Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Naoe Has 1 Skill That Yasuke Can Only Achieve “To a degree” in the Game

The road to Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ release has been anything but smooth for Ubisoft. From its controversial main protagonist choices to its rigid gameplay showcase, the game has been a lightning rod for controversy. This even led to a delayed release to February 2025 and a change in the studio’s approach.

The game has been facing controversies since its announcement. | Image Credit: Ubisoft.

However, with its new release window and promised gameplay improvements, the extra time in development may be just what Shadows needed. In an interview, Simon Lemay-Comtois, the associate game director, offered a deeper dive into what makes the game’s two protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, so different from one another.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ protagonists have different movements and playstyles

The developers explain the difference in parkour abilities of both the protagonists. | Image Credit: Ubisoft

In an interview with SI.com, Simon Lemay-Comtois shed light on the differences between the two protagonists: Naoe and Yasuke. He explained that both the characters have distinct approaches to various aspects of the gameplay and combat playstyle.

When it comes to parkour, the hallmark of the franchise, the differences between the two protagonists can be immediately seen. As Lemay-Comtois explained, Naoe is the classic agile assassin. She can run up walls, grab ledges, and seamlessly move across rooftops with ease.

Her fluid style of parkour allows her to maintain high speed and keep the action and combat fast-paced, which is a key part of her gameplay, as expected from an Assassin.

On the other hand, Yasuke’s approach is far more grounded, literally. While he can still climb and perform parkour to some extent, his ability is limited to a certain degree. As Lemay-Comtois put it:

Yes, to a degree. He doesn’t have the same reach as Naoe. […] OK, so he can do some parkour, but he needs crates, and stuff on the way to kind of give him a step up so he can reach a roof.

According to Lemay-Comtois, it’s a deliberate design choice that gives Yasuke a more physical, grounded feel compared to Naoe’s acrobatic finesse.

This means players will need to think more creatively about how to navigate the world with Yasuke, using the environment to their advantage in ways that are less about agility and more about muscle.

Players looking forward to the release

Fans are looking forward to the game’s release on February 14 to see the supposed improvement. | Image Credit: Ubisoft

With Assassin’s Creed Shadows set to release on February 14th, 2025, anticipation is building. Fans are looking forward to seeing how these two distinct protagonists will come together in the story and gameplay.

While Naoe will appeal to those who love the speed and precision of traditional Assassin gameplay, Yasuke promises a more raw, power-driven approach that will likely appeal to players who enjoy a more grounded, slow-burn style of movement.

Despite the excitement, fans are divided in their expectations. Some are excited to see how the extra development time will translate into a smoother, more polished experience. However, there are others who are more cautious, waiting to see if the game will be a buggy mess or not.

In the end, as we count down to its release on February 14th, it is clear that whether you’re scaling rooftops with grace or brute force, this entry in the series is set to offer a fresh take, all while roaming feudal Japan.