Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Claws of Awaji DLC [Xbox Series X] | REVIEW

The ending of Assassin’s Creed Shadows left a few loose threads dangling when it came to the narrative, and luckily for us, Claws of Awaji arrives to tie them together. This first major expansion doesn’t reinvent the title by any means, but it adds enough fresh ideas and challenges to make stepping back into Naoe and Yasuke’s world worthwhile – all whilst giving the main narrative a satisfying sense of closure.

Check out some screenshots down below:

The story picks up directly after Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ abrupt finale, with rumours suggesting that Naoe’s mother may still be alive, with the trail leading to Awaji Island, where Templar leader Kimura Yukari rules with the aid of her three lieutenants. What follows is a revenge-driven tale that also explores the strained relationship between Naoe and her mother, with their bond complicated by years of separation and captivity. And sure, the writing doesn’t always fully dive into those emotional depths in ways that gives you a full scope of their fragmented relationship, but it’s a solid narrative thread that helps give the DLC a tidy sense of closure. Those who were hoping for more Yasuke will be glad to know he’s part of the narrative too, of course, but he plays more of a supporting role… this really is all about Naoe.

Awaji itself offers a rugged and atmospheric new setting to venture across, with it roughly the size of one of the base game’s regions. It’s visually striking, with rocky coastlines, shrines, and ruined castles to explore, though if I’m being completely honest, it doesn’t feel dramatically different from other parts of Japan already seen in the base game. It’s pretty, sure, but also more of the same. What DOES set it apart though is the sense of danger, with traps hidden across trails and buildings, enemy shinobi ambushes awaiting from the shadows, and scouting enemy movements always around to ensure you won’t get around without a fight. It results in the island bringing with it a constant sense of danger, and whilst it’s something seen in the base game, the ante is upped to make exploration feel more tense and engaging than before.

And when you do find yourself in battle? Well, combat is where Claws of Awaji really shines. The expansion wastes no time in pushing players into difficult battles, with boss fights especially frequent, testing every ability in your arsenal if you want to survive. It also introduces some inventive ideas within these encounters, with interesting gameplay mechanics introduced in both the hunt and the battle itself to keep players on their toes. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t re-invent itself that much when compared to the base game, but it’s clear that Ubisoft have experimented a bit to give Claws of Awaji  its own unique flair.

“By sharpening combat, making fun inclusions across the board, and tying up the main story’s loose ends, it gives players a rewarding reason to return to Naoe and Yasuke’s dangerous adventure.”

Speaking of combat, Naoe also gets a new weapon: the bō staff. With three stances that balance reach, power, and crowd control, it feels distinct from her usual arsenal and adds variety to combat where you’re able to implement different strategies to deal with the varying situations you find yourself in. Yasuke also gains some new skills across his weapons, but honestly? The bulk of the new mechanics favour Naoe. Of course, par for the course for Assassin’s Creed DLC, both characters benefit from a higher level cap, and there are new hideout upgrades that expand gear crafting and scouting options. These changes help deepen progression across the game, ensuring that even those that have put tons and tons of hours into Assassin’s Creed Shadows already will have a sense of progression that feels natural.

Clocking in at around ten hours, Claws of Awaji isn’t the longest expansion, but it offers a compact and challenging set of quests that complement the base game – there are even plenty of side activities to get stuck into, so it’s by no means bare-boned. The narrative gives a much-needed sense of finality, the combat systems feel sharper than ever, and Awaji’s hazards inject new tension into exploration. Basically, it delivers everything you could want from an expansion, albeit without trying to completely re-invent itself… what more could you want?

Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platform(s): Xbox Series X|S (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PC
Website: https://www.ubisoft.com/en-gb/game/assassins-creed/shadows