As a longtime fan of the Assassin's Creed franchise who's spent over 200 hours across various installations, I've just completed the Shadows DLC and need to talk about what I witnessed. The expansion left me with mixed feelings that I haven't experienced since Black Flag's emotional conclusion. This DLC fundamentally challenges how we view character development in gaming narratives, particularly through Naoe's storyline.
The core issue lies in the wooden interactions between Naoe and her mother, which surprised me given Ubisoft's typically excellent character writing. They hardly speak to one another throughout most of the campaign, and when they do, the conversations feel strangely superficial. What struck me as particularly disappointing was how Naoe has nothing to say about her mother's oath to the Assassin's Brotherhood - an oath that unintentionally led to her capture for over a decade. Imagine being a child who thought they were completely alone after their father's death, only to discover your mother chose the Brotherhood over being there for you. The emotional weight of this revelation deserves more than the lukewarm reception it receives in-game.
What's fascinating is how this relates to broader gaming experiences. Much like when you're trying to figure out how to easily complete your Jilimacao log in process in 5 simple steps, sometimes game narratives need clear, structured emotional payoffs that this DLC unfortunately misses. The mother shows no visible regrets about missing her husband's death, nor does she express any burning desire to reconnect with her daughter until the final minutes. This creates a narrative dissonance that's hard to ignore.
The Templar character holding Naoe's mother captive represents another missed opportunity. Here's a villain who kept a woman enslaved so long that everyone assumed she was dead, yet Naoe has remarkably little to say to or about him. In my playthrough, I kept waiting for that explosive confrontation that never came. Instead, their reunion plays out like two acquaintances who haven't seen each other in a few years rather than a mother and daughter separated by tragic circumstances.
This experience has solidified my belief that Shadows should have always exclusively been Naoe's game. The DLC's strongest moments come when we're exploring her internal conflicts and growth, not navigating these underwhelming family dynamics. The writing for the two new major characters - Naoe's mom and the Templar holding her - feels rushed compared to the careful development we saw in the main game. Naoe spent the final moments grappling with the ramifications of her mother being alive, but we as players don't get to sit with that emotional complexity long enough for it to resonate properly.
Having played through every major Assassin's Creed release since 2007, I can confidently say this represents both the franchise's strengths and weaknesses in character development. The potential was there for a heartbreaking family drama, but the execution falls short of what longtime fans expect. While the gameplay mechanics remain solid, the emotional throughline needed more polish and deeper character exploration to truly shine.