Assassin’s Creed Shadows comes out on March 20. And it seems like Ubisoft is bringing back the Spartan Kick from Odyssey. But why?

odyssey, assassin’s creed shadows

It would appear that Ubisoft is bringing back the iconic Spartan Kick from Assassin’s Creed Odyssey in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Inspired by the movie 300, it was a fitting part of Odyssey since it was deeply rooted in Greek culture and mythology. But bringing it to feudal Japan kind of seems out of place.

Yasuke riding a horse in Assassin's Creed Shadows.A weird but not entirely unexpected move by the studio. | Image Credit: Ubisoft

With Japan’s rich martial arts history and unique combat techniques, it’s surprising to see that more priority is being put on a move popularized by movies and games that focus on Greek history and mythology. Ubisoft has a lot riding on 2025 and on AC Shadows and moves like this might not be the way to go about it. Even if it does invoke nostalgia.

You’ll be able to Spartan Kick enemies in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Yasuke in combat in Assassin's Creed Shadows.It’s not like Japan has a rich history of martial arts or anything. | Image Credit: Ubisoft

The Spartan Kick was introduced in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey back in 2018 and was one of the game’s more iconic moves. It was inspired by a scene from Zack Snyder’s 300 where King Leonidas kicks a Persian messenger into a deep pit. With its over-the-top execution, we could kick enemies and send them flying off of cliffs, buildings, and even ships. And it’s returning in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

This time it’s called the War Kick and we’re not so sure if it really needed to be there in AC Shadows. The reason it worked so well in Odyssey was because it fit seamlessly into the game’s Greek setting and was a nice little easter egg-like addition. But AC Shadows is a game set in 16th-century Japan, and seeing a giant Samurai kick enemies through doors feels awkward and unnecessary.

Throughout its history, Japan has been home to a lot of different martial arts styles, many of which could have been used to create unique combat mechanics. Imagine if we got techniques from karate, judo, jujutsu or others instead of shoehorning in a move popularized in an entirely different cultural setting.

It’ll be hilarious if the game doesn’t explore Japanese themes

Yasike and Naoe in Assassin's Creed Shadows.There’s really no room for big mistakes on this one. | Image Credit: Ubisoft

The decision to feature the Spartan Kick in AC Shadows feels lazy. It’s as if Ubisoft is trying to bring back the flashy and familiar things we’ve seen before instead of trying to make it feel real. The game lets you switch between its two protagonists, Yasuke and Naoe, both of whom have different playstyles. So it does kinda seem like a missed opportunity to develop a more Japan-centric skill set.

The Assassin’s Creed series has always moved forward by adapting to its historical settings, and Shadows should be no different. Instead of reusing things we’ve already seen before, Ubisoft should have really focused on the unique combat styles of samurai and shinobi. The franchise needs a win and Ubisoft needs a win after its downfall over the last few years.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows has already been under heavy scrutiny. The game’s delays and leaks have painted a rocky picture leading up to its release. There’s a lot we could talk about regarding all the real or false arguments that have been brought up in the last few months. But we’ll find out the truth soon enough. Assassin’s Creed Shadows comes out March 20.

Will you be trying out the game when it comes out? Let us know in the comments!