Summary
- AC Shadows has distinctive dual protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, offering variety in playstyles.
- Players can seamlessly switch between Naoe and Yasuke, always prepared for any situation.
- Naoe excels in stealth, while Yasuke is a powerhouse, allowing players to tailor their approach.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows has brought a great number of changes to the series’ formula — improving systems, downgrading systems, and even outright removing some. Among all of those unique features, though, its dual protagonists are perhaps the most significant additions. While players begin the game with Naoe, Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ stealth specialist, once they unlock Yasuke as a playable character, they are introduced to a brand-new way to play the game. From there, so long as they take advantage of the tools provided them, they can tackle any challenge with ease.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows isn’t the first game in the series to feature dual protagonists, as Assassin’s Creed Syndicate beat it to the punch there. However, unlike Assassin’s Creed Syndicate‘s Jacob and Evie Frye, who were largely interchangeable, Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ Naoe and Yasuke are more distinct in their playstyles, offering players more variety when it comes to how they approach situations in the game. Additionally, players can seamlessly swap between Naoe and Yasuke in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, meaning they are always equipped for whatever a situation calls for and are never left high and dry.
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AC Shadows’ Protagonists Offer Seamless Transition Between Two Distinct Playstyles
Players Can Switch Between Naoe and Yasuke Seamlessly
Many games that feature playable dual protagonists often place limitations on when those protagonists can be exchanged for the other, but Assassin’s Creed Shadows allows for such a seamless transition between the two that it feels like they are both always present and ready to be called upon. After completing the “Mibuno Showdown” quest in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, players unlock the ability to switch between Naoe and Yasuke at will. They can do so through the game’s Inventory menu, where an option appears that allows them to swap between the characters, but they are also prompted to choose their character upon fast-traveling between Viewpoints in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Since Naoe and Yasuke both represent a specific playstyle, the ability players have to seamlessly switch between the two characters allows them to tailor their playstyle according to the situation they are faced with or preparing to face.
AC Shadows’ Protagonists Equip Players for Any Situation
As the Assassin’s Creed series has been criticized for leaning too heavily into action-oriented gameplay in more recent entries, it’s clear that the purpose of Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ dual protagonists is to bridge the gap between the franchise’s classic stealth-based gameplay and its modern action gameplay by offering them both to players simultaneously. This is what makes the ability Assassin’s Creed Shadows gives players to swap between the two of them at will so valuable, as it ultimately means they can not only approach any situation in the way that they want but also that they are well-equipped for any challenge.
Naoe and Yasuke are both so distinct in their playstyles that players are encouraged to put plenty of thought into the challenges they are about to face before they face them. Naoe excels at stealth and is quite vulnerable in open combat, whereas Yasuke is a lumbering brute who underperforms in stealth and parkour and yet can overpower any enemies in his path. As such, with the ability players have to quickly and freely switch between the two protagonists depending on what a situation calls for, they can emerge victorious without needing to ensure only one character has the right tools and skills for the job.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ Naoe and Yasuke are more distinct in their playstyles, offering players more variety when it comes to how they approach situations in the game.
By giving players the freedom to switch between two characters with clearly defined strengths and weaknesses, Assassin’s Creed Shadows effectively kills one bird with two stones, in a manner of speaking. With one character who specializes in stealth and another who specializes in strength and raw power, Assassin’s Creed Shadows honors the series’ stealth roots but also furthers its evolution, allowing players to engage with challenges in a way that feels more efficient and personalized than the series has ever been.
- Released
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March 20, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
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