Thanks to a renewed focus on the core concepts that the series was originally built upon, Assassin’s Creed Shadows delivers the most satisfying experience the franchise has offered in years. With the best parkour system since Unity, you can seamlessly transition from the ground to castle rooftops, and the addition of a grappling hook makes reaching high vantage points even quicker. Perched on a tightrope high above your enemies, you're just a drop away from executing the perfect kill—as long as you're playing as Naoe, the game's agile shinobi protagonist. However, switch to Yasuke, the game's second protagonist, and you'll find yourself in an entirely different gameplay experience.
Yasuke is slow, clumsy, and unable to perform silent kills. His climbing abilities are severely limited, making him feel more like an elderly man navigating obstacles than an agile assassin. He represents a stark departure from the typical Assassin’s Creed protagonist, and his inclusion is one of Ubisoft’s most intriguing yet puzzling design choices. Playing as Yasuke feels less like Assassin’s Creed and more like a different game altogether.
Initially, the significant difference between Yasuke’s capabilities and the foundational principles of the series was frustrating. What purpose does an Assassin’s Creed protagonist serve if they can barely climb and can't execute silent takedowns? Yet, the more I played as Yasuke, the more I appreciated his unique design. Despite his limitations, Yasuke addresses key issues that the series has been grappling with in recent years.
You don't get to control Yasuke until several hours into the campaign, following a brief appearance in the prologue. During the initial phase, you spend your time with Naoe, a swift and stealthy shinobi who embodies the assassin archetype better than any protagonist in the past decade. Transitioning to Yasuke after mastering Naoe’s skills can be quite jarring.
As a towering samurai, Yasuke struggles to sneak through enemy camps and can barely climb anything taller than himself. He can't grasp the jutting roofs that line Japan’s streets, and when he does manage to climb, it's at a painfully slow pace. On rooftops, he balances precariously on the apex, standing upright and inching forward, visible to all. These limitations introduce a sense of friction, making scaling environments feel laborious and often requiring the use of scaffolding and ladders.
While Yasuke isn’t strictly forced to stay at ground level, his climbing difficulties encourage it. This limits his visibility, making it challenging to survey an area and plan strategically. Unlike Naoe, who can rely on Eagle Vision to highlight enemies, Yasuke has no such advantage. Choosing to play as him means sacrificing nearly everything except his brute strength.
Assassin’s Creed has always been about stealthy kills and vertical exploration, concepts 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 focus on samurai combat skills. Yasuke’s gameplay shifts the focus to fierce combat, an aspect where Assassin’s Creed has often faced criticism.
Playing as Yasuke challenges the traditional Assassin’s Creed experience. Historically, the series allowed players to climb almost anywhere effortlessly, akin to Spider-Man with a penchant for knives. Yasuke’s design changes this dynamic. Though much is beyond his reach, careful environmental observation reveals hidden pathways designed specifically for him. For example, a leaning tree trunk might lead to a sync point otherwise inaccessible, or an open window on a castle’s second floor can be reached via a staircase-like arrangement on the courtyard wall. These paths are more engaging to uncover than the mindless climbing of past games.
However, these pathways only guide Yasuke to where he needs to go, limiting his freedom for general exploration. It’s difficult for him to gain the high ground needed to observe enemy movements. Yasuke’s approach to stealth is minimal, with his only stealth-related skill being the "Brutal Assassination," which involves impaling an enemy on his sword, lifting them off the ground, and yelling—a far cry from inconspicuous. Instead, it serves as a combat starter, initiating fights with an instant kill. When combat does break out, it’s exhilarating. Shadows offers the best swordplay the series has seen in over a decade, with purposeful strikes and a variety of techniques, from brutal rush attacks to satisfying ripostes. Finishing moves are graphically intense, contrasting sharply with Naoe’s stealthy approach.
The distinction between combat and stealth is clearer with the dual protagonists, preventing the over-reliance on direct conflict seen in Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla. Naoe’s fragility means she can’t engage in prolonged slaughter, requiring players to retreat, reposition, and re-engage stealthily. Conversely, Yasuke’s strength allows him to withstand even the most intense battles, making him a compelling choice for combat-focused gameplay, especially as his skill tree unlocks more abilities over time.
Despite the thoughtful design behind Yasuke, it's challenging to reconcile his role within Assassin’s Creed. The series is built on stealth and vertical exploration, principles that Yasuke actively opposes. While characters like Bayek and Eivor ventured too far into action territory, they still maintained core assassin abilities like climbing and using hidden blades. Yasuke, thematically fitting as a samurai, struggles with these fundamental aspects, making it difficult to play Assassin’s Creed in its traditional form when controlling him.
The real challenge Yasuke faces is his counterpart, Naoe. Mechanically, she is one of the best Assassin’s Creed protagonists in recent years. Her stealth toolkit, combined with the verticality of Sengoku Period Japan, allows for an experience that truly embodies the essence of Assassin’s Creed—being a highly mobile silent killer. Naoe also benefits from the same design changes that shape Yasuke, requiring players to assess climbing routes and use the grappling hook more strategically, yet she can leap further and climb faster. Her combat, while just as impactful as Yasuke’s, is balanced by her vulnerability, which forces a different approach to engagements.
AnswerSee ResultsNaoe’s comprehensive skill set and alignment with the series’ core gameplay mechanics make her the more appealing choice for many players. Ubisoft’s attempt to offer two distinct playstyles with Yasuke and Naoe is commendable, but it results in a double-edged sword. Yasuke introduces a unique, combat-focused experience that stands out within the series, yet it directly challenges the foundational elements of Assassin’s Creed. While I’ll always enjoy the visceral thrill of Yasuke’s combat, it's through Naoe’s eyes that I’ll truly immerse myself in the world of Shadows. When playing as Naoe, I feel like I’m playing Assassin’s Creed.
