Assassin’s Creed Shadows Preview – Full of Possibilities and More Importantly, Hope

Assassin's Creed Shadows Preview - Full of Possibilities and More Importantly, Hope

The wait has been long, but the Assassin’s Creed franchise is finally heading to feudal Japan. With Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft faces one of its most ambitious undertakings yet—bringing to life a setting that fans have dreamed about for years.

Given the anticipation, the development team knew they had to get every detail just right. From the moment you step into the shoes of Naoe or Yasuke, the world needs to feel immersive, dynamic, and true to the historical era—all while remaining fun to explore.

“We all look at each of the regions in terms of a theme, to make sure that when you enter a place, we have a different vibe, different tone,” shared Luc Plante, art director at Ubisoft Quebec. “So it’s always bringing something fresh into the experience, but at the same time allowing us to make sure that we balance every location, every side activity, to give the player the time to look at their map, what they can do, what they want to do, create their own agency.”

A Familiar Yet Evolved Open World

In our four-hour hands-on PC preview set in the Harima region, the familiar open-world structure of recent Assassin’s Creed titles was evident — sprawling provinces filled with activities, side quests, and, of course, a gripping main story. While concerns about content bloat remain, our early experience showed a well-balanced mix of must-do and optional tasks.

A standout change is the emphasis on exploration and deduction. Instead of straightforward quest markers, players must uncover clues and gather intelligence, similar to the Exploration Mode seen in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Allies and scouts play an integral role in this, feeding into a base-building system that, while not showcased in our preview, promises deeper gameplay.

Dual Protagonists: Stealth vs. Combat

The biggest shift in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is its dual protagonist system, allowing players to choose between Naoe and Yasuke for different missions. This system is designed to cater to both stealth and combat enthusiasts, ensuring each character brings something unique to the table.

“With those two archetypes, we push the boundaries further for each with the new tools and AI reactions. So when we look at a specific setup, we always start from historical footprints and then build upon them with a 360 approach to make sure that the player either wants to enter the location from a stealth manner or a more brash, combat manner,” explained Plante.

For example, as Naoe, stealth gameplay shines. Armed with a grappling hook, throwing knives, and the ability to extinguish light sources, she is the ideal assassin. In our mission to eliminate The Noble, we carefully navigated a guard-infested gambling den, using tall grass for cover, sabotaging alarm bells, and eliminating threats from the rooftops. The new prone and crawling mechanics were invaluable, allowing for tighter, more strategic infiltration.

On the other hand, playing as Yasuke delivers the ultimate samurai power trip. With weapons like the long katana, naginata, and kanabo, Yasuke dominates through sheer strength. We kicked off the mission with a brutal execution, watching a guard’s head roll before bulldozing through the rest. Locked door? No problem — charge through it. Unlike Naoe, Yasuke absorbs damage and retaliates with devastating force, making him perfect for those who prefer aggressive combat.

While both characters can attempt the other’s playstyle, there are natural limitations. Yasuke, for instance, can’t perform high-altitude acrobatics, making an attempted leap of faith a hilarious sight. Likewise, Naoe must rely on speed and agility rather than brute strength in direct confrontations.

Roleplaying & Story Impact

Beyond gameplay, choices significantly shape the story. Conversations and actions can have short- and long-term consequences, from skipping fights through persuasion to talking yourself into deeper trouble. Players can also opt for Canon Mode, letting the story unfold as Ubisoft intended.

“So this is someone looking into a space of conflict, and then there is Naoe, who is someone inside the conflict all the time. So how do they view the same occurrences, the same history, the same background with their own eyes? I think that sets a very good premise about how we can angle their conversations with each other,” explained Cassandra Poon, associate producer at Ubisoft Singapore.

“Both of them have very different characters. One who is very straight to the point and very passionate about protecting her space. And then there’s someone out there trying to understand, assimilate, and make sense of everything. And so the conversations create so much material for the team to keep pushing the characters for that nice dynamics that eventually, through two different paths, they congregate towards one single goal.”

Poon also highlighted light and shadow mechanics as a personal favourite, emphasising how environmental factors like season and time of day enhance immersion.

Mastery System & Enemy Design

The Mastery System enhances both stealth and combat, allowing players to develop active and passive skills to suit their playstyle. Enemies vary significantly, forcing players to adapt tactics based on armour, weaponry, and posture mechanics.

Another intriguing element is the backstory of both protagonists. Naoe’s family legacy in battling dark forces makes her journey clear-cut. Yasuke, however, required more creative integration into the story.

“I think that, in itself, allows the team to be very creative with the fact that you have this historical character that people know about him, but yet not a lot has been written fully about him. And that unknown creates that space within a well-defined constraint to work with,” Poon said.

Our time with Assassin’s Creed Shadows left us impressed. The game delivers stunning visuals, deep gameplay mechanics, and meaningful character choices that elevate the Assassin’s Creed experience. Whether you prefer the stealth precision of Naoe or the sheer combat dominance of Yasuke, the dual-protagonist approach ensures that both fantasies are fully realised.

With its immersive world, evolved exploration mechanics, and engaging narrative, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is shaping up to be one of the most exciting entries in the franchise. And if our preview is any indication, fans are in for an unforgettable journey through feudal Japan.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches this March 20 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

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