Despite the recent delay, Ubisoft decided to give journalists an early look at Assassin’s Creed Shadows. A few lucky game critics got to visit Ubisoft Quebec’s office and check out the build. After several hours of gameplay, their first impressions were all positive.
Here’s the breakdown of what went down:
The gameplay session was split into three parts: an hour-long prologue, four hours exploring the open world and doing main quests, and one hour managing a hideout. Right from the start, Assassin’s Creed Shadows feels way more cinematic than previous entries. Ubisoft claims the game has over 700 cutscenes! The story isn’t fully fleshed out yet, though, as it was shown in pieces. It looks like the protagonists start on opposite sides of the conflict, but we didn’t get to see how they eventually team up in the demo.
Parkour and Stealth Mechanics: Some Cool, Some Weird
Journalists were pretty stoked about the parkour mechanics, although they don’t feel quite as fluid as the classic Assassin’s Creed games, especially when there aren’t massive open spaces. There are plenty of buildings you can’t climb without a grappling hook, which can interrupt the flow. The agile Naoe feels like a parkour pro, but Yasuke, with his bulky armor, is a bit more comical. He can still pull off parkour and stealth, but it’s definitely more of a struggle and often a bit amusing.
Character Differences: A Split Between Stealth and Brawling
One of the coolest features of Shadows is the way each protagonist plays. Naoe is all about stealth, blending into shadows and taking enemies down quietly, while Yasuke is your go-to guy for big fights. Yasuke excels at charging through enemies with brute strength, while Naoe will have to think carefully to avoid being overwhelmed in open combat. This gives the game a nice mix of classic stealth gameplay and newer action-RPG mechanics.
Two Protagonists, Two Playstyles
The devs are clearly trying to satisfy two different fanbases with Shadows. If you love sneaking around with a hidden blade, you’ll vibe with Naoe. If you’re more about big sword fights and epic battles, Yasuke’s your dude. It’s a smart approach that feels like a solid mix of the old and the new, catering to players who love both playstyles.
Managing the Hideout: Your Own Personal HQ
At some point in the game, Naoe and Yasuke get their own hideout to manage, filling it with recruited NPCs and story characters. The hideout’s mechanics are similar to the Viking settlement from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, but it has more customization options. Players can build and upgrade structures, making the hideout feel like their own little personal space.
Open World: Less Overwhelming, More Surprises
The open world in Shadows doesn’t bombard you with map markers at the start. Instead, new points of interest appear gradually as you explore. This makes the world feel less cluttered and more rewarding to explore.
Yasuke’s Honor: He Fights Fair
A cool detail about Yasuke’s character is that he won’t attack enemies from behind. He’ll always call out to them first, then engage in battle, which adds a layer of respect and honor to his character.
Switching Between Characters: It Works, But…
In the open world, you can switch between Naoe and Yasuke on the fly, but it’s not always available during story missions. The devs have said the missions are designed so either character can work, but there are some instances where one feels more suitable than the other. For example, in one mission, I had to go to a temple to rescue a kid, but I got ambushed by a bunch of ninjas. As Naoe, I was quickly overwhelmed, but as Yasuke, I could have wiped the floor with them.
It’s a minor issue, but it shows how sometimes the game can push you toward one character when you might not expect it.
Final Thoughts: A Good Blend of Old and New
Overall, Assassin’s Creed Shadows seems to be a great balance between the stealth of the older games and the action of the newer ones. Naoe and Yasuke each bring something unique to the table, and the way Ubisoft is merging these two styles could be a hit with fans of all kinds. It’s shaping up to be a solid game, and I can’t wait to see more.
