Japanese reviewers like AC Shadows

[Victoria Raverna]

https://www.polygon.com/gaming/545774/assassins-creed-shadows-japanese-reviews-reframe-the-historical-accuracy-debate

But reviews have come in, and it seems that (in combination with pre-orders) Japanese players are more than pleased with what Ubisoft Quebec has produced. [Ed. note: The reviews mentioned in this story, originally in Japanese, were translated by the author of this article.]

While there was some criticism of the game from Japanese audiences in the lead-up to release, little of it had to do with Yasuke or Naoe — most of the pushback involved the use of a historical reenactment group’s flag in Assassin’s Creed Shadows promotional material, which the developer has since apologized for. Critical reception to Assassin’s Creed Shadows in Japan is similar to that of 2020’s Ghost of Tsushima, another historical fiction game set in feudal Japan that received widespread acclaim. Though not as glowing, reviewers from major Japanese outlets such as Dengeki, Game Watch, Gamer, and 4Gamer have otherwise enjoyed their experience with Ubisoft’s interpretation of the Warring States period (also known as the Sengoku period).

For Japanese critics, the lush landscapes of Shadows seemed to recall a familiar place, either from their experiences or memories. 4Gamer noted that while some may find issue with more minute details in environments, the way Ubisoft rendered the fields and mountains was “impressive.” The reviewer went so far as to say that the change of seasons in the game felt “nostalgic,” and that it reminded them of spending time in the countryside with their grandfather when they were a child. Game Watch echoed a similar sentiment, praising Shadows for its immersion and weather effects.

[Bill]

Originally posted by Victoria Raverna:

https://www.polygon.com/gaming/545774/assassins-creed-shadows-japanese-reviews-reframe-the-historical-accuracy-debate

But reviews have come in, and it seems that (in combination with pre-orders) Japanese players are more than pleased with what Ubisoft Quebec has produced. [Ed. note: The reviews mentioned in this story, originally in Japanese, were translated by the author of this article.]

While there was some criticism of the game from Japanese audiences in the lead-up to release, little of it had to do with Yasuke or Naoe — most of the pushback involved the use of a historical reenactment group’s flag in Assassin’s Creed Shadows promotional material, which the developer has since apologized for. Critical reception to Assassin’s Creed Shadows in Japan is similar to that of 2020’s Ghost of Tsushima, another historical fiction game set in feudal Japan that received widespread acclaim. Though not as glowing, reviewers from major Japanese outlets such as Dengeki, Game Watch, Gamer, and 4Gamer have otherwise enjoyed their experience with Ubisoft’s interpretation of the Warring States period (also known as the Sengoku period).

For Japanese critics, the lush landscapes of Shadows seemed to recall a familiar place, either from their experiences or memories. 4Gamer noted that while some may find issue with more minute details in environments, the way Ubisoft rendered the fields and mountains was “impressive.” The reviewer went so far as to say that the change of seasons in the game felt “nostalgic,” and that it reminded them of spending time in the countryside with their grandfather when they were a child. Game Watch echoed a similar sentiment, praising Shadows for its immersion and weather effects.

Of course they do because it is a good game, a handful of youtube rage bait streamers and their orc followers tried hard and failed to discredit a successful launch and sabotage through terrorist tactics an otherwise awesome game.

[Gamefan]

I don’t trust any of this. Ubisoft is now posting articles that Elon Musk is sabotaging the game and that it’s selling way better than the numbers show!

So now I am just waiting to see what Ubisoft does.

[superlloyd]

Originally posted by Victoria Raverna:

https://www.polygon.com/gaming/545774/assassins-creed-shadows-japanese-reviews-reframe-the-historical-accuracy-debate

But reviews have come in, and it seems that (in combination with pre-orders) Japanese players are more than pleased with what Ubisoft Quebec has produced. [Ed. note: The reviews mentioned in this story, originally in Japanese, were translated by the author of this article.]

While there was some criticism of the game from Japanese audiences in the lead-up to release, little of it had to do with Yasuke or Naoe — most of the pushback involved the use of a historical reenactment group’s flag in Assassin’s Creed Shadows promotional material, which the developer has since apologized for. Critical reception to Assassin’s Creed Shadows in Japan is similar to that of 2020’s Ghost of Tsushima, another historical fiction game set in feudal Japan that received widespread acclaim. Though not as glowing, reviewers from major Japanese outlets such as Dengeki, Game Watch, Gamer, and 4Gamer have otherwise enjoyed their experience with Ubisoft’s interpretation of the Warring States period (also known as the Sengoku period).

For Japanese critics, the lush landscapes of Shadows seemed to recall a familiar place, either from their experiences or memories. 4Gamer noted that while some may find issue with more minute details in environments, the way Ubisoft rendered the fields and mountains was “impressive.” The reviewer went so far as to say that the change of seasons in the game felt “nostalgic,” and that it reminded them of spending time in the countryside with their grandfather when they were a child. Game Watch echoed a similar sentiment, praising Shadows for its immersion and weather effects.

Well at this stage there are 2 kind of reviewers.

Some "religious zealot" bent on Ubisoft obliteration. They probably don't play the game. But they hate it like their life depends on it, and are easy to spot.

And then people who play the game. Most of them are mostly happy. Though I feel for a few who have met some strange game stopper crash. And there are a few other moderately annoying nitpick. But other than it's undeniably great.

I have every reason to believe Japanese public fall in both these categories as well.

[RakataEpsilon]

Thanks OP for posting a "Japanese reviewers like AC Shadows" article from a western media company with no sources from an actual japanese publication

Polygon sucks by the way

[Roy]

Originally posted by RakataEpsilon:

Thanks OP for posting a "Japanese reviewers like AC Shadows" article from a western media company with no sources from an actual japanese publication

Polygon sucks by the way

In the article:
https://dengekionline.com/article/202503/36857
https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/review/rev1/1671172.html
https://www.gamer.ne.jp/news/202503190002/
https://www.4gamer.net/games/656/G065622/20250318037/

[doomshadow612]

Source: Polygon - a western shill ‘gaming’ website with extremist left wing views. LMAO

[Victoria Raverna]

Originally posted by RakataEpsilon:

Thanks OP for posting a "Japanese reviewers like AC Shadows" article from a western media company with no sources from an actual japanese publication

Polygon sucks by the way

Actually they included the source in the article. You can click on the source and it linked directly to the Japanese reviews.

[Victoria Raverna]

Originally posted by doomshadow612:

Source: Polygon - a western shill ‘gaming’ website with extremist left wing views. LMAO

You can read the actual japanese reviews if you don't trust Polygon.

[Codian]

Hahahaha… polygon… what a clown

[Codian]

Originally posted by Victoria Raverna:

Originally posted by RakataEpsilon:

Thanks OP for posting a "Japanese reviewers like AC Shadows" article from a western media company with no sources from an actual japanese publication

Polygon sucks by the way

Actually they included the source in the article. You can click on the source and it linked directly to the Japanese reviews.

Wow a link to the entirety of all Japanese reviews? Lmao what’s next?

[Caduryn]

Originally posted by RakataEpsilon:

Thanks OP for posting a "Japanese reviewers like AC Shadows" article from a western media company with no sources from an actual japanese publication

Polygon sucks by the way

Liar

[Victoria Raverna]

Originally posted by Codian:

Hahahaha… polygon… what a clown

If you don't trust polygon, just look at the actual japanese reviews. If you don't understand Japanese, you can try to translate it using google translate.

Other than that, the game got Very Positive on Steam from players that use Japanese language reviews.

[Isa]

Originally posted by Victoria Raverna:

Originally posted by Codian:

Hahahaha… polygon… what a clown

If you don't trust polygon, just look at the actual japanese reviews. If you don't understand Japanese, you can try to translate it using google translate.

Other than that, the game got Very Positive on Steam from players that use Japanese language reviews.

They're a bunch of americans speaking for japanese people and complaining that an american company is speaking for japanese people. They're not actually gonna notice that unlike them the second one has sources, because in their imagination they have sources too: Probably some random guy who said he's japanese in some kind of imageboard or youtube comment, who for some reason they take as representation of "the japanese people" at the same time as they believe themselves very skeptical critical thinkers who will not take the word of any single person or news media.