Assassin’s Creed Shadows has the best stealth of any game in the franchise.

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In the world of Assassin’s Creed, stealth plays a significant role, and after spending eight hours with Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, it’s clear that its stealth mechanics are likely to surpass any other game in the series, making for an exceptional experience.

Initially, when Shadows was unveiled, it was disclosed that parkour, exploration, and movement would undergo significant enhancement. This announcement sparked a range of positive feedback, yet we approached it with a touch of reserve. After all, the reason Assassin’s Creed has become such a renowned series isn’t primarily due to its storylines.

The ability to traverse the extensive environments of Assassin’s Creed games is one of the main reasons they are popular, and Shadows significantly enhances this aspect. Whether you gallop through Japan on horseback as Yasuke or stealthily move through Naoe’s base, this game has polished its stealth and exploration features to a high degree. Playing with both characters feels like an enjoyable dream because of these improvements.

At a preview event, we dispatched Eleni and Jess, two of our writers, to test the game. They had an opportunity to explore the characters Naoe and Yasuke, and here’s what they found: Both characters were impressive, but in distinct ways.

Naoe

Playing stealthily has always been my preferred approach when playing Assassin’s Creed games. Consequently, it was only natural for me to lean towards Naoe, the agile among Shadow’s two main characters.

In a nutshell, when Syndicate presented the option between the bold Jacob Frye or his cunning sibling Evie, I usually went for the latter. Initially, I had some reservations about how Naoe would deliver an authentic stealth experience that sets it apart from past installments, considering the series has previously experimented with this approach through Evie Frye. However, I was delightfully surprised by her stealthy tactics and distinct abilities.

Throughout my playthrough, I never felt the urge to pause or shift focus from Naoe, instead, I was compelled to push her boundaries. Her performance, particularly with the enhanced stealth due to the novel prone mechanics and upgraded parkour, significantly boosted her agility within the series.

From the shadows as my Shinobi character, Naoe, I swiftly and silently dismantle entire castles filled with foes without ever being detected. The latest addition to my arsenal, a grappling hook, has become not just a tool but a defining feature of who I am in this Assassin’s Creed world. With it, I scale towering structures with an agility and speed that leaves me breathless – and the castles trembling – as if they were mere seconds-old sandcastles compared to the mastery I’ve gained over them in this game.

What I found most thrilling was the moment I deployed the grapple gun to traverse a structure, soar through the sky, and land stealthily on an adversary before executing them. The animation that ensued was incredibly gratifying, prompting me to repeat this action numerous times whenever possible.

While checking through the mission earlier, it was revealed that I needed to move through a colossal castle teeming with adversaries. With Naoe’s grappling hook and her swiftness in climbing structures, this scenario seemed ideal for demonstrating her stealth capabilities.

Playing as Yasuke, I found it tough to navigate through that difficult part of the game; however, Naoe’s moveset significantly eased the challenge for me.

Additionally, Shadows skillfully employs several traditional stealth techniques from the series, including Eagle Vision, which enhances her ability to blend seamlessly with her surroundings.

What particularly caught my attention during the four-hour playthrough of Shadows as Naoe was the fact that the developers didn’t just adjust her abilities to make her suitable for stealth-oriented segments, but rather, they crafted a character who authentically embodies the role of a skilled Assassin.

Naoe’s tranquil and composed personality offers a clear insight into the type of protagonist she represents in Assassin’s Creed. Despite not brandishing a large sword like Yasuke, it doesn’t diminish her lethal capabilities. Whether it’s the hidden blade on her wrist or the precise use of throwing knives, Naoe is always equipped and ready for battle.

Yasuke clearly stands his ground in close quarters fighting, whereas Naoe seems to struggle when dealing with multiple opponents simultaneously. In an attempt to be more assertive as Naoe, I found myself repeatedly dying and having to start over numerous times during the demo.

Although her swiftness allows for effective defense and evasion of enemy attacks, she doesn’t exhibit the same ferocity or effortlessness in defeating opponents, particularly when confronting some of the game’s bigger adversaries, compared to Yasuke.

Her background resonated with me as that of another beloved character, Ezio. The deep affection she shows towards her family, especially her father, adds an appealing aspect, and I anticipate it will be the emotional core driving her storyline. Immediately, my curiosity was piqued, eager to discover her identity and place within her own world.

Words by Eleni Thomas

Yasuke

When considering Assassin’s Creed, one immediately associates it with stealthy moves, concealed blades, and, naturally, assassins. But surprisingly, removing these essential features doesn’t automatically lead to failure for the character, contrary to what might be initially thought.

Let’s introduce Yasuke, who serves as the protagonist in Assassin’s Creed Shadows alongside other characters. This man was once a slave, but he transformed into an accomplished samurai under the tutelage of a noble lord. Unlike Naoe, his weaponry is distinct. His katanas and additional tools are larger, more formidable, sometimes slower, yet they pack a greater punch.

Yasuke is another main character in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. He was once a slave but became a powerful samurai after being trained by a lord. Unlike Naoe, he uses larger and more intimidating weapons that can be slower, but they are much more powerful.

Undeniably, due to his background and construction, Yasuke possesses a remarkable resilience compared to Naoe. This means he can endure an attack from five shinobi without being defeated, though it’s worth noting that he also restores a bit of his health whenever he takes a life.

Indeed, we’ve encountered powerful characters in the series before, like Jacob Frye and those from Odyssey, but Yasuke seems unique this time. He’s more robust, swifter, and more proficient than his predecessors. His fighting style appears well-developed, offering a refreshing change from previous games that focused more on stealth for newcomers who might not prefer it as much.

As a gamer, I’ve always been accustomed to the franchise’s signature gameplay – scaling buildings, adopting diverse combat styles like dodging and parrying, and infiltrating fortified strongholds stealthily. Yet, Assassin’s Creed Shadows breathes fresh air into this familiar territory by blending the close-quarter fights of Odyssey with the long-range weaponry of Syndicate. Honestly, I never imagined feeling this way, but Shadows has rekindled my enthusiasm for playing Assassin’s Creed as a character who isn’t an Assassin himself.

Words by Jessica Filby

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2025-01-24 02:36