The downloadable content for Assassin's Creed titled Claws of Awaji delivers an enhanced experience, outshining the main game in essentially all aspects.
In the world of Assassin's Creed, a new expansion has emerged, offering a refreshing take on the franchise's roots. Titled "Assassin's Creed Shadows: Claws of Awaji," this expansion brings a fresh island to explore and a focus on refined, handcrafted gameplay that harks back to the series' early days.
Developed by Climax Studios and published by Ubisoft, the expansion takes players to the island of Awaji, a smaller and more intentional space compared to the mainland. This design choice allows for a more focused and handcrafted experience, a stark contrast to the humongous map and numerous hours of content in the main game.
The gameplay in Claws of Awaji places renewed importance on stealth and parkour, with a tighter design in the villages, enemy camps, and forest areas. The expansion makes proper use of the main game's central mechanic, the literal 'Shadows,' offering an old-school Assassin's Creed feeling that is done better than the majority of the stealth segments in the base game.
The expansion features several major targets, each with a unique design and theme. One such character is Nowaki, an eagle-eyed, teppo-wielding individual who hides in a haunted forest with decoy statues. This leads to a boss fight that uses stealth in interesting ways, making Nowaki a formidable and engaging opponent.
The optional quests in Claws of Awaji are reminiscent of some missions found in Assassin's Creed Unity. These quests allow players to change the outcome and difficulty of the final mission by poisoning guards, removing supply lines, and recruiting allies. The final boss mission, a castle assault, provides a proper ending for the game's protagonist, Naoe.
Captains patrol the island in Claws of Awaji and are alerted if players get into trouble with local guards, making them formidable enemies to defeat as Naoe. The expansion takes approximately ten hours to complete, making it a bite-sized yet infinitely more compelling experience than the main game of Assassin's Creed Shadows.
The opening mission of Claws of Awaji involves attending a puppet show and playing from the perspective of Naoe's Mother, Tsuyu. Some targets in the expansion are unkillable until their captains are defeated, adding an extra layer of strategy to the gameplay.
It's important to note that the shape of the Assassin's Creed series has changed since the release of Claws of Awaji. Modern entries have focused on RPG mechanics and left out the Assassins vs. Templar narratives found in earlier games. The reception for Assassin's Creed Chronicles, the series to which Claws of Awaji belongs, was mixed when the third and final chapter was released in 2015.
The Assassin's Creed Chronicles series is a collection of three side-scrolling vignettes set in China, India, and Russia, each focusing on a different Assassin and story. The developer of Assassin's Creed Chronicles is Ubisoft Montreal and Ubisoft Sofia, with Ubisoft Montreal being the main developer of the series. Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China was released in 2015 and developed by these Ubisoft studios.
In conclusion, Assassin's Creed Shadows: Claws of Awaji offers a refreshing return to the series' roots, with a focus on stealth, parkour, and the underutilized shadow-based gameplay. The expansion's handcrafted design, engaging characters, and optional quests make it a compelling addition to the Assassin's Creed franchise.
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