Assassin's Creed Shadows' Two Characters Will Satisfy Both Old and New Fans on PS5 | Push Square

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The Assassin's Creed series got its start with a heavy emphasis on stealth, and while it stuck with that formula for many games, it eventually pivoted to a full-on action RPG. Whether you're into the earlier titles, the larger-scale RPGs, or both, this shift has resulted in a somewhat split fanbase. Assassin's Creed Shadows, with its duo of protagonists, feels as though it's addressing this issue head on, with the pair representing these two contrasting approaches.

In a live gameplay presentation, we were shown three different ways of tackling the same assassination. Set in Japan's Azuchi-Momoyama period, a time of great political turmoil, our pair of heroes are tasked with entering a vast castle town to take down an oppressive daimyo. Once you're inside, you're able to begin the mission with either character: Naoe, a nimble shinobi who's best suited to the series' classic stealth approach, or Yasuke, a powerful samurai who's all about the action.

Naoe's gameplay is very reminiscent of older Assassin's Creed titles; she's using a grapple hook to reach rooftops, clambering over walls, and striking from the shadows to take out her target without raising the alarm. This more thoughtful approach is aided by equipment like kunai, which she can use to extinguish lights to stay hidden, and options such as non-lethal takedowns. This portion of the demonstration felt like the AC we remember, albeit in a gorgeous new setting.

Of course, Yasuke's approach through the castle town is very different. His armour and larger stature means he can't flit around like Naoe can, so instead he has to walk the main path, which means ploughing through a whole bunch of baddies. Using his tetsubo, a large blunt weapon adorned with spikes, Yasuke's combat starts off extremely brutal, with slow, heavy blows that smash enemies into the ground with brutal force. Finishers are particularly violent, with heads popping off shoulders and blood staining every surface. He also wields a rifle for some