Playing As Yasuke in Shadows Doesn’t Feel Like Assassin’s Creed, He’s Something New

With a renewed focus on the core principles that originally defined the series, *Assassin's Creed Shadows* delivers the most satisfying experience the franchise has seen in years. The game's parkour system, the best since *Unity*, allows players to seamlessly navigate from the ground to castle rooftops. The addition of a grappling hook further enhances the speed and thrill of reaching those perfect vantage points. Perched high above the enemy on a tightrope, you're poised for the ideal assassination—assuming you're playing as Naoe, that is. Switch to Yasuke, the game's second protagonist, and you're thrust into an entirely different gameplay experience.

Yasuke is slow, clumsy, and incapable of silent kills. His climbing abilities are more akin to those of a cautious grandparent than a nimble assassin. This design choice by Ubisoft is both baffling and fascinating, as playing as Yasuke feels distinctly un-*Assassin's Creed*-like. Initially, the stark contrast between Yasuke’s capabilities and the series' traditional stealth and parkour ethos was frustrating. Why include a protagonist who can barely climb and is unable to perform stealthy takedowns? However, the more I played as him, the more I appreciated the unique perspective he brings to the series.

You don't encounter Yasuke until several hours into the campaign, following a brief appearance in the prologue. This initial phase is spent entirely with Naoe, a swift shinobi who embodies the quintessential assassin better than any protagonist has in a decade. The transition to Yasuke after mastering Naoe's agility is jarring. Yasuke, a towering samurai, struggles to sneak through enemy camps and can barely scale anything above his head. His slow, deliberate climbing and precarious balancing on rooftops introduce significant friction, making vertical navigation a laborious task.

While not entirely forced to stay grounded, Yasuke is certainly encouraged to do so. This limitation restricts his ability to survey the landscape and plan strategically. Unlike Naoe, who can use Eagle Vision to highlight enemies, Yasuke has no such advantage, relying solely on his raw strength. This approach starkly contrasts with *Assassin's Creed*'s emphasis on stealth and vertical exploration.

Playing as Yasuke feels more akin to *Ghost of Tsushima* than *Assassin's Creed*, especially given his lack of stealth training and reliance on samurai combat skills. This shift challenges players to rethink traditional *Assassin's Creed* gameplay. Historically, the series has allowed protagonists to climb almost anywhere effortlessly, but Yasuke's limited reach and prescribed pathways introduce a new level of challenge and strategic planning. For instance, a leaning tree trunk or an open window can become crucial routes to objectives, adding an intriguing layer to navigation.

Yasuke's design focuses on combat rather than exploration. His only stealth-related skill, the "Brutal Assassination," is more of a combat opener than a discreet takedown. Yet, when combat ensues, *Shadows* offers the best swordplay the series has seen in over a decade. Each strike is purposeful, with a variety of techniques ranging from rush attacks to satisfying ripostes, culminating in dramatic finishing moves.

The separation of combat and stealth into two distinct characters ensures that each playstyle remains unique. Naoe's fragility forces players to engage in a continuous cycle of stealth and repositioning, while Yasuke's strength allows for direct confrontations. This dual-protagonist system prevents the action-oriented approach that dominated *Origins*, *Odyssey*, and *Valhalla*, offering a balanced gameplay experience.

Despite the strong intention behind Yasuke's design, his place within the *Assassin's Creed* universe remains contentious. The series is built on stealth and vertical exploration, elements that Yasuke directly opposes. While previous protagonists like Bayek and Eivor veered towards action, they still retained the fundamental abilities of an assassin. Yasuke, fittingly as a samurai, struggles with these core elements, making it challenging to engage in traditional *Assassin's Creed* gameplay while controlling him.

The real challenge Yasuke faces is Naoe's superior design. Mechanically, Naoe is the best protagonist the series has seen in years. Her stealth toolkit is perfectly complemented by the towering architecture of Sengoku Period Japan, allowing for an experience that truly fulfills the promise of *Assassin's Creed*: becoming a highly mobile silent killer. Naoe's climbing has been refined to be more realistic, requiring strategic route planning and anchor points for her grappling hook, yet she remains agile and fast, embodying the essence of *Assassin's Creed* exploration.

Naoe's combat is just as impactful as Yasuke's, though she cannot endure prolonged battles. This raises the question: why play as Yasuke when Naoe offers a more complete *Assassin's Creed* experience? Ubisoft's attempt to offer two distinct playstyles with Yasuke and Naoe is commendable, creating a unique and compelling experience. Yet, Yasuke's design opposes the core ideas of the series. While I'll occasionally return to Yasuke for his thrilling combat, it's through Naoe that I'll truly immerse myself in *Shadows*' world, feeling the essence of *Assassin's Creed* with every move.