A Triumphant Return to Feudal Japan
It’s always slightly disorienting when you return to a massive game after a significant break. Everything feels strangely unfamiliar at first, almost like waking up with a hangover in a strange house and not quite remembering how you got there or where the light switch is.
That was precisely the feeling as I loaded back into the vast world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The muscle memory for the controls was gone, and the narrative threads were hazy. But bit by bit, the intricate details started to come back: how the world’s systems work, the key players in the story, and the fluid rhythm of movement and combat.
Claws of Awaji is the first, and perhaps only, major DLC expansion coming for this game, offering a reason to dive back into its beautiful rendition of feudal Japan. I got to see what new adventures it had in store.
A New Threat on the Island of Awaji
Accessing this new content isn’t immediate; you first need to have completed the main game’s story quests right through until the credits roll. Once you load your completed save file, returning to your hideout will reveal a new character waiting to lead you on this fresh adventure.
It kicks off with an amazing 2D puppet show, a beautiful artistic flourish reminiscent of the 2.5D Assassin’s Creed Chronicles games that were set in India, Russia and China. This introductory sequence sets the stage for the new narrative, which delves into the mysteries surrounding Naoe’s mother and a compelling search for a lost treasure that must be reclaimed from a dangerous new foe. A formidable new clan acts as the primary antagonist, and I can assure you, they aren’t the easiest to defeat or outmanoeuvre.
A More Focused and Engaging Narrative
While the main story in Shadows could feel a bit bland at times, I found the new narrative in Claws of Awaji to be more engaging. The new locations on the island of Awaji don’t represent a huge departure from the mainland’s environments, but it’s always a pleasure to have new areas to explore and secrets to uncover. The narrative itself has some nice twists and turns, and it’s enjoyable to see the main game’s cast of characters working together again.
The new antagonists are compelling, and Naoe’s mother proves to be a brilliant addition to the story’s cast. There are moments where the pacing drags a little over the substantial 10- to 12-hour running time, but for the most part, the story remains compelling.
New Challenges and Combat
The core gameplay remains fundamentally the same as the base game, with the addition of some new weapons and armour sets, but there aren’t any major, game-changing new features. The level cap has been extended to 100, providing more room for progression. Naoe also gets a new weapon, the bō staff, which is fantastic to use and encourages engagement with its different attack and defence tactics.
Throughout Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Claws of Awaji, as you travel through the world, you will be frequently attacked by shinobi on the road, who use traps and ambushes. The whole expansion feels more aggressive, and you will have to have your wits about you and your health packs topped up at all times. I liked this constant threat of attack and the different use of poison and bleed effects that your enemies make the most of, which you can also employ in your own arsenal.
A Highlight of the DLC
The new boss battles are a particular highlight. One encounter, for example, is set in a deserted, misty swamp. Here, you have to rely purely on your stealth skills to stalk your opponent, listening carefully for the sound of their voice to pinpoint their ever-changing location. Along the way, there are dummies of your target placed all around to confuse you, as well as tripwires that, when triggered, will instantly reveal your location. This was the single hardest encounter for me, and even though I died repeatedly, the immense satisfaction of finally completing it was higher than any other boss battle I can recall from previous Assassin’s Creed games.
All the other familiar gameplay elements from Shadows make a return. You have temples where you can find places to pray for more mastery points. There are side quests away from the main story if you’re aiming for 100 percent completion of this DLC. There are also new upgrades for your hideout, if you’re into that side of the game, along with new bits of gear enhancement and legendary weapon quests to complete. There are new discovery trails to find and new Katas for Yasuke to master. While there’s plenty of new content, there isn’t one single, wholly new mechanic that dramatically stands out from the base game.
A Beautiful but Familiar Journey
Visually, Assassin’s Creed Shadows remains an outstandingly beautiful game. The dynamic weather system is still one of the best I have ever seen on the Xbox. The moments when you synchronise a viewpoint and the camera pans across the stunning landscape, perhaps as a storm rolls in, are breathtaking. I question anyone who doesn’t look at these vistas with a sense of wonder.
Here, with Claws of Awaji, the combat is exciting, and there are some new locations on the island, but it all still feels very familiar. As mentioned, the 2D puppet show is a real artistic highlight. Audio-wise, the game retains its great original soundtrack, though I’m not sure if any new music has been added specifically for the DLC. The sound effects and overall audio design remain excellent, complemented by a great voice cast.
A Strong Addition for Fans
As I said, I always find it hard going back to a game after a long break, but Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Claws of Awaji has proven to be a very pleasant surprise. Even though it doesn’t contain anything truly groundbreaking, unlike, say, some of the more transformative DLC packs for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, it succeeds in what it sets out to do. The story is efficient and engaging, and the more aggressive combat on offer presents a fresh challenge, with some very tough but ultimately rewarding battles.
It’s uncertain if Assassin’s Creed Shadows will continue to gain further DLC content, but if it is, Claws of Awaji is by no means a bad way to send it off.
Important Links
Beware the Claws of Awaji: Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ First Major Expansion is Here! – https://www.thexboxhub.com/beware-the-claws-of-awaji-assassins-creed-shadows-first-major-expansion-is-here/
Grab the Claws of Awaji expansion from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/claws-of-awaji-assassins-creed-shadows/9p8tzk3gf7mr
