The launch of Assassin’s Creed Shadows on March 20, 2025, was supposed to be a triumphant moment for Ubisoft—a long-awaited dive into feudal Japan, complete with dual protagonists, breathtaking visuals, and a refined take on the franchise’s open-world formula. Instead, it’s become a lightning rod for controversy, with reviews flooding the internet that some are calling “hysterical” and “nowhere near the truth.” Clips of bugs, awkward romance scenes, and heated debates over historical accuracy have dominated the conversation, but is the criticism fair? Or are reviewers and players alike missing the bigger picture? Let’s unpack the chaos surrounding Assassin’s Creed Shadows and dig into what’s really going on.

The Hype and the Hysteria

For years, fans clamored for an Assassin’s Creed game set in Japan, a setting ripe with ninja stealth, samurai honor, and a tumultuous historical backdrop. When Ubisoft finally delivered with Shadows, expectations were sky-high. The game introduces Naoe, a nimble shinobi, and Yasuke, a historical Black samurai, as playable characters navigating the Sengoku period’s chaos. Pre-release trailers showcased stunning landscapes—cherry blossoms swaying in the breeze, misty bamboo forests, and dynamic seasonal shifts—alongside promises of improved stealth and combat. It seemed like Ubisoft was poised to deliver a masterpiece.

But as reviews rolled in on March 18, 2025, the narrative shifted. Critics and players alike latched onto a mix of technical glitches and narrative choices, amplifying them into a frenzy that some argue has spiraled out of control. Posts on X claim the reviews are “hysterical,” accusing them of exaggerating flaws while ignoring the game’s strengths. “These takes are nowhere near the truth,” one user wrote, reflecting a growing sentiment that the backlash has overshadowed what Shadows does right. So, what’s fueling this disconnect?

Bugs: A Familiar Ubisoft Foe

One of the loudest criticisms centers on bugs. Clips of NPCs behaving oddly—floating in mid-air, phasing through objects, or freezing mid-animation—have gone viral, reminiscent of Assassin’s Creed Unity’s infamous launch woes. A particularly popular video shows Naoe attempting a stealth kill only to fall through the map, prompting laughter and scathing comments like “Ubisoft gonna Ubisoft.” Another clip features Yasuke’s horse galloping upside-down, captioned, “Next-level stealth tech?”

These glitches are real, and for some players, they’ve disrupted the experience. A quick web search reveals reports of mission-breaking bugs, like NPCs refusing to move or cutscenes glitching out mid-dialogue. Yet, the extent of the problem varies. Some reviewers, like those at IGN and GameSpot, note that while bugs exist, they’re not game-breaking for most, with one calling them “occasional hiccups in an otherwise polished world.” Others, however, paint a dire picture, with outlets like Polygon suggesting Shadows “collapses under its own weight” due to technical issues.

The hysteria, critics argue, comes from amplifying these flaws beyond reason. Ubisoft’s track record with buggy launches—think Unity’s faceless characters or Valhalla’s occasional crashes—means every glitch in Shadows gets magnified under a microscope. But posts on X counter that the bugs are overstated: “Played 20 hours, saw one NPC glitch, and y’all acting like it’s unplayable,” one user wrote. Data from Steam forums suggests a day-one patch is already smoothing out many issues, yet the viral clips keep the narrative alive. Is this a case of selective outrage, or are the bugs truly a dealbreaker?

Romance and Writing: Cringe or Overblown?

Another flashpoint is the game’s romance system, which has been mocked relentlessly. Players can pursue relationships with various characters, but the dialogue has drawn ire for being awkward and forced. A widely shared clip shows Yasuke telling a love interest, “Your spirit is a flame that warms my soul,” only for the response—“And your might is my shield”—to land with all the grace of a lead balloon. X users have dubbed it “Wattpad-level writing,” with memes pairing the scenes with sitcom laugh tracks.

Reviewers are split. Some, like PC Gamer, dismiss the romances as “superficial” and poorly executed, lacking the depth of RPGs like Baldur’s Gate 3. Others, such as Vice, argue they’re optional and harmless, a minor stumble in an otherwise engaging story. The backlash intensified with debates over same-sex options, particularly Yasuke’s potential romances, reigniting culture war arguments about historical accuracy. Critics of the criticism—like those on X—claim this is where the “hysteria” kicks in, with detractors fixating on a few clumsy lines instead of the broader narrative.

The main story, focused on Naoe and Yasuke’s quests for revenge against the Shinbakufu, has its own detractors. Rock Paper Shotgun calls it “uninspiring,” a rote tale of vengeance that drags on too long. Yet, outlets like TheGamer praise the duo’s personal growth and chemistry, citing a drinking game scene as a highlight of their bond. The divide suggests a truth lost in the noise: Shadows’ writing isn’t perfect, but the hysterics over cringey romance might be drowning out its quieter strengths.

Yasuke and the Culture War

No discussion of Shadows’ reception is complete without addressing Yasuke. As a real historical figure—an African man who served Oda Nobunaga—his inclusion as a samurai protagonist sparked controversy long before launch. Some praised Ubisoft for spotlighting an underrepresented figure; others decried it as “woke” revisionism, arguing it sidelined Japanese leads in a Japan-centric game. Reviews reflect this tension, with some—like Kotaku—celebrating the diversity, while others question the narrative fit.

The hysteria here is palpable. YouTube videos titled “Assassin’s Creed Shadows WOKE Disaster” rack up views, while X threads dissect Yasuke’s every move. Historians note that Yasuke’s samurai status is debated, not definitive, but Ubisoft has always taken creative liberties—Ezio wasn’t a real assassin either. Defenders argue the outrage is overblown, with one X post reading, “Y’all mad about Yasuke but slept through Odyssey’s mythology mashup?” The focus on Yasuke’s inclusion, they say, distracts from the game’s actual merits and flaws.

What the Reviews Might Be Missing

Amid the bug clips and romance roasts, some argue the reviews—and the hysteria—miss the forest for the trees. Assassin’s Creed Shadows boasts one of the franchise’s most vibrant worlds. Web reviews from Eurogamer and Vice rave about its visuals: snow-dusted temples, autumn leaves swirling in the wind, and a dynamic weather system that shifts gameplay. Stealth mechanics, bolstered by Naoe’s gadgets like smoke bombs and grappling hooks, are lauded as the series’ best since Mirage. Yasuke’s brute-force combat, with its gory finishers, has fans calling it “the stickiest the series has seen,” per PC Gamer.

The dual-protagonist system is another highlight. Switching between Naoe’s agility and Yasuke’s power offers variety that past games lacked, a point IGN and Tom’s Guide emphasize. Side content, from sketching wildlife to infiltrating castles, adds depth without the bloat of Valhalla. “This is the Japan fans dreamed of,” one X user posted, echoing a sentiment that the setting alone justifies the price tag. Metacritic scores hover around 82—solid, if not stellar—suggesting a game that’s good, not groundbreaking, yet the loudest voices focus on its stumbles.

The Truth Behind the Noise

So, are the reviews “hysterical” and “nowhere near the truth”? It depends on where you look. The viral nature of social media amplifies the negative—bug clips get more clicks than praise for parkour—but it’s not all smoke and mirrors. The bugs exist, the romances can be awkward, and the story won’t win any awards. Yet, the intensity of the backlash feels disproportionate to a game that, by most accounts, delivers a polished, enjoyable experience. Forbes notes it’s “exactly what you’d expect from a big Ubisoft game”—not a disaster, not a masterpiece, but a reliable entry in a storied series.

The truth, then, lies in the middle. Assassin’s Creed Shadows isn’t flawless—Ubisoft’s rush to release likely left some rough edges—but it’s not the trainwreck some portray. The hysteria stems from a perfect storm: high expectations, a vocal minority, and the internet’s love for drama. Players who’ve sunk hours into it often come away satisfied, with X posts like “Bugs? Sure. Fun? Hell yes” cutting through the noise. Ubisoft’s silence as of March 20, 2025, hasn’t helped, but patches could shift the tide.

Conclusion: A Shadow Worth Exploring?

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a game caught in its own hype cycle—lauded by some, lampooned by others, and misunderstood by many. The reviews aren’t entirely off-base; they highlight real issues. But the hysteria? That’s where the disconnect lies. It’s a solid, sometimes spectacular adventure that’s been buried under exaggerated takes and viral outrage. If you can look past the glitches and cringe, you’ll find a world worth exploring—one that’s more than the sum of its loudest flaws. As one X user put it: “Turn off the internet and just play it. You’ll see.” Maybe that’s the real truth hiding in the shadows.