Assassin Brotherhood

Lore & Background

The Assassin Brotherhood's struggle is set in a fictional history of real-world events and follows the millennia-old struggle between the Assassins, who fight to preserve peace and free will, and the Templars, who desire peace through control. In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, the Brotherhood is rebuilt in Rome by Ezio Auditore da Firenze after the events of Assassin's Creed II. The game introduces the titular Brotherhood system, which allows the player, as Ezio, to recruit new Assassin initiates after destroying any of the twelve "Borgia towers" around Rome where Papal troops are stationed, and then rescuing disgruntled citizens from being harassed by city guards.

The player can send these Assassin recruits on assignments around Europe or call them for support during missions. Tasking the novice Assassins makes them gain experience, and the player can customize their appearance, skills, and weapon training to some degree by spending the skill points they have earned. Assassins can die on missions, from which they will not return.

Reader's Guide

In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, the player controls returning protagonist Ezio Auditore da Firenze from Assassin's Creed II; at predetermined points in the narrative, the player takes control of Desmond Miles, who is reliving Ezio's memories through the Animus in the modern-day. For the first time in the series, Desmond can leave the Animus at almost any given time to explore Monteriggioni, where the Assassins have set up base, and find hidden secrets. Desmond can also access virtual training missions via the Animus, which test the player's skills in combat and free-running.

Dual Protagonists and Divergent Playstyles

Assassin's Creed Shadows distinguishes itself by offering two distinct playable protagonists who embody contrasting approaches to the conflict between the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order. Players alternate between Fujibayashi Naoe, a skilled kunoichi from the Iga province, and Yasuke, an African samurai serving under Oda Nobunaga. This dual-protagonist structure fundamentally alters gameplay mechanics; Naoe emphasizes stealth, agility, and environmental manipulation, utilizing shadows to become invisible and employing tools like shurikens to extinguish light sources.

Conversely, Yasuke offers a more direct combat experience, encouraging players to charge headlong into battles with heavy weaponry. This design allows missions to be approached in multiple ways depending on the active character. Furthermore, each hero possesses unique abilities tied to their background, such as Naoe's return of Eagle Vision for tracking enemies and Yasuke's capacity for open confrontation. The game ensures that switching between these characters is not merely cosmetic but a strategic necessity for navigating the non-linear narrative and overcoming diverse obstacles in feudal Japan.

Immersive Sengoku-Era Setting

The narrative unfolds during the volatile Azuchi-Momoyama period, specifically beginning in 1579 amidst the final stages of the Sengoku civil wars. The game world meticulously recreates the Kansai region of central Japan, encompassing bustling urban centers like Kyoto and Osaka alongside the rugged Iga province. This setting serves as a dynamic backdrop where historical accuracy meets interactive exploration, featuring detailed landmarks such as Takeda Castle and intricate dungeons.

A defining feature of this environment is its seasonal progression, which directly impacts gameplay mechanics; for instance, shallow waters that Naoe can hide in during warmer months freeze over in winter, altering traversal options. The era's cultural complexity is further highlighted by the presence of Portuguese traders and Jesuit missionaries who introduced Christianity and advanced weaponry like matchlock rifles to Japan. Key historical figures, including Oda Nobunaga at his peak power, Hattori Hanzo, and tea master Sen no Rikyū, populate this world, grounding the fantastical struggle between Assassins and Templars in a richly realized historical context.

Evolution of Stealth and Exploration Mechanics

Building upon an upgraded version of the Anvil engine, Shadows introduces significant refinements to how players interact with the open world and engage in stealth. Unlike previous entries where vantage points automatically marked objectives, this title requires players to recruit scouts and interpret clues to locate targets, fostering a more investigative gameplay loop. The mechanics encourage fluid movement through features like a new grappling hook for parkour and the ability to go prone or crawl silently across creaking nightingale floors.

Naoe specifically benefits from enhanced environmental interactions, such as hiding in shadows both indoors and outdoors, and utilizing bamboo sticks to breathe while submerged in shallow water. The 'Observe' mode allows for rapid information gathering on targets from high vantage points without breaking immersion. Additionally, the game incorporates breakable objects and dynamic lighting systems that players can manipulate to create distractions or conceal their presence, shifting the focus from simple objective completion to creative problem-solving within a living, breathing world.

Narrative Origins and Historical Conflict

The story begins in 1581 with the arrival of Diogo, an African slave who joins a Jesuit delegation seeking safe passage for missionaries. After being granted freedom by Oda Nobunaga on the condition of his service, he is renamed Yasuke and trained as a samurai. Simultaneously, young shinobi Fujibayashi Naoe is tasked by her father to protect a mysterious box hidden in an ancient tomb during Nobunaga's brutal invasion of Iga Province. The narrative takes a tragic turn when Naoe is ambushed, leading to the death of her father and the theft of the box by masked assailants.

Driven by revenge and her dying father's instruction to 'follow the blade,' Naoe begins her journey as an Assassin while Yasuke rises through the ranks of Nobunaga's army. Their paths eventually converge in a millennia-old struggle against the Templar Order, set against real historical events like the Iga assault. The plot weaves together personal vendettas with broader geopolitical tensions involving foreign influence and the unification of Japan.