By returning to the series' foundational concepts, Assassin's Creed: Shadows delivers the most rewarding experience the franchise has offered in years. The revitalized parkour system—the strongest since Unity—enables fluid movement from streets to rooftops, enhanced further by a grappling hook for rapid vertical ascents. From a tightrope vantage point high above enemies, executing the perfect stealth kill is just one silent drop away... assuming you're playing as Naoe, of course. Switch to Yasuke, the second protagonist, and the experience fundamentally changes.
Yasuke breaks conventions: he moves deliberately, lacks silent takedowns, and climbs with agonizing slowness. This Samurai completely contradicts traditional Assassin's Creed gameplay. Yet this radical departure—initially frustrating—reveals thoughtful design addressing long-standing series issues.
From Spider-Man to Grounded Warrior
The contrast becomes jarring after hours with Naoe, who embodies classic assassins with free-running mastery and surgical stealth. Yasuke stumbles through enemy territory, his imposing frame announcing every movement. Simple climbs require careful route planning, turning vertical traversal into a puzzle. Without eagle vision or vantage points, engagements demand brute force rather than tactical planning.
This ground-level experience resembles Ghost of Tsushima more than traditional Assassin's Creed. Yet Yasuke's combat represents the franchise's best melee system in a decade—every sword swing carries weight, from devastating rush attacks to perfect counters. Brutal finishing moves showcase this aggressive approach.
A Divided Experience
The dual-protagonist system effectively separates stealth and combat roles—Naoe must strategically retreat when overwhelmed, while Yasuke thrives in direct confrontation. This prevents the combat-focused drift seen in recent titles.
Yet critical questions remain: Does this radical departure serve the franchise's identity? While Naoe delivers a near-perfect Assassin's Creed experience with improved parkour and classic stealth, Yasuke often feels like playing a different game. His Samurai fantasy provides thrilling combat, but sacrifices the spatial freedom and strategic planning that define the series.
AnswerSee ResultsUltimately, while Yasuke offers exhilarating combat, Naoe provides what feels like true Assassin's Creed gameplay—masterful movement, calculated stealth, and the vertical freedom that made the series unique. The duality succeeds in offering variety, but reinforces why the franchise's core mechanics remain compelling after seventeen years.
