seems human due to her ‘emotional immaturity.’” Game Watch also noted that “just because she’s a ninja, this doesn’t make her a noble assassin, but rather a woman that players can relate to.” Dengeki felt similarly; they wrote that due to Naoe’s stronger connection to the story, she felt more like the main protagonist. The review also mentioned that Naoe being a part of the Iga Clan, and the daughter of Fujibayashi Nagatomori, was an inspired choice, as little is known about Nagatomori. This has left room for interpretation of the Nagatomori family, and allowed Ubisoft to create a protagonist through Naoe that is deeply interconnected with the events that transpired during the Warring States period.
That said, both 4Gamer and Game Watch were more critical concerning the portrayal of Yasuke. Not that he appeared in the game at all, as both reviews acknowledge that Yasuke was very much a real person who existed in Japanese history. Instead, it was his lack of any real flaws that left his character feeling somewhat unconvincing. 4Gamer describes him as a “perfect samurai,” which made them feel like Yasuke would have been better suited to being an original character, as his portrayal was “particularly exaggerated.” However, all outlets referred to Yasuke as a samurai, which was one of the largest points of contention for a more conservative audience. It is worth noting that this is not the first time Yasuke has appeared in a historical fiction title set in the Warring States period, with Koei Tecmo’s Nioh and Samurai Warriors series both referring to him as a samurai in their Japanese and English versions.
Game Watch noted that there were some moments in the vignette concerning Yasuke’s origin story in Japan that felt a bit too “convenient,” but that he provided a window into more complex relationships with historical figures like the daimyō Nobunaga Oda, with the portrayal of Nobunaga receiving near unanimous praise among outlets. Dengeki mentioned that Hiroshi Tamaki’s performance as one of Japan’s most notable historical figures added to the feeling of him being a “wise, but harsh” leader. Additionally, Game Watch mentions that Yasuke is a great companion to Naoe due to having more of a level head. All reviews praise the interactions between both protagonists and character writing.
Another point of contention is the leveling system, with Game Watch pointing out that taking on enemies even two or three levels above Naoe or Yasuke results in almost immediate death. 4Gamer criticized the lack of experience gained outside of quests and defeating named enemies, mentioning that it didn’t offer any kind of benefit. Others said Yasuke was significantly more difficult to play due to his inability to be stealthy — though it isn’t viewed as something wholly negative. Gamer mentions that the distinction between playing Naoe and Yasuke was a feature, not a bug, with Naoe leaning more into a traditional Assassin’s Creed experience, while playing Yasuke feels more like jumping into Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Dengeki said that Naoe has a better time traversing the map, as she’s more agile and lithe when it comes to scaling buildings, and that the considerations made between her and Yasuke makes it fun to strategically choose between them, in and out of combat.
Game Watch noted that playing as Naoe provides the experience of playing as a “stereotypical ninja,” with 4Gamer mentioning that Naoe has a specific grace to her, and that her need to flee from encounters and attack enemies by surprise carries the essence of what it means to be a ninja. Outside of minor gameplay complaints — such as the aforementioned experience issue — the dichotomy of both Naoe’s and Yasuke’s gameplay styles more or less reflect their roles in the game as ninja and samurai, respectively. Yasuke even has an attack that’s reminiscent of the “Iai Strike” seen in shows like FX’s Shōgun, or used in historical fiction Musou games like Sengoku Basara.
What all the outlets agree upon, outside of Naoe being a deeply compelling character, is that at the end of the day, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is historical fiction. While it plays with historical fact, the Assassin’s Creed series is one deeply rooted in science fiction. Overall, Shadows has received praise for what it does well, and that’s apparently an engrossing story full of some of Japan’s most notable historical figures, excellent character writing, and a gorgeous open world that evokes the feeling of the Warring States period.
It isn’t all that surprising to see Assassin’s Creed Shadows receive such praise. Fans have been clamoring for a title set in Japan for years, and now they finally have it. With the game surpassing 2 million players shortly after release, it seems like consumers across the globe are picking up what Ubisoft is putting down — Japan included.
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