1 hour 50 in and only just started the game, I can now see the scale of map and the freedom to explore. I liked both characters openings and I'm glad I learnt some after the trailer seeing the male protagonist of Japan as I was originally a bit like "here we go", but in truth he was real and they talk to him with curiosity as you would probably expect seeing someone different to them of the time. He was/is a slave turned samurai and a powerful one at that! So far though I'm preferring the female though as I've seen more of her and the journey has been much more emotional. Not sure if I now choose on who I want to play as now the game has opened up or if it'll keep on switching between the two to play a more tank/stealth game.
Graphics are beautiful,
World is stunning,
I personally (a normal guy who isn't paid by ubi) am loving what I see but it's too early on to see if it'll beat my love for Valhalla (I know the map size wont). I'd say try it and you might like it more than the haters are leading you to want to think about it.