Thanks to a renewed focus on the core concepts that originally defined the series, Assassin's Creed Shadows delivers the most satisfying experience the franchise has offered in years. The game's parkour system, reminiscent of the fluidity seen in Unity, allows you to seamlessly transition from ground to castle rooftops. The addition of a grappling hook further enhances your ability to reach strategic vantage points quickly. Perched on a tightrope high above enemies, you're just a drop away from executing the perfect kill—as long as you're playing as Naoe, the game's swift shinobi protagonist. However, switch to Yasuke, the second protagonist, and you're in for a completely different gameplay experience.
Yasuke is slow, clumsy, and unable to perform silent kills. His climbing abilities are so limited that they feel more like a hindrance than a help, making him the antithesis of what we expect from an Assassin's Creed protagonist. This design choice by Ubisoft is both baffling and fascinating, as playing as Yasuke feels like stepping into a different game altogether.
Initially, the stark contrast between Yasuke's capabilities and the traditional Assassin's Creed gameplay was frustrating. What's the point of a protagonist who struggles to climb and can't execute silent takedowns? Yet, the more I played as him, the more I appreciated the unique perspective he brings to the series. Yasuke's design addresses some of the issues that have plagued Assassin's Creed in recent years.
You don't get to play as Yasuke until several hours into the campaign, after spending your initial time mastering Naoe's swift and stealthy moves. Transitioning to Yasuke is jarring; this towering samurai is too large and noisy to sneak through enemy camps effectively and can barely climb anything higher than his own head. His limited climbing abilities introduce a sense of friction, making scaling environments feel like a chore. This encourages Yasuke to stay at ground level, which in turn limits his ability to survey the area and plan his moves.
Assassin's Creed has always been about stealthy kills and vertical exploration, elements that Yasuke directly opposes. Playing as him feels more akin to Ghost of Tsushima than Assassin's Creed, especially given his lack of stealth training and reliance on samurai sword skills. Yasuke's gameplay is centered around fierce combat, an aspect that Assassin's Creed has often been criticized for.
Playing as Yasuke challenges you to rethink how to approach Assassin's Creed. Historically, the series has allowed players to climb anywhere effortlessly, but Yasuke's limitations force you to carefully observe the environment to find hidden pathways designed specifically for him. These paths lead Yasuke to his objectives but restrict his general exploration and ability to gain high ground for reconnaissance. His only stealth ability, the "Brutal Assassination," is more of a combat opener than a true stealth move.
However, when combat does break out, Yasuke shines. Shadows features the best swordplay the series has seen in over a decade, with purposeful strikes and a variety of techniques. The separation of combat and stealth into two distinct characters prevents the blending of styles seen in previous games like Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla. Naoe's fragility means she can't engage in prolonged combat, forcing players to rely on stealth and repositioning, while Yasuke's strength allows him to endure and excel in direct confrontations.
Yasuke's design is intentional, but it's challenging to reconcile with the core tenets of Assassin's Creed—stealthy kills and vertical exploration. While characters like Bayek and Eivor ventured into action territory, they still retained the fundamental abilities of an Assassin's Creed protagonist. Yasuke, as a samurai, is thematically appropriate in his lack of stealth and climbing skills, but this means you can't play the game in the traditional Assassin's Creed style when controlling him.
The real challenge for Yasuke is his counterpart, Naoe. Mechanically, she is the best Assassin's Creed protagonist in years, with a stealth toolkit perfectly suited to the vertical architecture of Sengoku Period Japan. Naoe embodies the promise of Assassin's Creed: becoming a highly mobile silent killer. Even her combat, while not as enduring as Yasuke's, is just as impactful and violent.
Ubisoft's attempt to offer two distinct playstyles with Yasuke and Naoe is a double-edged sword. Yasuke's unique approach creates a compelling contrast to the traditional Assassin's Creed experience, but it also directly opposes the series' foundational ideas. While I'll always return to Yasuke for the thrill of his combat, it's through Naoe that I truly explore and enjoy the world of Shadows. Playing as Naoe feels like playing Assassin's Creed.
