Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China

A stripped down stealth offering that reinvigorates Assassin's Creed by putting attention back on the sneaky stuff.

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Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China is a 2.5D side-scrolling stealth game set in the Chinese Renaissance. Players control Shao Jun, the last assassin of the Chinese Brotherhood, on a quest for revenge and redemption. The game features fast-paced combat, parkour, and a rich historical setting with a distinct visual style.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 860 reviews

story90 positive mentions

stability11 negative mentions

The game features stunning visuals and a unique art style that resembles traditional Chinese paintings.
Gameplay emphasizes stealth and offers multiple ways to complete objectives, making it engaging and rewarding.
The story, while simple, provides a compelling narrative of revenge and the struggle to restore the Assassin Brotherhood in China.

Controls can be clunky and unresponsive, especially when using a keyboard, making combat and movement frustrating.
The game lacks depth in its story and character development, leaving players wanting more context and engagement.
The requirement to use Ubisoft's Uplay platform can be cumbersome and detracts from the overall experience.

story
314 mentions
29 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The story of "Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China" is generally viewed as simplistic and lacking depth, often described as a straightforward revenge narrative centered on the protagonist, Shao Jun. While some players appreciate the unique setting and artistic presentation, many criticize the plot for being underdeveloped and the characters for lacking depth, leading to a mixed reception overall. Despite its shortcomings, the game is noted for its engaging gameplay and visual style, which some feel compensates for the thin storyline.
- “China's setting seamlessly integrates with the Assassin's Creed fantasy, offering a well-crafted story that feels authentic to the franchise.”
- “Shao Jun's personal journey for vengeance is woven seamlessly into the narrative, adding depth and emotional resonance to the overall story.”
- “The art is beautiful, the soundtrack is great, and the story is engaging, making for a well-rounded experience.”
- “Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China is a clunky mess to play with an extremely dull story and empty characters.”
- “The story is awful, with a generic vengeance plot that isn't executed well.”
- “The actual story and narrative are pretty yawn-inducing even for the series, and it's difficult to feel engaged when all the characters, including Shao Jun, are paper thin.”
gameplay
263 mentions
33 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China" is a notable departure from the traditional Assassin's Creed formula, focusing on a 2.5D platforming experience that emphasizes stealth mechanics and linear level design. While many players appreciate the integration of classic AC elements into this new format, opinions are mixed regarding the execution, with some praising the fluidity and depth of stealth gameplay, while others criticize the repetitive nature and clunky controls. Overall, the game offers a unique take on the franchise, appealing to fans of stealth action but potentially disappointing those expecting a more expansive, open-world experience.
- “The game successfully translated the essence of the series into this new format, maintaining the core stealth mechanics and historical setting that make Assassin's Creed so captivating.”
- “The seamless integration of traditional AC mechanics, like climbing and hiding, into this side-scrolling environment added depth to the gameplay, making every move and decision count.”
- “The gameplay is awesome, and the best part is that you can complete almost all of the game in stealth; there are very limited moments where taking a fight is the only option.”
- “The gameplay is a wretched point A to point B simulator with no real changes to the gameplay aside from little additions that do very little to change the gameplay up.”
- “After the opening hour of Chronicles: China, you've already experienced most of the gameplay, and after that point, it's mere repetition.”
- “The gameplay is incredibly slow, restrictive, and forces your hand to play on predetermined paths and methods.”
graphics
207 mentions
53 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China" have received widespread praise for their stunning art style, which beautifully captures traditional Chinese aesthetics through vibrant colors and intricate details. Many reviewers highlight the game's unique watercolor-like visuals and hand-painted look, contributing to an immersive experience that enhances the historical setting. However, some players express disappointment with the lack of graphical options and clunky controls, which detract from the overall enjoyment despite the appealing visuals.
- “If there's one thing I can appreciate about this game, it's the art style, which is all around stunning.”
- “The visuals truly add to the era that the game plays off in, bringing every locale to life with its beautiful artistic creations.”
- “The graphics are fantastic, beautifully designed to look hand-painted in a Chinese style.”
- “Oh and the graphics are just very bad.”
- “Bad graphics and no storyline!”
- “Poor graphics.”
music
45 mentions
53 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received praise for its effective blend of traditional Chinese instruments and modern beats, creating an atmospheric experience that enhances gameplay. While some reviewers noted that the soundtrack features repetitive loops, many found it beautiful and fitting for the game's setting, contributing to a sense of immersion and relaxation. Overall, the music is considered a strong aspect of the game, with a solid execution that aligns well with its visual and narrative elements.
- “The music is fantastic, with a blend of traditional Chinese instruments and modern beats that perfectly fits the game's setting.”
- “The soundtrack and art style suit the period well, giving it a very 'Chinese' look.”
- “The music and sound are astounding, just like a major studio like Ubisoft should offer, and the atmosphere is set from the get-go with great music and sound effects.”
- “Musics are just 20-second loops, and definitely not on par with Jesper Kyd's work.”
- “The music is a mixed bag.”
- “Art and visual design together with the soundtrack was pretty atmospheric, but they should have done better with voice acting; it wasn't fitting at all for the China setting.”
replayability
15 mentions
20 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed, with some players appreciating the variety of completion methods and the inclusion of New Game Plus modes that enhance the experience. However, others criticize the overall lack of replay value, citing a short gameplay duration and limited incentives to revisit levels. While some find enjoyment in the challenges and different playstyles, others feel the game falls short compared to similar titles.
- “It extended the replayability of the game, inviting me to return to the familiar levels with a fresh set of challenges.”
- “Replayable - since there are so many different ways to complete every level, it's comfortable to replay the game without losing enjoyment.”
- “It's not a very long game, but there's some replayability with techniques that you can only unlock through New Game Plus.”
- “There's 9 hours of gameplay with no replay value.”
- “I know this might be the cause of this game being as cheap as it is, but I think that at least some replay value, which is pretty much non-existent, wouldn't go amiss.”
- “Another thing regarding the gameplay and killing the replayability of the title is the fact that, inevitably, this game is compared to Mark of the Ninja, a game I stated before I love, and this is really unfavorable to this title.”
atmosphere
11 mentions
36 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is largely praised for its beautiful art style and impressive sound design, creating an immersive experience reminiscent of an interactive storybook. However, some levels suffer from a lack of vibrancy and depth, with muted colors leading to a feeling of repetitiveness. Overall, while the atmosphere is a strong point, there are areas for improvement, particularly in voice acting.
- “Assassin's Creed® Chronicles: China thrives on an atmospheric art design and a successful mix of old and modern platform elements.”
- “The contemporary and impressionistic styles they made use of here truly set the atmosphere for the game.”
- “The music and sound are astounding, just like a major studio like Ubisoft should offer. The setting helps again, and the atmosphere is established from the get-go with great music and sound effects.”
- “Some of the levels seem devoid of much atmosphere, particularly with the predominantly muted greys and blacks the game seems to favor so much.”
- “All in all, the game lacks in atmosphere in the beginning, and the levels are a little bit too story-based and feel repetitive sometimes.”
- “The atmosphere of the game reminds me of Child of Light (which I also love), where it's like you're in an interactive storybook, so this automatically rose up in my rank of favorite games.”
stability
11 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing smooth gameplay and no glitches, while others report frequent bugs, freezes, and issues with controls, particularly during critical moments. Many users noted that the game can be quite buggy, especially in certain levels, leading to frustration during gameplay. Overall, stability appears to be a significant concern for a portion of the player base.
- “Buggy as hell, when controls were changed cannot use the rope to pull character up anymore.”
- “But the game is buggy in some levels.”
- “I'm not hating on the story, but it feels like it should be played with a controller and it's full of so many glitches and freezes in the middle of fighting; it's just bad.”
optimization
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players praise its performance and smooth graphics, particularly in "Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China," others report significant issues with controls and performance, especially on PC. The game's upgrade system is tied to stealth performance rather than currency, which some players appreciate, but overall, many users have experienced performance-related complaints.
- “The emphasis is much more on stealth, and upgrades are awarded for performance, not bought through currency.”
- “This game is optimized just fine, a different take on Assassin's Creed gameplay.”
- “Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China is a fun 2.5D game that runs smoothly with pretty amazing graphics and fun stealth and killing techniques.”
- “Poorly optimized, bad controls, dumb objectives.”
- “The performance is really bad and the controls are awful.”
- “Most of the users who have written negative reviews for the game have had some sort of performance issue.”
grinding
7 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often feeling frustrated by the need to complete the same tasks across multiple levels and boss fights. While the story and visuals are appreciated, the lack of variety in gameplay mechanics and the difficulty spikes contribute to a grindy experience, especially in the later stages. Despite these issues, some players still enjoy the overall quality and narrative of the game.
- “And when you’re cruising through level after level having to do the exact same task each and every time, it makes things grindy, no matter how beautifully constructed the settings are.”
- “Forgive the ailments this mobile port comes with -- the lack of intuitiveness originally meant for a touch-screen, the dull fighting mechanics that make everything either easy or tedious, and the repetitive levels and boss fights -- and you have yourself a nifty game that stays true to the franchise.”
- “Making the starting levels extremely frustrating and tedious as you die within one hit if you get hit.”
emotional
6 mentions
83 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while Shao Jun's quest for vengeance adds depth to the narrative, some players struggle to connect with her character, feeling she lacks uniqueness. Additionally, the voice acting is criticized for not conveying the intended emotional weight, detracting from the overall impact of the story. Despite these shortcomings, the game's artistic style is noted for its emotional resonance.
- “Shao Jun's personal journey for vengeance is woven seamlessly into the narrative, adding depth and emotional resonance to the overall story.”
- “The voice acting could have been a little more passionate, especially considering that the story is supposed to be emotionally charged with a lust for revenge.”
- “Beautifully painted in a light style and yet very emotional, capturing a typical Asian aesthetic.”
- “The story was incredibly dull and failed to evoke any emotional response.”
- “I found the plot to be uninteresting, which made it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “The narrative lacked depth, leaving me feeling indifferent to the emotional moments.”
character development
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
-20 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is mixed; while the main character, Shao Jun, experiences significant growth, particularly towards the end, the overall story lacks depth and coherence. The limited cutscenes and thin plot hinder a more robust exploration of character arcs, despite the appealing design and personality of the characters. Overall, players find the character development to be inconsistent and not well integrated with the narrative pacing.
- “Visually pleasing game, likable main character, and good character design.”
- “Cool character design, personality, and story!”
- “The story is a bit lackluster with cutscenes limited to paintings, but it shows the character development of Shao Jun, who was once a fledgling waif seeking help from Ezio way back in 'Embers.'”
- “The story is a bit thin and doesn't offer much in the way of character development or plot twists.”
- “The story is a bit lackluster with cutscenes limited to paintings, but it shows the character development of Shao Jun, who was once a fledgling waif seeking help from Ezio way back in Embers.”
- “Shao Jun is on a revenge quest for reasons not explained in the game, and she undergoes extreme character development at the end of the game which doesn't really make any sense when compared to the rest of the pacing.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the contrast between the main characters speaking English and the authentic Mandarin spoken by NPCs, creating a comedic effect. Players find the English-sounding accents amusing, particularly in the context of the predominantly Chinese dialogue, adding an unexpected layer of humor to the experience.
- “The only real downsides to this game are the weird control schemes and Shao Jun's English-sounding accent, which is funny because the Mandarin Chinese spoken by the NPCs feels more authentic.”
- “Not that I don't like that; I just find it hilarious.”
- “The Chinese in the game is so funny.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game raises concerns among users, with some perceiving it as a potential cash grab due to its shorter gameplay and Ubisoft's reputation. Additionally, technical issues such as crashes before the title screen further detract from the overall experience.
- “This game seems like it might be a Ubisoft cash grab at first because it's a different type of game which is shorter.”