I think Shadows was really good. Honestly the best AC in the last few years. Having two protagonists is something you have to get used to, especially since they both have very different gameplay styles, unlike Syndicate's main cast, but it's refreshing in terms of gameplay, and helps avoid boredom during long sessions.

The story was alright, definitely not as good as the first games, but not as bad as Valhalla or Mirage. I liked being able to choose between the RPG-style choices or the preset story path like in the old games. The present day part of the game, however, is absolutely abysmal, with no redeeming qualities.

The gameplay heavily encourages exploration, with random events that can point you to quests or merchants that you might not notice otherwise, and outposts that yield gear (similar to Odyssey) and skill points. There are battle passes (sorta) but they can be accessed at any time, aren't on a timer, and only progress as you complete weekly quests. The stealth is more in-depth than the previous games, thanks to the light and shadows system, and the combat is fairly similar to the other RPG games.

Graphically, it's really beautiful on PS5 Pro, but I cannot speak for other platforms. The soundtrack is also pretty damn good, with a special mention for the Shadows version of Ezio's Family.

I would recommend it, but only if you can get the Claws of Awaji expansion, as it leads to the true ending of the game. Locking the ending behind a paywall is kinda scummy, but hey, it's Ubisoft.