Assassin's Creed Shadows' version of Japan is extremely pretty. From the minutiae of its temples and terraced paddy fields to the sweeping vistas of its forests, seas, and mountains, it's a contender for one of the prettiest open-world games in years. The trouble is, you'll have to do some legwork before you get to enjoy it properly.

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.

Ubisoft has addressed concerns about Assassin's Creed Shadows that were expressed recently by Japanese government officials in parliament.