It’s almost 2025, which means it’s nearly time to dive into the next installment in theAssassin’s Creedseries.
Assassin’s Creed Shadowsis already looking tooverhaul the franchise’s stealth mechanics. Next up isa look at combatfrom developerUbisoft.
The main hook inShadowsis your ability to play as one of two protagonists: Naoe or Yasuke. Your choice, as well as your weapon, will greatly alter how combat plays out. “In essence, our core fight mechanics are the same for Yasuke and Naoe” says Charles Benoit one of the directors forAssassin’s Creed Shadows, “but as samurai and shinobi, respectively, they each have their own weapon types and abilities that make them feel very different from one another.”
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Both characters will have the same style of actions: light and heavy attacks that are designed to be quick and fluid, or strong and devastating respectively. They will also have posture attacks, which can be charged up to increase damage and break through an enemy’s block.
Naoe is more stealth focused, though she’s very capable of holding her own in combat. Yasuke, on the other hand, is a bruiser ready for combat. This plays into his ability to unleash combos that break en enemy’s guard without having to deal a posture attack.
When you perform a perfect dodge, enemies will become vulnerable and take increased damage. In addition to dodging, both characters can parry and block oncoming attacks. The secret to success is finding the right rhythmn in combat to stand your ground and wait for the right opening. Yes, this sounds exactly likeFromSoftwarecombat, though I imagine it won’t be anywhere near as difficult.
Both Protagonists in Assassin’s Creed Shadows Have Their Own Weapons
As previously stated, Naoe is more apt for a stealthy approach to gameplay. As such, her weapons are suited to match this. Her katana offers a good balance of speed, damage, and defensive capabilities. Kusarigama is her best choice for crowd control, as it can reach enemies at a distance and push them back. It also unlocks the ability to Rush Assassinate enemies up to 10 meters away. FInally, the tanto dagger and Hidden Blade bring a devastating combo, allowing you to perform Double Assassinations.
Yasuke, on the other hand, doesn’t excel in stealth. He’s more of a brusier, and his weapons follow suit. The long katana is a balanced weapon chjoice that allows him to excel in duels and large-scale fights alike. For crowd control, Yasuke wields the Naginata, a weapon two meters long and with a sharp bladed tip. It’s effective at keeping enemies away while damaging multiple foes simultaneously. The Kanabo is all about brute force, breaking an enemy’s defense and destroying their armor, but it comes at the cost of mobility.
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Finally, Yasuke does have two ranged weapons at his disposal: the Yumi Bow, which allows you to quietly pick off enemies from a distance, and the Teppo rifle, a more powerful, albeit louder, ranged weapon.
Assassin’s Creed Shadowspromises several distinct enemy types, each with their own style of attacks and patterns to learn. Victory in combat is achieved from learning the ins and outs of your enemy, knowing when to dodge, and when to strike. It’s a refreshing take on the traditional combat formula ofAssassin’s Creedthat, if pulled off well, can lead to a fresh experience when the game releases on February 14th, 2025.
