Assassin’s Creed Shadows offers the best of two signature playstyles

by

Following an extended pause, Ubisoft is all set to narrate the tale of two unique characters from the Sengoku era of Japan. Assassin’s Creed Shadows combines the stories of the ninja warrior Naoe and the African samurai champion Yasuke. Each character represents distinct gameplay styles that have become synonymous with the extended Assassin’s Creed series. As a whole, they lead players on an enhanced adventure that promises to shape the franchise’s upcoming direction. In the run-up to its release, Shacknews was given a sneak peek into this voyage across Feudal Japan.

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the narrative unfolds around two principal characters. Initially, you encounter Yasuke, a legendary African samurai, who was originally known as Diogo. He was discovered drifting at sea by Portuguese Jesuits on their way to Japan. They brought him along to meet Lord Oda Nobunaga, hoping to gain permission for their priests to operate in his territory. Initially uninterested, Nobunaga is captivated by the mysterious, tall stranger. Impressed, he grants the Jesuits’ request, but only on condition that Diogo remains with him. Six months later, Diogo has been renamed Yasuke and rapidly becomes a formidable samurai warrior.

In this setting, gamers discover how to control the newly-named character Yasuke. He excels in combat reminiscent of Assassin’s Creed, capable of handling large two-handed weapons and delivering blows as powerful as an ox. He can swiftly defeat smaller adversaries and stand firm against larger ones. Although vanquishing smaller enemies can be enjoyable, the prologue involving Yasuke suppressing a rebellion in the village of Iga underscores the importance of strategic combat. Besides learning various weapons, aspiring samurais are also instructed in parrying, blocking, switching targets, and performing multiple hit combos. Due to his size, Yasuke lacks agility when navigating rooftops or showcasing parkour skills, as demonstrated during a later sequence where he pursues an escaping NPC. Consequently, Yasuke tends to adopt a direct approach by entering objective areas through the main entrance. If no entrance is accessible, he will usually create one by breaking through fortified doors.

In another key role in Shadows, we meet Naoe Fujibayashi. Initially, she appears among those opposing Iga’s rebellion. Her father plays a pivotal role in rallying the villagers against Oba Nobunaga’s invading army. Unfortunately, the samurai forces swiftly overpower the local residents, leading to Naoe witnessing her father’s death before her very eyes. This tragic event intensifies Naoe’s resolve as a warrior, pushing her towards protecting her people and seeking vengeance for her father’s murder, as she is skilled in shinobi tactics.

Naoe excels in embodying another key aspect of Assassin’s Creed gameplay. She is proficient in parkour and stealth techniques. She can blend seamlessly into the darkness, tall vegetation, and even submerge underwater. Should an adversary approach, she can swiftly execute them from various positions. This could involve a sudden strike from above using her grappling hook to catapult herself onto nearby rooftops quickly. Given her smaller stature compared to Yasuke, she relies more on her agility to dodge incoming attacks and gradually exhaust her opponents over time.

In our sneak peek, we jump ahead in the tale, leaving out the section where Yasuke and Naoe transition from adversaries during Iga’s rebellion to unified allies pursuing a shared objective. It seems we’ll join the gaming community in discovering how this part of their story unfolds.

In this latter part of the tale, the players encounter different personalities while dealing with an increasingly fragile alliance between the Ukita clan and Lord Hideyoshi’s troops. This partnership is on the brink of collapse due to the abduction of a young boy named Hideie Naoie, who is also a lord’s son. Suspicious circumstances surround his kidnapping, and it doesn’t take long for Yasuke and Naoe to suspect foul play. As they work to rescue the child, players must simultaneously unravel the mystery behind this audacious act.

In Shadows, it’s crucial to collect information for progress. Players should engage with key characters, eavesdrop on non-player conversations, and enlist informants from nearby settlements who can aid in advancing the plot. Discovering tasks isn’t always simple. Sometimes, the location of the next task is hinted at through a sequence of clues that need to be solved by examining the game map first. Throughout the game, players are also encouraged to use their instincts. Characters Naoe and Yasuke can press the left shoulder button to scrutinize their environment, uncovering new data, potential contacts, or concealed treasures.

During this sneak peek at Assassin’s Creed Shadows, we only scratched the surface of what’s to come. Many parts of the game were not shown during this session, such as customizable player hideouts where players can develop extensive networks of informants to gather intel and uncover objectives and side missions. Additionally, most of my preview was focused on Yasuke, but keep in mind that playing as Naoe will offer different cutscenes and experiences. The game allows you to switch characters at specific moments or through the pause menu. Lastly, Shadows is set to introduce seasonal changes and weather systems, which will affect field conditions and the behavior of non-player characters.

Get ready for a thrilling adventure in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, an experience that will differ based on how you choose to play it. The day of its release is fast approaching – mark your calendars, the game launches on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on March 20th.

Here’s what you can expect from this sneak peek as it’s derived from a preliminary PC edition that I accessed online. Keep in mind, the finished game might undergo some alterations.

Read More

2025-01-23 20:27