Ubisoft just shared a new combat overview for Assassin's Creed Shadows that showcases new mechanics in the upcoming game's battle system.
The latest entry in the franchise brings players to feudal Japan and will have knives and swords play a major role in the fighting style of the two protagonists. The game also gives both characters, Naoe and Yasuke, more tools at their disposal when engaging enemies.
New Assassin's Creed Shadows Combat Overview
The latest overview revealed what these other tools actually are, and Ubisoft said that a player's choice of weapons and characters will "dramatically" alter combat in Assassin's Creed Shadows.
One example was Naoe, who is a shinobi equipped with a katana, a ball-and-chain weapon called kusarigama, and a tanto dagger. The latter lets the character make quick strikes and double assassinations.
On the other hand, Yasuke the samurai comes with a long katana, a naginata, a kanabo, a yumi bow, and a teppo flint rifle.
Unlike his female counterpart, this hulking brute can switch what weapons he is using mid-combo to deal devastating damage, according to Game Spot.
Yasuke's weapons and strength make him well-suited for direct combat, while Naoe, with her agility and stealth, is more of an assassin. Both characters have light and heavy attacks and are able to charge their moves, which are called posture attacks.
In Assassin's Creed Shadows, defense also plays a key part in combat as certain techniques can wear down an enemy's guard. This would leave them open and vulnerable to a powerful counterattack.
Showcasing New Mechanics
Ubisoft has remained relatively quiet about its upcoming game since it announced that the official release date was being pushed back to February 2025.
The latest combat overview also features insights from the game's director as to why things were designed and developed, Bleeding Cool said.
Both Naoe and Yasuke are able to dodge incoming enemy attacks and have various options.
The latter can perform dodge steps while the former will be doing dodge rolls. Yasuke's massive build also forces him to suffer a brief recovery window after consecutive dodge-steps.
But the fact that the samurai is equipped with much heavier armor than Naoe, he is expected to be able to survive more hits than Naoe.
The latter's frailty means that she does not favor direct combat or combat in general, for that matter, as she sticks to the shadow for covert attacks.
Yasuke is also able to parry enemy attacks, which will cause them to step back and become open to counters. On the other hand, Naoe can deflect attacks as she sidesteps to target enemies' weak points, according to Gaming Bolt.
