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

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 seen in years. The game features the best parkour system since *Unity*, allowing you to seamlessly transition from the ground to castle rooftops. The addition of a grappling hook enhances your ability to reach prime vantage points quickly. When you're perched high above on a tightrope, you're just a drop away from executing the perfect assassination—provided you’re playing as Naoe, the game's swift shinobi protagonist. However, switching to Yasuke, the game's second protagonist, shifts the gameplay entirely.

Yasuke is slow, clumsy, and lacks the ability to kill silently. His climbing is cumbersome, making him feel like the antithesis of 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 abilities and the traditional Assassin’s Creed gameplay was frustrating. What's the point of a protagonist who can barely climb and can’t perform silent takedowns? Yet, the more I played as Yasuke, the more I appreciated his unique design. Despite his flaws, Yasuke addresses some of the issues the series has faced in recent years.

You don’t get to play as Yasuke until several hours into the campaign, after spending time with Naoe, who epitomizes the assassin archetype better than any protagonist in a decade. Switching to Yasuke is jarring; his size and noise make stealth nearly impossible, and his climbing is severely limited. He can't easily reach high vantage points, which hampers his ability to survey and strategize effectively. Unlike Naoe, Yasuke lacks Eagle Vision, forcing him to rely solely on his brute strength.

Assassin’s Creed has always been about stealthy kills and vertical exploration, principles that Yasuke directly opposes. Playing as him feels more akin to *Ghost of Tsushima* than Assassin’s Creed, emphasizing fierce combat over stealth. Yasuke's design challenges players to rethink the series’ traditional gameplay. While past protagonists could climb anywhere effortlessly, Yasuke's limitations introduce new challenges. The environment includes hidden pathways designed specifically for him, requiring careful observation and planning to reach objectives.

Yasuke’s combat is exceptional, featuring the best 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, adds depth to the combat. His "Brutal Assassination" skill, while not stealthy, serves as a powerful opening move for combat. The separation of combat and stealth between Yasuke and Naoe ensures a balanced gameplay experience, preventing the action-heavy approach seen in *Origins*, *Odyssey*, and *Valhalla*.

Yasuke's design, while intentional, struggles to fit within the Assassin’s Creed framework. The series is built on stealth and vertical exploration, elements Yasuke lacks. While his samurai background justifies his combat focus, it means you can’t play the game in the traditional Assassin’s Creed style when controlling him.

The real challenge for Yasuke is Naoe. She is mechanically the best Assassin’s Creed protagonist in years, her stealth toolkit perfectly complemented by the verticality of Sengoku Period Japan’s architecture. Naoe embodies the promise of Assassin’s Creed: becoming a highly mobile, silent killer. Even her combat, while less enduring than Yasuke’s, feels impactful and violent, benefiting from the same swordplay enhancements.

Naoe also benefits from design changes that affect Yasuke, requiring players to assess climbing routes and find anchor points for her grappling hook. This creates a more realistic yet still exhilarating experience that turns the open world into an Assassin’s Creed sandbox. With Naoe, the game feels true to its roots, prompting the question: why play as Yasuke when Naoe offers the quintessential Assassin’s Creed experience?

Ubisoft’s intention to offer two distinct playstyles with Yasuke and Naoe creates a double-edged sword. Yasuke introduces a unique gameplay experience, diverging from the series’ foundational principles. While his combat is thrilling, it's through Naoe that players will truly explore and enjoy the world of *Shadows*. When playing as Naoe, you feel like you’re truly playing Assassin’s Creed.