Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Claws of Awaji DLC Review
▼ Summary
– The expansion is a straightforward follow-up to the main game, focusing on story elaboration rather than introducing fantastical elements.
– It features a predictable and simple narrative that picks up existing plot threads but fails to resolve them in satisfying ways.
– The new island setting is visually similar to the main game’s Japan, lacking significant differentiation or unique environmental features.
– Gameplay additions include a new weapon and skills, but they are not impactful enough to change established playstyles or feel essential.
– Enemy encounters are more intense and hostile, creating a heightened sense of danger and integrating well with main quest objectives.
Assassin’s Creed expansions typically fall into one of two categories: those that build directly on the main story and those that venture into wildly imaginative territory. The Claws of Awaji DLC for Assassin’s Creed Shadows firmly belongs to the first group, sticking closely to the established tone and setting. While it introduces a new weapon for Naoe and ramps up the intensity of exploration with more aggressive enemies, the expansion doesn’t offer enough new material to feel essential. The environment, though beautiful, closely resembles the rest of Japan, and the narrative, while engaging, follows a predictable path without delivering major revelations.
The plot transports Naoe and Yasuke to Awaji Island, where they confront another shadowy conspiracy. Familiar faces return, and the expansion touches on lingering threads like Naoe’s search for her mother and the Templars’ growing influence. However, these elements aren’t developed in especially satisfying ways. By the end, the world doesn’t feel meaningfully expanded. Compared to Valhalla’s DLCs, which often introduced entirely new regions and lore, Claws of Awaji offers more of what players have already seen.
Visually, Awaji Island shares the same stunning aesthetic as the mainland. While it features more mountainous terrain, which becomes noticeable due to limited fast travel options, the overall look and feel remain consistent. A few unique areas, like a murky swamp or a partially constructed warship, provide visual variety, but the setting largely echoes what came before. If you’ve explored snowy peaks in the base game, you’ll find similar landscapes here.
Side content on the island follows familiar patterns, offering knowledge points to unlock new skills for both protagonists. These activities feel even more tucked away than in the main game, requiring deliberate effort to seek out. They’re easy to overlook if you’re focused on the critical path.
Naoe gains access to a bo staff, a hybrid weapon that excels in single-target combat. Its stance-based attacks allow for effective interruptions and sweeps, making it a reliable choice in tighter encounters. Though new skills are available for both characters, they don’t dramatically alter established playstyles. Additional equipment can be found in castles, but these rewards may not feel compelling unless you’re dedicated to completionism.
Where Claws of Awaji truly distinguishes itself is in its heightened sense of danger. The island feels hostile, with enemies more alert and aggressive. Traveling any distance invites ambushes from enemy ninjas, and city guards are quicker to escalate confrontations. This pervasive tension aligns well with the main objectives, which involve dismantling the operations of three Templar lieutenants.
Each of these antagonists ties into the environmental challenges. Roadside ambushes are linked to a hunter named Nowaki, while jumpy guards report to a strict enforcer called Tomeji. Disrupting their operations gradually weakens their positions, creating opportunities for decisive strikes. A shadowy spymaster adds another layer, making reconnaissance riskier by alerting enemies to your searches. This interconnected design works well within the DLC’s condensed scope.
Main story missions continue to emphasize the duo’s complementary strengths, with Yasuke handling open combat and Naoe focusing on stealth. Boss fights are thoughtfully designed to highlight each character’s abilities, including a standout stealth encounter that channels Metal Gear Solid and fully utilizes Naoe’s toolkit.
(Source: IGN)
