Assassin’s Creed Shadows Redefines Dual Protagonists With Tension and Trust

by

Over time, the Assassin’s Creed series has varied its approach towards lead characters. The initial games adhered to a typical action-adventure structure. Assassin’s Creed Unity aimed for a more cooperative experience, and the role-playing game titles allowed players to manage multiple protagonists throughout their adventure. It’s a route we wouldn’t have ventured down without Assassin’s Creed Syndicate paving the way, but with Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft has elevated the dual character concept even further.

In Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, players had the unique ability to switch between Evie and Jacob Frye during their adventure. This feature was later adopted in Origins, but one character was primarily controlled while the other took a backseat. In Odyssey and Valhalla, players could choose between two characters for the entire journey. Now, Assassin’s Creed Shadows has reverted to the dual protagonist style similar to Syndicate, offering an engaging narrative. However, unlike Syndicate, these two characters are dramatically different from each other, adding a refreshing twist to the series.

AC Shadows and Syndicate Are Two Sides of the Same Coin

AC Syndicate Laid the Groundwork for the Two Protagonist System

Following Ubisoft’s exploration into cooperative play with “Assassin’s Creed Unity”, they chose to return the series to its traditional action-adventure roots with the debut of “Assassin’s Creed Syndicate”. Unlike previous games where only one protagonist was controlled, players could now control two unique characters: the Frye Twins. While Evie embodied the classic assassin, emphasizing stealth, Jacob was all about using raw power to defeat his enemies. Although their gameplay had similarities, their differences were notably seen in their personalities and script, adding an exhilarating layer to the adventure. The dynamic between them was particularly captivating, making their story a standout aspect of the game.

In the game Syndicate, being identical twins meant that Jacob and Evie often collaborated closely. Jacob aimed to free London’s districts from Templar-controlled gangs, while Evie sought the potent artifact known as Piece of Eden hidden within London. Although they had their disagreements and methods differed at times, their objectives ultimately overlapped, and they spent most of the game working together. Their squabbles mirrored what typical siblings might experience, but they generally maintained a united front in pursuit of their shared goals.

AC Shadows Has Put a New Twist On the Concept

In Assassin’s Creed: Shadow, the dual protagonist system introduced in Syndicate is back, allowing players to switch between the assassin Naoe and the samurai Yasuke as they strive to protect 16th-century Japan from the Shinbakufu. However, unlike before, these two characters appear to have distinct objectives and narratives that unfold separately.

In Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, these two characters initially find themselves on opposite ends of the central conflict. Yasuke stands with Oda Nobunaga, eventually eliminating one of the last Assassins from the Japanese Brotherhood, while Naoe is struggling to safeguard her people against Nobunaga’s invasion. They do not cross paths until several members of the Shinbakufu have been eliminated by Naoe, and when they finally meet, their initial encounter is marked by hostility. However, as the narrative unfolds, they learn to trust and depend on one another.

The story presented in that tale stands out dramatically against the narrative presented by Syndicate, creating an extraordinary journey. Combine this with the fact that both Naoe and Yasuke have exceptionally distinct playstyles, and it’s evident that Ubisoft has elevated the dual protagonist system to unprecedented heights. Here’s hoping future games will continue to innovate and offer even more distinctive approaches to this concept.

Read More

2025-03-29 03:04