Players note that the world structure remains the same: large regions unlock as the main story progresses. There are too many activities, and the storyline does not stand out in any way.
Online, this is being called the “Valhalla syndrome” — when the scale is initially captivating, but exhaustion from routine tasks quickly sets in.
One Reddit user admitted that he was initially impressed, but now the game feels like a “chaotic map with a bunch of markers,” and the story evokes no emotion. Others complain about an overabundance of side quests, repetitive tasks, and a boring middle section of the campaign.
Some cope by enabling guaranteed assassinations, guided navigation, and turning off QTEs — all to speed up the process. Others simply recommend taking breaks so as not to treat the game like a job.
Although Shadows was supposed to be a step forward, Ubisoft has once again failed to escape repetition and bloat.
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Cover artist: Ubisoft. Cover source: Steam