‘Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ melds old and new with mixed results [Video]

Ubisoft has a lot riding on “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” as the company faces an uncertain future after several flops and misfires. The first-person competitive shooter “XDefiant” and the open-world sailing adventure “Skull and Bones” failed to take off while “Star Wars Outlaws” didn’t sell as well as predicted.

The publisher’s best chance for a massive hit lies in its flagship franchise, which has all the hallmarks of a blockbuster. “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” takes the series, where fans have always wanted it to go — Japan. In this case, players enter the Sengoku period, in which Oda Nobunaga ruthlessly consolidated power. It’s a time when samurais and shinobi roam the battlefield and firearms have begun to emerge. It’s an era that seems tailor-made for the series.TWO PROTAGONISTS ANS TWO STYLESAmid this tumultuous era, two warriors cross paths. The first is Yasuke, a black samurai whom Oda takes under his wing. As his retainer, Yasuke becomes a feared swordsman …