After a 15-month break, "Assassin's Creed" is back in action in glorious form with the release of "Assassin's Creed Shadows," a vibrant and rich return to form for the franchise, which makes its way to east Asia for the first time. Due out Friday, the game is a powerful saga that thrives as a riveting adventure, fascinating historical reenactment and meaningful push forward for the franchise's ongoing saga.
Set in the late 16th century Azuchi-Momoyama period in Japan, during which frayed factions are beginning to unify into a single entity, the game exists in an iconic time frame, in which samurai roam the land attempting to scrape by under the heels of bickering warlords. Gilded castles, clashing cultures and historical turning points abound, as an old way of life begins to fade into the background as firearms and Western culture begin their incursion on the old ways.
The story spins the saga of two outsider underdog heroes, Naoe and Yasuke, both who are intertwined with Oda Nobunaga. A female, Naoe is a lithe, elegant merchant of death, while Yasuke, is a tank-like force who has traversed from across the world and strives make a name and life for himself under Nobunaga's tutelage.
The usual conceit from the franchise is back. Once again, you play as a near-future person who relives and alters an ancestor's memoires through a VR-infused version of time travel. The combat is an excellent melding of swordplay, subterfuge and strategic projectile deployment. The best "Assassin's Creed" games introduce a steady diet of verticality to the tactical repertoire, and "Shadows" manages to do so in a way that should please those who found "Mirage" to be a humdrum effort.
Style abounds in "Shadows," which will please those who found themselves fascinated by Hulu's "Shogun" or Sony's "Ghost of Tsushima." Steeped in well-researched sociopolitical tapestry, the game comes to life as a vivid recreation of its time and place.
"Assassin's Creed" games have always flowered to life as educational tools, zipping you around the globe and timeline with the fervor of a Jules Verne fever dream, and "Shadows" is a similarly grandiose dollop of historical fiction. A timeless score by the English duo The Flight helps set the mood for each fascinating scene. Skip scenes may be skippable, but it's not the least bit tempting to zip through the gorgeously cinematic storytelling.
I adored my time with "Assassin's Creed Shadows," and am excited to talk to friends and colleagues about the similarities and differences of ways we experienced the voyages of Naoe and Yasuke. One of the key facets of the franchise's magic is the way its iterative style results in radically varied experiences that reflect the player's mindset, insecurities and drives.
A stunning and hauntingly masterful return to top form for "Assassin's Creed," "Shadows" casts a long and looming silhouette over its chosen time and place. The dev team at Ubisoft Quebec should take pride in its luminous accomplishment.
Publisher provided review code.
No comments:
Post a Comment