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

With a renewed focus on the core ideas that the series was built upon, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows delivers the most satisfying experience the franchise has seen in years. The game introduces a parkour system that's the best since Unity, allowing you to seamlessly transition from ground level to castle rooftops. The addition of a grappling hook makes reaching high vantage points even quicker. Perched on a tightrope high above your foes, you're just a drop away from executing the perfect kill—as long as you're playing as Naoe, that is. Switch to Yasuke, the game's second protagonist, and you'll find yourself in a completely different gameplay experience.

Yasuke is slow, clumsy, and incapable of silent kills. His climbing skills are more akin to those of a cautious grandparent than an agile assassin. He represents a stark contrast to the typical Assassin's Creed protagonist, making him both a baffling and fascinating design choice by Ubisoft. Playing as Yasuke shifts the game away from the traditional Assassin’s Creed experience.

Initially, the significant difference between Yasuke’s capabilities and the series' core philosophy felt frustrating. What's the purpose of an Assassin’s Creed protagonist who struggles to climb and can't perform silent takedowns? Yet, the more I played as him, the more I appreciated the merit in his design. Despite his flaws, Yasuke addresses important issues that the series has faced in recent years.

You won't play as Yasuke until several hours into the campaign, after spending your initial time controlling Naoe, a swift shinobi who embodies the assassin archetype better than any protagonist has in a decade. Transitioning to Yasuke after mastering Naoe's skills can be jarring. This towering samurai is too large and noisy to sneak through enemy camps effectively and struggles with climbing anything beyond his reach. His inability to easily access high vantage points means he lacks the vision necessary to plan and execute stealthy maneuvers. Unlike Naoe, who has Eagle Vision to highlight enemies, Yasuke has no such tool, forcing players to rely solely on his raw strength.

Assassin’s Creed has always been about stealthy kills and vertical exploration, concepts that Yasuke directly opposes. Playing as him feels more akin to Ghost of Tsushima than Assassin’s Creed, especially with his focus on samurai sword combat rather than stealth. Yasuke encourages players to rethink how they approach the game. While previous protagonists could climb anywhere effortlessly, Yasuke's limited climbing abilities introduce a new challenge. Careful observation of the environment reveals hidden pathways designed specifically for him, such as leaning tree trunks or open castle windows, which add an intriguing layer of puzzle-solving to the gameplay.

However, these pathways only lead Yasuke to his objectives and restrict his freedom for general exploration. His inability to gain high ground makes it difficult to observe enemy patrols, and his only stealth ability, the "Brutal Assassination," is more of a combat opener than a true stealth move. Yet, when combat does break out, Shadows offers the best swordplay the series has seen in over a decade. Each strike is purposeful, and the variety of techniques, from rush attacks to ripostes, enhances the combat experience. The finishing moves are brutal and impactful, contrasting sharply with Naoe's stealthy approach.

The separation of combat and stealth into two distinct characters prevents the blending of styles seen in previous games like Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla. Naoe's fragility forces players to engage in stealth loops, while Yasuke's strength allows for prolonged combat. His skill tree, unlocking over time, adds depth to his combat prowess.

Despite the intention behind Yasuke's design, it's challenging to reconcile him with the traditional Assassin’s Creed ethos of stealth and vertical exploration. While past protagonists like Bayek and Eivor ventured into action territory, they still adhered to the series' core mechanics. Yasuke, fittingly as a samurai, struggles with these core elements, making it difficult to experience Assassin’s Creed as intended while playing as him.

The real challenge for Yasuke is his counterpart, Naoe. Mechanically, she is the best Assassin’s Creed protagonist in years, with a stealth toolkit perfectly complemented by the verticality of Sengoku Period Japan's architecture. Naoe embodies the series' promise of being a highly mobile silent killer. Even the design changes that affect Yasuke's climbing benefit Naoe, requiring players to assess routes and use her grappling hook thoughtfully. Her combat, while as ruthless as Yasuke's, demands a different approach due to her relative fragility.

Ubisoft's attempt to offer two distinct playstyles with Yasuke and Naoe is admirable but presents a double-edged sword. Yasuke's unique approach creates a compelling contrast to the series' norms, offering a fresh experience. However, it also opposes the foundational ideas of stealth and vertical exploration that make Assassin’s Creed unique. While I'll return to Yasuke for the thrill of his combat, it's through Naoe that I'll truly explore Shadows' world, feeling the essence of what it means to play Assassin’s Creed.