Assassin’s Creed Shadows is almost here, and to celebrate the nearing occasion, ScreenRant traveled to Kyoto for a special event ahead of the game’s release. The upcoming title will finally bring players to Japan, one of the most hotly-requested locations since the series began, where they will play as dual protagonists Yasuke and Naoe – the former a strong, action-forward samurai, and the latter a stealth-focused shinobi. Set during the Sengoku period, a time of great political unrest across the country, the two characters have contrasting backstories when it comes to their relationship to the daimyo in power during the era.

Though there were gameplay stations on-site in Japan, the event wasn’t so much focused on actual gameplay, as press already got extended hands-on time with Shadows earlier this year. Instead, the event focused on celebrating the setting and characters. It took place at Minamiza Theater, and consisted of several parts: a live sumi-e painting and kabuki performance, a sake cask ceremony, a live chat with three of the Japanese voice actors, and a segment where that same trio played the game. The next day, we also traveled to Himeji Castle, one of the main settings in the game.

Understanding The History Behind Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Sake Cask Opening, Cast Discussion Session, & Hands-On Time With A Pro

Though I got a chance to speak with Shadows’ creative director and voice actors at other points in the day, a presentation offered the chance to also get a better idea of what some of the talent behind the game is like, particularly three of its Japanese voice actors, Miyuri Shimabukuro, Makoto Tamura, and Mutsuki Iwanaka, the last of whom has also achieved the impressive feat of earning every trophy in every Assassin’s Creed title. Though the trio’s discussion was entirely in Japanese, the show offered special devices that gave live translation.

The group, who play Naoe, her father, and Kumabe Ujiie respectively, discussed some of the behind-the-scenes of Shadows, like the importance of the relationship between Naoe and her father and how Iwanaka’s love of the franchise inspired his trophy earning. He then got a chance to show off some of his skills to the crowd, attempting to break into Himeji Castle in-game. I must admit, seeing the accomplished player die a few times made me feel better about my own in-game failures – though his were largely due to input delay, while mine are simply a lack of skill.

Following the showcase, I was able to have my first hands-on time with the game – I’d previously seen a presentation on Shadows at SGF, but never played it myself. Because there were many waiting in line, I only got to play about 20 minutes, but I still got a great introduction to the game’s overall feel. I chose to play as Yasuke – who, from the hands-on demonstration, seemed to be the slightly easier option. I then got to infiltrate the castle, and even in that short time, I got a much better idea of how fluid and fast-paced the game’s combat is.

What Himeji Castle Is Like In Real Life & How It Compares To Assassin’s Creed Shadows

A Tall, Ancient Fortress That Naturally Inspires Its Visitors

I’d already been excited about visiting Himeji Castle due to its historical importance and architectural beauty, but experiencing its replica in Assassin’s Creed Shadows the day prior made me even more eager to see the locale in real life. Even from far away, the structure makes an immense impression – the game demo begins much closer to the castle, so I didn’t get a true sense of its scale, but it is absolutely massive. The main keep spans six floors and a basement, and there’s also an entirely separate west gallery that’s epic in its own right.

With initial construction beginning in 1333, Himeji Castle saw many generations of rulers, including the daimyo from Shadows Oda Nobunaga, though he didn’t live there. Seeing the same eaves and stairwells I’d seen Naoe hang from and fight on the previous day was surreal – save for games set in real cities, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the real version of an in-game place before, especially in such quick succession. The entire castle was so massive it took us over two hours to traverse; my group joked it would’ve been much faster if we could’ve utilized Naoe’s grappling hook.

Obvious things like the gorgeous views and impressive architecture, of course, stood out to me, but one of the things I didn’t expect to make such an impression was the castle’s many stairwells. I think it’s because I’d seen fights take place on them the day prior that were done with ease, whereas I struggled with them even with the absence of someone trying to kill me. Part of this was due to the slippers required inside, which slid around easily on the wood, but I’m sure even with my footwear Naoe would’ve navigated them much better than I.

Of course, the Assassin’s Creed series prides itself on its realism, with previous games even being used to help teach history in schools thanks to the Discovery Tour mode. Although my time with the game was brief, it’s clear from seeing Himeji Castle in person just how much time and effort the developers have poured into getting the game as realistic as possible. If you’re planning on playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Himeji Castle is definitely worth exploring thoroughly in your playthrough.

Final Thoughts On The Assassin’s Creed Kyoto Trip

A Truly Special Celebration That Left Me Eager For Shadows’ Release

The compelling characters, combat, and setting were already enough to have me highly anticipating the game, but the Himeji Castle tour left me even more excited. I, of course, already knew of the many pieces of history embedded in the game, like the backstory of Yasuke and the daimyo, but seeing displays about the very same armor I’d worn in-game as him the previous day hammered that home in a completely different way. In general, seeing the game brought into the physical realm showcased just how much effort has been put into its world.

On top of this, seeing members of the game’s team speak so excitedly about the project was infectious. It truly seems like a group of people who wanted to make this a strong, special entry in the franchise that are really looking forward to it finally being in players’ hands. With only a bit over a month to go, after such a special experience in Kyoto, the release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows can’t come fast enough.