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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →In a hands-on preview published January 23, 2025, Engadget’s Kris Holt found that Assassin’s Creed Shadows felt familiar to the series while giving players distinct ways to approach its 16th-century Japan setting. Naoe leans into stealth and agility; Yasuke is better suited to direct combat. Holt’s early impression was cautiously positive, based on several hours with a preview build and two sections of the game—not a full review.
What did the preview cover?
Holt played two sections of a preview build over several hours. The account is a snapshot of that session, not a comprehensive assessment of every mission or system. The preview described a game set in 16th-century Japan with two playable characters, Naoe and Yasuke. After the prologue, players could switch between them in the open world, although some story moments required choosing one.
Holt found the character switch straightforward, though it involved opening the menu and holding a button. The preview also discussed investigation missions and activities such as sketching animals.
How do Naoe and Yasuke play differently?
| Character | Emphasis in the preview | Reported abilities and tools |
|---|---|---|
| Naoe | Agility, stealth and infiltration | Parkour, a grappling hook, the classic hidden blade, smoke bombs, distraction tools and an eagle-vision ability that can locate and tag enemies through walls. |
| Yasuke | Strength and direct combat | Ranged weapons and a kanabō war club. |
Both characters could lie prone in the preview. The contrast gives players a choice between avoiding or outmaneuvering threats with Naoe and confronting them more directly with Yasuke. That is a description of the options Holt encountered, not evidence that every encounter can be completed in either style.
#1 Best Overall
- Only at Amazon Limited Edition Content includes the base game and Sekiryu Character Pack
- Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.
- Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles.
- Make information your weapon as you explore the world, and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions.
- Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s layout, decorations, and accessories.
What changes to stealth did Holt notice?
The preview described extinguishing or destroying some light sources to create shadowed hiding places. That offers a way to affect the surroundings while sneaking, alongside Naoe’s reported tools for distraction and concealment. Holt’s account does not establish how broadly this mechanic applies across missions.
Holt also noted that Naoe’s eagle vision could locate and tag enemies through walls. In combination with her mobility and stealth equipment, this points to a character built around scouting and infiltration rather than meeting opponents head-on.
Rank #2
- ENTER FEUDAL JAPAN - Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.
- MASTER COMPLEMENTARY PLAYSTYLES - Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles. As Naoe, use stealth to avoid detection and agility to confound your enemies. As Yasuke, strike your foes with lethal precision and power. Unlock new skills, gear, and progression independently for each character.
- MAKE INFORMATION YOUR WEAPON - Travel the world and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions
- BUILD A PLACE TO CALL HOME - Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s buildings layout, decorations, and accessories.
Does it feel different from earlier Assassin’s Creed games?
Holt’s overall read was that the game remained broadly in line with expectations for the series, while the differences between its protagonists, gameplay adjustments and quality-of-life changes added fresh interest. The ability to choose between two substantially different characters is the clearest shift described in the preview: it makes play style a choice within the open world, while some story moments still call for a particular character.
Holt also felt that the map appeared less cluttered. That was an impression from a limited preview session, not a definitive comparison or a measured finding.
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Rank #3
- Only at Amazon Limited Edition Content includes the base game and Sekiryu Character Pack
- Explore the captivating open world of feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.
- Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles.
- Make information your weapon as you explore the world, and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions.
- Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s layout, decorations, and accessories.
What was not covered in the preview?
Holt had not tried the weather system or the spy recruitment system. The article therefore cannot establish how either works in practice, how much they affect play, or whether they change the assessment of the game. The preview also does not offer a controlled comparison with another game.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What was the preview’s verdict?
Holt’s conclusion was cautiously positive: the game looked recognizably like Assassin’s Creed, but its two-protagonist structure and gameplay differences gave the familiar framework some new appeal. The most concrete reason for optimism was the contrast between Naoe’s stealth-oriented toolkit and Yasuke’s combat strength; the session was too limited to settle how consistently that contrast shapes the full game.
Quick Recap
Read Kris Holt’s preview at Engadget.
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