Assassin's Creed Shadows introduces a groundbreaking dual protagonist system, a first for the franchise. Yasuke, the Samurai, and Naoe, the Shinobi, offer vastly different playstyles, strengths, and weaknesses. Choosing the right character depends heavily on your approach to the game.
Yasuke the Samurai: Pros and Cons
Yasuke presents a unique and powerful gameplay experience. His samurai skills make him a formidable force in open combat, reminiscent of a Dark Souls boss. His strength and crowd control abilities allow him to effortlessly dispatch numerous base enemies and even higher-tier foes like the Daimyo patrolling castles. He's also proficient with a bow and arrow, offering effective ranged combat options.
However, Yasuke's strengths are balanced by his limitations. His assassinations are slower and leave him vulnerable, unlike the more agile assassins of previous games. His parkour abilities are also restricted, making exploration and reaching synchronization points challenging, sometimes even impossible.
Naoe the Shinobi: Pros and Cons
Naoe embodies the classic Assassin's Creed stealth assassin. Her agility and parkour skills make her incredibly nimble, excelling at traversal and remaining undetected. Investing mastery points into assassin and shinobi skills further enhances her stealth capabilities, allowing for seamless hidden blade takedowns and aerial assassinations.
Conversely, Naoe's lower health and weaker melee abilities make direct combat risky. Facing multiple enemies can quickly overwhelm her, making stealth and evasion crucial. When detected, prioritizing escape and regaining anonymity is often the best strategy.
When to Play as Each Protagonist
Character selection in Assassin's Creed Shadows often depends on personal preference and story constraints. However, specific situations favor each protagonist.
Use Naoe for exploration and discovery. Her superior mobility makes her ideal for clearing the fog of war, synchronizing viewpoints, and uncovering the secrets of feudal Japan. She's also effective for assassinations, especially after investing in relevant skills.
For combat-heavy situations, especially against powerful enemies like Daimyo in castles, Yasuke's raw power and combat prowess shine. He excels in both open combat and brutal assassinations, making him the better choice for acquiring high-value loot.
Ultimately, the best protagonist often comes down to personal preference – do you prefer classic Assassin's Creed stealth or the more RPG-focused combat? Both characters are viable, offering unique and engaging gameplay experiences.
Assassin's Creed Shadows is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on March 20th.
