Assassin’s Creed Shadows Yasuke Gameplay Shows It Copied Another Ubisoft Game’s Parrying System That’s Even More Balanced Than Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Sekiro

Assassin’s Creed Shadows recently got a 13-minute gameplay showcase.  From the showcase, it appears that the game takes some inspiration from Ubisoft’s For Honor, particularly in its parrying system. 

This system is noticeably different from the intense parrying mechanics seen in Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which demanded countless hours of practice to master. For Honor‘s parrying, on the other hand, was designed to be more accessible, allowing even beginners to learn it without having to put hours into it.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Gameplay Preview Showcases Combat Inspired by For Honor

Assassin’s Creed Shadows will feature a two main character system which might be similar to the character system of GTA V. Players can play as one of the two main characters, Yasuke or Naoe, who both have two opposing kinds of playstyles. From the recent gameplay showcase on YouTube, Yasuke’s fighting style seems to be very focused on on parries and counterattacks. 

Watch now more than 12min of #AssassinsCreedShadows with our Extended Ubisoft Forward walkthrough & discover both Naoe & Yasuke gameplay.https://t.co/Pv3klsIWQQ

Assassin's Creed Shadows will be available November 15th. Pre-orders are available now! pic.twitter.com/ofeMhW31p8

— Assassin's Creed (@assassinscreed) June 10, 2024

The gameplay showcase featured a combat system that appeared to be simple for beginners while maintaining depth for experienced players. This could make players feel the rhythm and timing in the combat similar to what For Honor has. The dual character system also shows two very different and clear gameplay styles.

From the showcase, Yasuke’s fighting in style in AC: Shadows appears to somewhat copy the gameplay of For Honor, another Ubisoft title. Yasuke is shown fighting different samurai and he uses different finishing moves and parries similar to the brutal combat seen in For Honor.

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The parrying system in For Honor got praised for its balance and ease of access, which makes it rewarding for experienced players while being simple to grasp for novices. This is in sharp contrast to Sekiro‘s parrying techniques, which needs a high degree of timing and precision and can take hours to learn. 

AC: Shadows‘ Two Character Dynamic Might be What The Series Needs

Aside from the brutal and dramatic finishers, a main part of Yasuke’s fighting mechanics also seems to be the heavy looking melee attacks that he does. Naoe’s showcase in comparison showed a mix of quickness and evasive maneuvers contrasting with Yasuke’s parry and block style of fighting. 

The two characters’ dynamic adds variety to the gameplay but also draws attention to the For Honor-adapted parrying system, which is balanced enough to provide players with a rewarding combat experience no matter how they choose to play.

In addition, Ubisoft seems to have learned from the mixed reception of Assassin’s Creed Mirage. AC: Shadows‘ exploration and quest structure are quite similar to Mirage‘s, keeping the focus more on tracking and obtaining intelligence than on clear-cut ‘do this’, and ‘do that’ kind of one dimension. They’re also bringing back a fan favorite feature that could change the game.

And similar to AC: Mirage’s unique monetary system, the spy network feature lets players set up locations for obtaining data about their targets. This gives the gameplay a degree of strategic depth that goes well with the mechanics. Particularly for players looking to go back to a more stealthy and “assassin” type of classic playstyle with Naoe. 

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Choosing to take on missions as either Yasuke or Naoe provides for a variety of gaming styles. While Yasuke offers a more straightforward, combat-focused experience, Naoe personifies the stealthy, classic Assassin’s Creed gameplay.

Ultimately, Assassin’s Creed Shadows seems like an exciting continuation of the series, combining well-developed combat systems with aspects of classic stealth gameplay. Ubisoft seems to have taken a step back from the more critically dubious titles like Valhalla and Odyssey and more inspiration from a successful title such as For Honor, and the recent lessons learned from AC: MIrage.

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Assassin’s Creed Shadows comes out for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on November 12. With its setting in Feudal Japan, the dual character mechanic, and its reimagination of classic Assassin’s Creed style, fans have a lot to look forward to.