Play Assassin’s Creed Shadows for 100 Hours, and You’ll Realize How Misguided Your Expectations Were

Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft’s ambitious 2025 addition to its iconic franchise, promised to deliver the ultimate open-world experience in feudal Japan—a setting fans have dreamed of for over a decade. Set during the late Sengoku period, a time of warring states and cultural transformation, the game introduces dual protagonists: Naoe, a stealthy shinobi from Iga, and Yasuke, a historical African samurai serving Oda Nobunaga. With dynamic seasons, towering castles, and a meticulously crafted world, Shadows dazzles at first glance. Yet, after 100 hours of exploration, many players find themselves questioning their initial excitement. The open world, while breathtaking, feels hollow, with traversal that grows monotonous and a narrative that fails to breathe life into the journey. What went wrong with Shadows’ exploration, and why does this gorgeous game struggle to keep players engaged? Let’s dive into the heart of feudal Japan to uncover the flaws and frustrations that challenge even the most dedicated Assassins.

A Stunning but Static World

Assassin’s Creed Shadows transports players to the Azuchi-Momoyama period, a turbulent era marked by samurai warfare, political intrigue, and the arrival of European traders. The game’s open world spans central Japan, from the bustling port city of Sakai to the forested hills of Iga and the majestic Himeji Castle. Dynamic seasons—spring’s cherry blossoms, summer’s lush greens, autumn’s fiery foliage, and winter’s snow-covered paths—alter the environment, affecting gameplay mechanics like stealth and movement. Villages teem with NPCs, shrines offer moments of serenity, and castles loom as challenging infiltration zones. Visually, Shadows is a triumph, leveraging Ubisoft’s Anvil engine to create a world that feels alive and authentic, rivaling the historical depth of Assassin’s Creed Origins or Valhalla.

Yet, for all its beauty, the world feels underutilized. The ScreenRant op-ed argues that exploration in Shadows lacks the spark that makes open-world games compelling. Unlike The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, where every hill hides a secret, or Ghost of Tsushima, where vibrant landscapes invite discovery, Shadows’ world often feels like a backdrop rather than a playground. The mountainous terrain, while historically accurate, funnels players onto linear paths, discouraging off-road adventures. Forests are dense but repetitive, with little to find beyond generic chests or enemy camps. After hours of galloping across the map, the initial awe of Japan’s beauty gives way to a sense of sameness, leaving players longing for more meaningful interactions with the environment.

Traversal: A Tedious Trek

The core of Shadows’ exploration woes lies in its traversal mechanics. Open-world games thrive when moving from point A to point B is inherently engaging, whether through creative mechanics, dynamic encounters, or environmental storytelling. In Shadows, however, getting around feels like a chore. Horseback riding is the primary mode of travel, but long distances between objectives—often 10-15 minutes of uninterrupted galloping—grow tedious. The game’s rugged terrain, with steep cliffs and narrow paths, limits exploration, forcing players to stick to roads or rely on fast travel. Unlike Breath of the Wild’s gliding or Elden Ring’s agile mounts, Shadows offers no inventive ways to navigate its world, making journeys feel repetitive.

Naoe’s parkour, a hallmark of the Assassin’s Creed series, is underwhelming. While her grappling hook and wall-running evoke the fluidity of Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, the mechanics are inconsistent, with Naoe struggling to climb uneven surfaces or getting stuck on ledges. Yasuke, built for combat, fares worse, lacking any climbing or stealth abilities, which makes him a liability during exploration. Random encounters, like rescuing NPCs or ambushing bandits, are too predictable and fail to break the monotony. The op-ed notes that Shadows’ realistic approach to Japan’s geography, while admirable, sacrifices the series’ signature freedom, leaving players feeling confined rather than liberated.

Missed Narrative Opportunities

One of the game’s most glaring missed opportunities is its failure to integrate Naoe and Yasuke’s relationship into exploration. The dual-protagonist system is a bold step, with Naoe’s stealth and Yasuke’s brute-force combat offering distinct playstyles. Yet, outside of scripted missions, the two rarely interact during open-world travel. Instead of journeying together, the game often has one character magically appear at a destination, as if they’ve been trailing the other off-screen. This breaks immersion and squanders the chance to develop their dynamic, a technique mastered by games like Red Dead Redemption 2, where companion banter during rides deepens character bonds and enriches the world.

Naoe, a shinobi fighting for her clan’s survival, and Yasuke, an outsider navigating Japan’s rigid hierarchy, have rich backstories ripe for exploration. Imagine them debating their loyalties—Naoe’s devotion to Iga versus Yasuke’s service to Nobunaga—or reflecting on the Sengoku period’s chaos. Such moments could transform long rides into narrative highlights, revealing their fears, hopes, or cultural differences. The game’s story, praised for its serious tone and historical accuracy, tackles themes like identity and power, but these are confined to cutscenes and quests. By neglecting character-driven storytelling during exploration, Shadows leaves its world feeling emotionally distant, undermining the potential for a truly immersive journey.

Comparing to the Competition

Shadows’ exploration struggles are stark when compared to other open-world games. Ghost of Tsushima, set in a similar feudal Japanese setting, makes traversal engaging with its guiding wind mechanic, varied biomes, and fluid combat that keeps encounters fresh. Its world feels alive, with foxes leading players to shrines and haikus hidden in serene groves. Breath of the Wild rewards curiosity with environmental puzzles and dynamic systems, while Elden Ring scatters challenging foes and cryptic lore to incentivize discovery. In contrast, Shadows relies on repetitive side activities—clearing enemy forts, collecting scrolls, praying at shrines—that feel like busywork rather than meaningful adventures.

The dynamic seasons, a standout feature, add visual flair but don’t fully compensate for the lack of variety. Snow may slow Naoe’s stealth, and rain can mask footsteps, but the core landscape remains static, lacking the fantastical or surprising elements that make Ghost of Tsushima’s Tsushima Island unforgettable. The hideout system, where players upgrade a base with resources, is a nice touch but feels disconnected from exploration, as materials are easily looted from chests, reducing the need to scour the world. The op-ed suggests that Shadows’ commitment to realism limits its ability to embrace vibrant or improbable elements, resulting in a world that’s gorgeous but lacks soul.

Fan Reactions and Ubisoft’s Design

Player feedback echoes the op-ed’s concerns. Online discussions highlight the world’s visual splendor but criticize its repetitive quests and unrewarding exploration. Fans who expected a definitive Assassin’s Creed experience, blending Unity’s parkour with Odyssey’s RPG depth, often feel let down by the clunky mechanics and linear world design. The game’s level-gating, which locks areas until players reach certain levels, aims to streamline progression but can feel restrictive, especially with a leveling system that requires grinding repetitive tasks. Some players defend the historical authenticity, praising details like samurai armor and castle architecture, but even they admit the exploration lacks staying power after 30-40 hours.

Ubisoft’s design choices reflect a balancing act. The linear world, with mountains guiding players along paths, makes the map more manageable than the sprawling landscapes of Odyssey or Valhalla. The focus on realism, inspired by historical dramas like Shogun, appeals to fans of the series’ educational bent, but it sacrifices the sense of wonder that defines great open-world games. The absence of a Discovery Tour mode at launch, a feature in recent titles, limits the game’s ability to showcase Japan’s history interactively. These decisions suggest Ubisoft prioritized accessibility and authenticity over innovation, a choice that leaves Shadows feeling safe rather than groundbreaking.

Looking Ahead

Despite its flaws, Shadows shines in other areas. Its stealth and combat systems, while not perfect, offer satisfying moments, especially Naoe’s assassination chains and Yasuke’s brutal finishers. The narrative, centered on Oda Nobunaga’s rise and the Templar-Assassin conflict, is compelling, with strong performances from the voice cast. Future patches or DLC could address exploration issues, perhaps by adding new traversal mechanics, dynamic events, or companion interactions. The modding community, though limited on consoles, may also enhance the PC experience with custom quests or map tweaks.

For now, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a paradox: a visually stunning game with a world that feels empty. After 100 hours, players may realize their expectations—of a revolutionary open-world epic—were misguided, shaped by the franchise’s legacy and hype. Yet, the game’s beauty and historical depth keep it worth exploring, even if the journey isn’t always thrilling.

Why the Buzz?

Assassin’s Creed Shadows delivers a long-awaited dive into feudal Japan, but its exploration falls short of expectations, sparking debates among fans. Is it a flawed masterpiece or a missed opportunity? The stunning visuals, paired with repetitive traversal and untapped narrative potential, make it a divisive entry in the series. Step into Naoe and Yasuke’s world, navigate the Sengoku era’s beauty and boredom, and see why this game is fueling passionate discussions across the fandom!