I will tell you this. This game is really good/ Want more? well... I learned about the game through controversies. Yes, the same ones about "ewwww Ubisoft is lgbt-washing this series again, somehow the samurai is black, japanese ninja is ugly (lmao, has anyone even seen Naoe?) etc, etc". However, my heart really craved a game like that (probably since the last game I played with the stealthy shinobi feel was Aragami 2) - that ninja/shinobi gameplay * this big of a scale + great animations, so I said to myself: "Hey, Rakash, let's just try it out! In the end, it doen't force me to play as Yasuke, you will just check it out and refund it if it's bad!" LITTLE DID I KNOW When I actually played the game, I found compelling story, good written characters (yes, their tropes are still "revenge!", but you can only have so much original stories...), suprisingly good gameplay that would let me play as a shinobi / sneaky ninja - Naoe is great for that path, and the game even had close to no Yasuke gameplay in first region (due to him being not unlocked yet). 160 hours later I can tell you this: I really liked Yasuke. Yes, Ubisoft added a black character where original japanese character would suffice, but Yasuke JUST WORKS SO WELL! He has a good backstory, understandable motivations, he doesn't just pop up out of nowhere to say "yo I will be the samurai!", but rather becomes one purely by chance. So I warmed up to him bit by bit, up to the point of playing him almost as much as Naoe. PLUS this game is technically one of the best products on the market. It just runs so well - no glitches, no lags, stable framerate, good flow of gameplay, nothing will stop you from playing it on the technical siede - unlike, let's say, Helldivers 2, Stalker 2 or Cyberpunk. Overall, if you like the setting and would want to get both samurai and shinobi in one package - go for it!
                                                                
                                                            
                                                            
                                                                
                                                                    
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                                                    
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                    
                                                                        
                                                                            
                                                                                What an absolutely stunning game AC Shadows is, i'm only level 29 so far, but i'm also a recent purchaser of the game, and i am not disappointed.  Wasn't sure at first about 2 playable characters, but they lend to each other very well, with two very different main strengths.  The story as told for both characters is lovely and really you feel a good bond to your characters and indeed other main story characters you also meet.    I ended up re-watching the 47 Ronin because of this game, i'm that enthused.  Anyway.. digress = off.    This game has recreated japan during a particularly point in history for your characters and the world crafting is simply beautiful, with a soundtrack that you just want to play louder.  The combat i think took a bit of getting used to again for me but once i had certain skills picked up i had a much easier time playing.    This game scores highly for me, i've never been snobby and over fussy, i just know a good game when i play one and shadows ticked so many boxes :)    Thank you Ubisoft for finally helping me to scratch my far-east itch with AC Shadows.