The trailers for Assassin’s Creed Shadows sparked excitement among elder millennial fans, like myself, who have been loyal to the franchise for nearly two decades.
We longed for a return to the core formula of the series: ninjas, sharp blades, and stealthy kills. The question on our minds was whether our patience would finally be rewarded.
After spending fifteen hours with the game, I can say that my wish has been granted, albeit in a twisted way. Shadows does indeed bring back the essence of the original assassination simulator from 2007, but with a modern twist.
The game incorporates the advanced features of today’s gaming world—realistic graphics, persistent gore, and a plethora of murder-ready gadgets. As a result, it feels less like the original and more like a slasher film where you are the killer.
Back in 2007, Assassin’s Creed debuted as a stealth game where a blade to the throat meant instant death. Altaïr would traverse the streets of 12th-century Jerusalem, gathering intel from the shadows and taking out the Knights Templar with deadly precision.
Despite its Holy Land setting, Assassin’s Creed played like the ninja games that kids of the ’80s used to dream up in their notebooks during junior high.
As the series progressed, fans assumed that Ubisoft would eventually set a game in a traditional ninja setting. However, instead, we got titles set in Renaissance Italy, Colonial America, revolutionary France, and Industrial Revolution-era London.
While these new settings expanded the world of Assassin’s Creed, the franchise’s style also evolved. Over the past decade, the series shifted into different genres, with action RPGs where the protagonist could battle like a superhero, wielding godlike powers and glowing tridents. Stealth became optional.
But Ubisoft promised something different for Shadows. In early promotional material, they assured fans that we would once again have the chance to carefully plan our assassinations, scout targets, and sneak around rooftops before plunging a blade into an unsuspecting foe.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows was released on March 20, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S, and macOS. A version for iPadOS is planned for a later date.
Assassin’s Creed ShadowsThe game was initially delayed from its original release date of November 15, 2024, to February 14, 2025, and then to its final release date in March.
At one point, I entered a large castle complex, filled with dozens of people, ranging from high-ranking officers to those who appeared to be servants.
I used my ability to see through walls to track everyone with a pulse, including treasure chests. But the living often stood between me and my loot. By the time I reached the central tower, I had killed at least 30 people.
With no one left to clean up the mess, blood pooled on the floors, staining the tatami mats. It was then that I realized I was playing the role of a relentless killer—a Jason Voorhees type, unstoppable and without remorse.
I entered the tower through a roof hatch, knowing my victims had no means of escape. The ground-level exit was locked, and the key was carried by the head guard.
As I moved through the tower, I made the mistake of stepping on nightingale floors. Their high-pitched chirps alerted nearby attendants, who quickly raised their heads, realizing danger was near.
The violence in Shadows is grotesque. Swords sever heads from bodies with ease, and blood doesn’t simply seep—it sprays. For those who are squeamish, the game includes an option to turn off the gore, effectively removing the dismemberment and blood splatter as if shutting off a gory faucet.
Despite the brutality, there’s something captivating about it. The story tries to justify Naoe’s violent path, but the gameplay reveals a raw honesty.
At its core, a power fantasy is about feeling unstoppable—knowing that once you step into a room, you’re the only one walking out. And who better represents that inevitability than a slasher villain? No matter how fast they run, how high they climb, or how much they scream for help, they will eventually fall to you.
Looking back, I realize that this is the game I imagined as a child, not when playing the original Assassin’s Creed, but during those moments of daydreaming about my dream ninja game in the back of my English class notebook.
One ninja, standing victorious amid a sea of carnage. It was easier to fantasize about when the violence wasn’t so real.
