Kinda Funny Gamescast: Assassin's Creed Shadows Review - Detailed Summary
Episode Title: Assassin's Creed Shadows Review - Kinda Funny Gamescast
Release Date: March 18, 2025
Hosts: Tim Gettys, Greg “GameOverGreggy” Miller, Blessing Adeoye, and Andy Cortez
Guest: Tegan AKA Lightweight Gaming
Introduction
The episode begins with a brief exchange between hosts Greg Miller and Blessing Adio Yea Junior, welcoming Tegan AKA Lightweight Gaming back to the show. Light-hearted conversations about Greg's new peacoat set a casual tone as they segue into the main topic: reviewing "Assassin's Creed Shadows".
Notable Quote:
Greg Miller ([00:38]) – “Yo, what's up? Welcome to the kind of Funny Games cast for Tuesday, March 18, 2025.”
Overview of Assassin's Creed Shadows
Greg introduces "Assassin's Creed Shadows," highlighting its setting in feudal Japan where players embody both shinobi assassins and legendary samurai. The game promises an expansive open world amidst chaos, offering a blend of stealth and action.
Notable Quote:
Greg Miller ([06:31]) – “Experience an epic action adventure story set in feudal Japan, become a lethal shinobi assassin and powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos.”
Overall Impressions and Scoring
The hosts share their initial impressions of the game. Ryan Reynolds expresses strong enthusiasm, having dedicated 70 hours to the game and nearing platinum completion. Blessing rates the game a 7.5 out of 10, acknowledging both its strengths and areas needing improvement.
Notable Quotes:
Ryan Reynolds ([07:02]) – “Yes, it does. Yes, it does.”
Blessing Adio Yea Junior ([07:51]) – “I think Assassin's Creed Shadows is a 7.5. Good. I had a good time with it.”
Story and Narrative
The panel discusses the story's strengths and weaknesses. While characters like Yasuke and Naoe receive praise for their development and interactions, the overall narrative suffers from unclear main storylines and an abrupt ending that leaves key plot points unresolved.
Notable Quotes:
Ryan Reynolds ([17:53]) – “I fell in love with Yasuke and Naoe. I couldn't put it down.”
Blessing Adio Yea Junior ([14:56]) – “It feels so much like Assassin's Creed, like, 'this is Assassin's Creed,' which is not a bad thing…”
Characters
The hosts commend the depth and development of main characters Yasuke and Naoe. Their interactions add emotional weight and engagement to the narrative, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
Notable Quote:
Ryan Reynolds ([30:07]) – “I really loved Yasuke and Naoe. They interacted so well together.”
Gameplay and Mechanics
Discussions focus on the dual protagonists and the balance between stealth and combat. While Ryan appreciates the variety and strategic choices, Tegan criticizes the traversal mechanics and repetitive side tasks that hinder immersive exploration.
Notable Quotes:
Tegan AKA Lightweight Gaming ([20:08]) – “I think it's good, just not good enough for me.”
Ryan Reynolds ([26:00]) – “I loved how they blended the stealth and the action.”
Open World Design and Exploration
The panel critiques the open-world design for its linearity and lack of engaging exploration. Unlike more fluid systems in games like "Ghost of Tsushima," "Assassin's Creed Shadows" is seen as too restrictive, limiting player freedom and spontaneity.
Notable Quotes:
Blessing Adio Yea Junior ([24:00]) – “Exploration feels so linear... Doesn't captivate like other open worlds.”
Tegan AKA Lightweight Gaming ([26:08]) – “The traversal didn't feel effortless. It was conflicted experience.”
Technical Performance
Technical issues such as frame rate drops and occasional crashes are discussed. Greg mentions experiencing frame rate drops when customizing the hideout, which detracts from the overall experience.
Notable Quotes:
Ryan Reynolds ([54:54]) – “Adjusting the hideout caused frame drops on base PlayStation.”
Blessing Adio Yea Junior ([55:21]) – “It feels like a solid 25 frames per second.”
Comparison to Other Games
A significant portion of the discussion compares "Assassin's Creed Shadows" to "Ghost of Tsushima." While both games are set in similar historical periods, the hosts note that "Shadows" maintains the traditional Assassin’s Creed style, which may not appeal to fans seeking the more immersive and stylistically distinct experience of "Ghost."
Notable Quotes:
Ryan Reynolds ([50:04]) – “If you want something that's really fun in terms of just being an assassin or juggernaut samurai, and you are an Assassin's Creed fan, go with Assassin's Creed Shadows. I think there's a place for both.”
Tegan AKA Lightweight Gaming ([52:56]) – “Assassin's Creed Shadows dips their toe into it, but never does it in a style like Ghost.”
Ranking of Assassin's Creed Games
Blessing presents a ranking of the Assassin’s Creed series, placing "Syndicate" at the top, followed by "Valhalla" and the original "Assassin's Creed." "Assassin's Creed Shadows" is positioned in the middle of the list, recognized as a solid entry but not the franchise pinnacle.
Notable Quotes:
Blessing Adio Yea Junior ([60:17]) – “[Shadows] sits kind of in that middle spot. I don't think it's a bad game. A lot of the middle is very solid.”
Ryan Reynolds ([61:13]) – “But it's still our solid mid-list Assassin's Creeds.”
Conclusions and Final Thoughts
The hosts conclude with a balanced view of "Assassin's Creed Shadows." They acknowledge its enjoyable elements, such as character interactions and certain gameplay mechanics, while also pointing out flaws like constrained exploration and narrative inconsistencies. There is anticipation for future DLCs to address unresolved storylines.
Notable Quotes:
Greg Miller ([62:44]) – “I'll pick it up... give it a few more tries and see if it sticks with me.”
Blessing Adio Yea Junior ([61:17]) – “It's an interesting one. I don't think it's a bad game. I think a lot of the middle is very solid.”
Ryan Reynolds ([63:09]) – “If you like Assassin's Creed, go with Assassin's Creed Shadows. But I feel like there's a place for both Ghost and Assassin's Creed.”
Final Remarks
"Assassin's Creed Shadows" receives a mixed to positive review on the Kinda Funny Gamescast. The game is praised for its rich setting and character development but critiqued for its linear exploration and narrative execution. The hosts recommend it to fans of the series who appreciate its unique elements while noting it may not satisfy those seeking a more open and stylistically immersive experience like "Ghost of Tsushima."
Notable Closing Quote:
Ryan Reynolds ([63:09]) – “If you like Assassin's Creed, go with Assassin's Creed Shadows. But I feel like there's a place for both Ghost and Assassin's Creed.”
This summary captures the key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions from the podcast episode, integrating notable quotes with proper speaker attribution and timestamps. It is structured with clear sections for ease of reading and comprehension, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened to the episode.