Distributor provided original review copy, which included the expansion pack.
I really loved Assassin's Creed Shadows when it debuted earlier this year. After a couple of major lukewarm instalments (excluding the delightfuly throwback, Mirage), I was thrilled to experience an AC story that focused on doing one thing well instead of a dozen things half-heartedly.
But even my admiration can't get over the fact that Shadows ends abruptly without a proper conclusion. By the time the credits roll, it feels like an elaborate setup for a sequel or, worse, like someone had pulled the plug halfway through production.
Claws of Awaji seeks to answer that frustration and works more like an epilogue or final third to the story instead of a traditional expansion. Whether or not it's a fair thing to hide behind a paywall is another conversation altogether. For now, it is the only way to see where Naoe and Yasuke end in their quest for vengeance.
Joonatan Itkonen
Claws of Awaji picks up after the end of the main quest. Naoe gets word from Hattori Hanzo to come see an elaborate puppet show – in reality a coded warning from her flighty frenemy. The show, which is playable in the style of the sidescrolling Assassin's Creed titles from almost a decade back, tells of a rogue shinobi, who assaulted Awaji island and was captured and imprisoned by the ruling class.
Naoe suspects the shinobi might be her mother, revealed to be a member of the Assassin's Order at the end of Shadows, and sets off on a quest to rescue them.
From there, the story moves to a new locale entirely, from where you can travel back to the mainland at any point. It never feels like a connected part of the story, but very much like an additional piece designed in separation from the main game.
Which isn't bad. This is, after all, more Assassin's Creed Shadows, and if you enjoyed the original campaign, chances are you'll enjoy this one, too. It doesn't do anything new, but it doesn't need to, either.
There are 28 story quests in the Claws of Awaji expansion, and even more things to do on the side, giving completionists a fair bit to sink their teeth into.
The main quest continues the same format as the main story, unlocking new allies and targets on your ancient Trello-board, along with mysteries and connections between factions that only become clear as you explore the world. It still has that addictive checked boxes quality that drives most modern Assassin's Creed titles. You know exactly what you need to do, and it's always a pleasure to see another target checked off the roster by the end.
I found the fluff to be superfluous, and didn't spend too long beyond the main story exploring the island. By now, your character is most likely a high enough level to withstand any enemies in the expansion, so there's no need for grinding, either.
That said, for those who can't get enough of Shadows' gorgeous landscapes and meticulously researched version of historic Japan, there's enough to sink at least 10 to 15 hours of gaming into just discovering the new Legendary Gear buried within the expansion. If it's simply bang for your back that you're after, Claws of Awaji has you covered.
One thing that annoyed me about the expansion was its travelsal compared to the main story. Assassin's Creed Shadows is a massive game, and that means lots of traveling back and forth between missions. Claws of Awaji is no different, but it has far less fast travel options compared to its predecessor.
That means a lot more traveling to far-off places and then hauling ass just to watch a cut scene before hoofing it to yet another location. It quickly turns tedious, and I found much of the length in the story to be just busywork.
Sure, it's still a beautiful game, and yes, I spent quite a bit of time just looking around admiring all the sights of this quasi-realistic rendition of Japan. But I had already done all that in the main campaign just some months ago. Claws of Awaji simply isn't different enough of a landscape to justify a repeat, at least not this close to the original.
In fact, while I'm glad that Claws of Awaji hews closely to the original and doesn't take wild fantasy swings like the bizarre expansions to AC: Valhalla, I wish Ubisoft had still gone further in their exploration of Japan.
For an island nation, it is a place of staggering beauty with a surprising amount of diversity. As much as Claws of Awaji introduces some verticality to the mix (which is always appreciated), it doesn't feel different enough.
Complaints aside, I enjoyed my time with Claws of Awaji, even if it didn't exactly light my world on fire. Would I have specifically sought it out if I wasn't reviewing it? Probably not. But that's simply because I'm a little burnt out on open world adventures at this part of the year.
If you're a die hard Assassin's Creed fan or, better yet, someone who just got into Shadows with one of the premium editions, it's naturally a no-brainer to give Claws of Awaji a try. It's more Assassin's Creed, for better and for worse.
In this case, it's for the better.
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