Yasuke in Shadows: A Fresh Take on Assassin's Creed

With a renewed focus on the core elements that made the series iconic, *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* delivers the most satisfying experience the franchise has seen in years. The game's parkour system, reminiscent of *Unity*, allows you to seamlessly transition from ground to castle rooftop, with a grappling hook enhancing your ability to reach prime vantage points swiftly. When perched on a tightrope above your foes, you're just a drop away from executing the perfect kill—as long as you're controlling Naoe. Switch to Yasuke, the second protagonist, and the gameplay transforms entirely.

Yasuke, the towering samurai, moves with deliberate slowness and lacks the finesse typical of an Assassin's Creed protagonist. His inability to climb effectively or perform silent takedowns initially feels jarring and contrary to the series' ethos. Yet, as you delve deeper into his gameplay, Yasuke's design begins to reveal its purpose and intrigue. His limitations force a more grounded approach, compelling you to engage with the environment differently and focus on combat rather than stealth.

Initially, the stark contrast between Yasuke’s abilities and the traditional Assassin's Creed philosophy can be frustrating. Why include a protagonist who struggles with core mechanics like climbing and stealth? However, the more you play as him, the clearer his role becomes. Yasuke challenges the series' norms, pushing players to adapt and think differently about their approach to the game. His design highlights issues the series has grappled with in recent years, particularly the balance between stealth and action.

You don't encounter Yasuke until several hours into the campaign, after spending time mastering Naoe's swift shinobi skills. The transition from Naoe's agile, stealth-focused gameplay to Yasuke's more cumbersome style is striking. Yasuke's inability to navigate rooftops easily or use stealth forces a more deliberate, ground-level approach, limiting your ability to survey the landscape and plan ahead. Without tools like Eagle Vision, Yasuke relies solely on his strength and combat prowess.

Assassin's Creed has traditionally been about stealthy kills and vertical exploration, elements that Yasuke directly opposes. His gameplay feels more akin to *Ghost of Tsushima* than *Assassin's Creed*, emphasizing intense combat over stealth. Playing as Yasuke requires you to rethink traditional strategies, as his design encourages the use of carefully crafted environmental paths rather than the series' typical free-climbing.

Despite his limitations, Yasuke's combat is exceptional, offering the most engaging swordplay the series has seen in over a decade. Each strike is purposeful, and the variety of techniques—from brutal rush attacks to satisfying ripostes—makes combat thrilling. His "Brutal Assassination" skill, while far from stealthy, serves as a powerful opening move in combat scenarios.

The dual protagonist system in *Shadows* effectively separates combat and stealth, preventing the series' recent tendency to lean too heavily on action. Naoe's fragility necessitates a return to stealth after combat breaks out, reinforcing the traditional Assassin's Creed gameplay loop. Meanwhile, Yasuke's strength allows for sustained combat, offering a refreshing change of pace.

Yasuke's design, though intentional, poses a challenge in fitting him into the Assassin's Creed narrative—a series defined by stealth and verticality. While characters like Bayek and Eivor ventured into action territory, they retained core Assassin abilities. Yasuke, fitting his samurai identity, struggles with these fundamentals, making him a unique but challenging fit within the series.

Naoe, however, embodies the essence of Assassin's Creed. Her stealth toolkit, combined with the verticality of Sengoku Period Japan's architecture, offers an experience that truly captures the spirit of the series. She benefits from the same combat enhancements as Yasuke but with a more balanced approach, making her the preferred choice for many players.

Naoe's gameplay reflects the series' shift towards more realistic climbing mechanics, requiring players to assess routes and use the grappling hook strategically. This approach, while maintaining the open-world essence of Assassin's Creed, adds a layer of challenge and engagement. Her combat, though less durable than Yasuke's, is equally impactful, blending the series' traditional stealth with the new combat enhancements.

Ultimately, Ubisoft's decision to introduce two distinct playstyles with Yasuke and Naoe creates a compelling yet challenging dynamic. Yasuke's gameplay offers a fresh perspective on the series, but it's Naoe who truly embodies the Assassin's Creed experience. While I'll enjoy Yasuke's combat prowess, it's through Naoe that I'll explore the full depth of *Shadows*' world, as she encapsulates what it means to play an Assassin's Creed game.