The Creative Director forAssassin’s Creed Shadowshas provided insight into the upcoming game’s dual protagonists in an exclusive interview withScreen Rant.Assassin’s Creed Shadowswill allow the player to control two characters with unique gameplay styles, a new feature of the historical stealth-action series.
Jonathan Dumont, who has had tenures at Ubisoft since 1998, led the World Design forAssassin’s Creed Syndicateand has now taken on roles in Creative Direction forAssassin’s Creed Odysseyand the upcomingShadows.In an interview withScreen Rant,Dumont emphasized the freedom that is permitted by switching between the shinobi Naoe and samurai Yasuke, clarifying that Ubisoft is “not imposing players[to]try to split the time"as players can choose their own paths in the 16th-century Japanese setting.Dumont clarifies this in the interview:
So I don’t think you’re missing out on things too much. I think it’s more on your preference to [say], “okay, I’ll see how the game will adapt a little bit to the character if you choose one over the other.“They get individual introductions and then they get their own questline also.So that one is, let’s say Naoe, a personal questline cannot be played by Yasuke and those are two distinct things.But the core of the game can be pick your character and the game adapts.
So I guessyou can switch for gameplay reasons, you may switch for, if you think that you like one of the other [protagonists] better, but I don’t think you’re missing out.That’s more, all right, have fun with the game, just play it as you want. And there’s going to be a couple of choices here and there that I wonder what happened, what would happen with this character, but I don’t think you’re missing out.
How Dual Protagonists Work In Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Unique Gameplay Styles For Yasuke And Naoe
Jonathan Dumont clarifies that player agency is paramount to theAssassin’s Creed Shadowsexperience, as gamers can choose their preferred character and adapt their gameplay choices accordingly. While it’s possible to play through around80-90% ofAC Shadowsas either Yasuke or Naoe, Dumont stated that they both “get individual introductions and then they get their own questline also.“While the core story remains accessible regardless of character choice, players can explore both characters with their own exclusive missions and will be encouraged to delve intoNaoe and Yasuke’s lore.
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Dumont also explained why players should consider switching between the dual protagonists inAssassin’s Creed Shadowsoften, as the gameplay variety from both characters will keep the experience feeling fresh. He gave his own personal example of playing the game, stating “usually I play stealth and then I play, all right, let me destroy some camps and stuff all right for a while. And then I just change like that.“If gamers want to focus onstealth-based missions, then they can utilize Naoe’s unique skills, whereas Yasuke offers brute strength to “destroy some camps.”
Our Take: The New Approach To Protagonists Is Refreshing For AC Shadows
An All-new Assassin’s Creed Experience
Jonathan Dumont’s comments on the dual-protagonist system inAssassin’s Creed Shadowsseems to offer a level of flexibility that the series has never had. While games likeAssassin’s Creed Syndicatefeatured multiple protagonists,Shadowsdoes not force players to switch at predetermined points like previous entries have done.Individual playstyles seem to be the focus of Dumont’s analysis of the game, which will let players dictate their own journey in a true RPG style.Players can gain a richer understanding offeudal Japanfrom two perspectives—one from the shadows of the shinobi and the other from the honorous samurai.
With its flexible dual-protagonist system,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsis shaping up to be one of the biggest leaps forward for the series since 2017’sAssassin’s Creed Origins. Gamers will be able to try out the new Ubisoft title on 20 March, afterseveral delayswere announced to allow the developers to polish the overall experience and avoid reiterations ofdisappointing launches likeStar Wars Outlaws. In the meantime, fans of the long-running historical epic franchise can theorize about other unique changes and features that will be present inAssassin’s Creed Shadows.
