Assassin’s Creed: Shadows: Historian Spots Minor Innacuracy

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In a fresh video shared by Gamology, the esteemed author and Japanese history enthusiast, Walt Mussell, offers his insights on preliminary footage from Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, developed by Ubisoft. The clip showcases the initial gameplay of its dual protagonists, Naoe, a stealthy shinobi who skillfully assassinates opponents and traverses rooftops, and Yasuke, who takes down groups of enemies in broad daylight. While some have raised concerns about certain characters featured in this upcoming title, they may find their doubts alleviated after listening to Mussell’s perspective.

Historian finds minor inaccuracy in Assassin’s Creed: Shadows portrayal of Japanese samurai

Ever since the characters of Assassin’s Creed: Shadows were unveiled a year ago, some fans have shown a noticeable split in opinion, to put it mildly. What sets Yasuke apart in the annals of Assassin’s Creed games is that he’s the first historical figure to be a playable character. Detailed scrutiny has been lavished on the early trailers by some fans, who have spotted anomalies like the Oda family crest being displayed upside down. However, it’s worth noting that figures like Elon Musk have expressed reservations about the game for other reasons.

During his analysis of “Assassin’s Creed: Shadows” gameplay, historian Walt Mussell addressed several queries and observations. Regarding a question about whether there were female shinobi in central Japan, he stated: “Typically, shinobi in that region were male, but it’s worth noting that during the service of Yasuke to Oda Nobunaga, he ventured into the territory of the Takeda clan, and legend has it that the Takeda clan had female shinobi.” This implies that a character like Naoe might be plausible within the game’s historical context.

As a gamer, let me share a captivating tale about Yasuke and the assassination of Oda Nobunaga that Mussell mentioned. Back then, I was one of Nobunaga’s most trusted guards, Yasuke. When the unthinkable happened, and Nobunaga found himself surrounded by enemies, he chose to end his life. It was my duty to ensure the safety of his succession after that fateful day.

However, things weren’t as straightforward as they seemed. A traitor named Akechi Mitsuhide needed Nobunaga’s head to strengthen his claim as the new shogun. To achieve this, he planned a cunning scheme. Instead of letting him have it, I managed to secure and deliver Nobunaga’s head to his son.

The question remains: How did a foreigner, towering over everyone around me, manage to carry out such a discreet mission? The answer is lost in the annals of history, but it’s just the kind of mystery that could make for an exciting adventure in an Assassin’s Creed game!

Mussell expresses delight in Yasuke’s portrayal, stating that “watching him in this role is one of my favorite things. For fifteen months, he was with Nobunaga and altered the direction of Japanese history.” If Yasuke hadn’t delivered Nobunaga’s head to his son, and Akechi Mitsuhide had used it to seize power instead, the history of Japan would have been significantly different.

What troubled Mussell about the gameplay was a particular weapon carried by Yasuke – a kanabo, resembling a Japanese-style mace. However, the problem lies in its historical accuracy because the kanabo is typically associated with the 14th century, not the 16th century, the time period of Assassin’s Creed: Shadows. Mussell found it unusual, or as he put it, “It’s a bit out of place historically, not impossible, just unusual.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but feel the anticipation growing for “Assassin’s Creed: Shadows,” given the buzz it’s generating among our community. Unfortunately, the game’s release has been pushed back twice – from November to February, and then again from February to March. Given Ubisoft’s recent string of underperforming titles, there’s a sense that the success of “Shadows” could be crucial for their future. With fingers crossed, we can only wait and see how fans react and what impact that might have on the game’s performance.

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2025-01-29 23:32