Summary
The villains of theAssassin’s Creedfranchise have always been a bit of a mixed bag. Whilethe Templar Order/Order of the Ancientsis a great overarching villain for the whole series, the individual members within it haven’t always been overly compelling, often feeling like generic ‘evil leader’ archetypes. A big issue theACfranchise has with its villains is that players are often simply told how evil these people are, rather than being shown first hand. ButAssassin’s Creed Shadowsmight finally turn things around.
For the first time in a while,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsis using a dual-protagonist system, where players can switch between two characters to participate in different missions. From what Ubisoft has revealed so far, it already seems like Yasuke and Naoe will be very different characters, both in terms of gameplay and personality, and hopefully, that’s something that remains true for the final game. Hopefully, these differences can pave the way for a more complexAssassin’s Creedantagonist.
Assassin’s Creed ‘Shadows’ Dual Protagonist Pave the Way for a Complex Villain
Yasuke and Naoe Could Have Very Different Relationships with AC Shadows' Villain
Assassin’s Creed Shadowshas the perfect opportunity to deliver the most intriguing villain the series has ever seen, and it all hinges on the relationship between them and the game’s two protagonists. The best option would be to cast a main antagonist that has a very differentdynamic between Yasuke and Naoe. For instance, this antagonist could be someone that Naoe has grown up hating and longing to take down, while at the same time, they could be a figure that Yasuke respects and maybe even admires.
This then paves the way for a more layered narrative, and some more complex character relationships, as Naoe would have to try and convince Yasuke that this figure he respects so much isn’t actually worthy of his affection. This dynamic naturally lends itself to plenty of intense exchanges between thetwoAssassin’s Creed Shadowsprotagonistsand could result in a constant underlying tension that only continues to build throughout the game’s events.
WhileAssassin’s Creed Shadows' main villain hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, Oda Nobunaga would be a perfect fit for this dynamic. In the recently releasedAssassin’s Creed Shadowstrailer, it seems as though Yasuke is working as a samurai under Nobunaga’s banner, where he’s ordered to burn down Naoe’s home village. It’s currently unclear how and when Yasuke and Naoe start working together, but it seems a likely theory that Naoe will convince Yasuke to turn on his master.
In the mobile card gameAssassin’s Creed: Memories, Oda Nobunaga is said to have been killed by Assassins in 1582 after he came into possession of a Sword of Eden, though it’s currently unclear if these events will be made canon inACShadows.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Needs to Make the Most of its Dual Protagonists
Regardless of whether Ubisoft uses this approach for itsAssassin’s Creed Shadowsvillain, it needs to ensure that its two protagonists have distinct personalities and roles in the narrative. TheAssassin’s Creedfranchise has rarely experimented with two separate playable protagonists as it’s notoriously difficult to make them stand out while also making them similar enough that they share gameplay mechanics and story motivations. Hopefully,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsembraces the differences between its two protagonists and uses them to tell a more complex story.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience an epic historical action-adventure story set in feudal Japan! Become a lethal shinobi Assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos. Switch seamlessly between two unlikely allies as you discover their common destiny. Master complementary playstyles, create your shinobi league, customize your hideout, and usher in a new era for Japan.
