Should You Play as Yasuke or Naoe in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

Assassin's Creed Codename: Red introduces a significant shift in the franchise with its dual protagonists: the samurai Yasuke and the shinobi Naoe. Their contrasting strengths and weaknesses make choosing the right character crucial for different gameplay situations. Let's explore which protagonist best suits various challenges.

Yasuke the Samurai: Pros and Cons

Yasuke offers a unique gameplay experience. His samurai skills and imposing physique make him a formidable powerhouse in combat. Assassin's Creed Codename: Red's melee system, reminiscent of FromSoftware titles, allows Yasuke to dominate encounters, especially against groups of enemies. His strength shines in crowd control and powerful melee attacks, efficiently dispatching even high-level foes like the Daimyo patrolling castles. He's also proficient with a bow and arrow, providing effective ranged options.

However, Yasuke's strengths come at a cost. His assassinations are slower and leave him more vulnerable than Naoe's. His parkour abilities are also limited, making traversal and reaching synchronization points challenging and sometimes frustrating, particularly in navigating the game's provinces.

Naoe the Shinobi: Pros and Cons

Naoe embodies the classic Assassin's Creed assassin. Her agility and mastery of stealth and parkour allow for effortless navigation. Investing mastery points in assassin and shinobi skills enhances her stealth capabilities, making her ideal for silent takedowns and aerial assassinations.

Conversely, Naoe's lower health and weaker melee abilities make direct combat risky. Facing multiple enemies can quickly overwhelm her, necessitating a reliance on stealth and evasion. When discovered, escaping to regain anonymity is often the best strategy.

Choosing Your Protagonist in Assassin's Creed Codename: Red

The choice between Yasuke and Naoe often depends on personal preference and the specific mission. Story progression may dictate which character is available for certain quests, especially in canon mode. However, when given the choice:

• Exploration and Discovery: Naoe's superior mobility makes her ideal for uncovering the map, synchronizing viewpoints, and exploring the provinces of feudal Japan. She also excels at assassination contracts, particularly after investing in relevant skills.

• Combat and High-Value Targets: Yasuke is the preferred choice for challenging encounters, especially against powerful enemies within castles. His strength and combat prowess make him far more effective in open combat or brutal assassinations of high-level targets.

Ultimately, the best protagonist often boils down to personal preference and playstyle. Whether you prefer the classic Assassin's Creed stealth approach or the more direct combat style of newer RPG titles will heavily influence your choice.

Assassin's Creed Codename: Red will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on a date to be announced.