New Assassin's Creed Shadows gameplay shows how the RPG's protagonists differ when it comes to assassinations, and I can't wait to slay as stealth queen Naoe

Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot showing female protagonist Naoe
(Image credit: Ubisoft)

The final day of this year's Summer Game Fest came to a close with the Ubisoft Forward showcase, in which we got an in-depth look at Assassin's Creed Shadows' stellar two protagonists - Naoe and Yasuke.

Ubisoft's brand-new Assassin's Creed Shadows gameplay reveal shows off some of the stylistic differences between the action-RPG's main characters. On one hand, we have Yasuke, a legendary real-life African samurai capable of heavier combat with a more tanky feel to it. On the other, we've got Naoe - a Japanese shinobi woman with an unrivaled skill in stealth.

While Yasuke's hard-hitting blows are certainly nothing to scoff at, there's something so reminiscent of a bygone Assassin's Creed era about Naoe and her employment of stealth - I'm instantly transported into Ezio Auditore's boots when I watch her hide behind corners and traverse rainy rooftops. Her quick, silent assassinations look exhilarating to experience firsthand as the player.

Assassin's Creed Shadows: Extended Gameplay Walkthrough | Ubisoft Forward - YouTube Assassin's Creed Shadows: Extended Gameplay Walkthrough | Ubisoft Forward - YouTube
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Yasuke is far more forward with his attacks - where Naoe excels at giving Assassin's Creed's beloved action-adventure vibes, the male Samurai truly delivers the newer RPG elements into the gameplay. He boasts heavy armor and wields even heavier weapons, making for a louder, more direct sort of combat - an exciting one that's constant rather than the product of a build-up.

Together, the two offer a diverse range of abilities and cover opposing play styles. Personally, I'm thrilled to go back in time to the iconic series' roots with stealthy gameplay like Naoe's, but I'm also looking forward to experiencing Shadows as the franchise's first historical figure to date.

For more on the gameplay, head on over to our Assassin's Creed Shadows preview

Anna Koselke
Staff Writer

After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she's not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she's probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she's spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you'll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.

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