Assassin's Creed Codename: Red introduces a groundbreaking dual protagonist system, a first for the franchise. Yasuke, the samurai, and Naoe, the shinobi, offer drastically different playstyles. Choosing the right character depends heavily on your preferred approach to gameplay.
Yasuke the Samurai: Pros and Cons
Yasuke's gameplay is a unique blend of power and brute force. This imposing warrior is a melee powerhouse, reminiscent of boss encounters in Dark Souls. His samurai skills make him a master of crowd control, easily dispatching base enemies and even higher-tier foes like the Daimyo patrolling castles. He's also proficient with a bow and arrow, offering ranged combat capabilities.
However, Yasuke's strengths come at a cost. His assassinations are slower and leave him vulnerable, unlike the typical agile assassin. His parkour abilities are limited, significantly hindering exploration. While he can technically reach synchronization points, many prove challenging or even impossible for him to access, frustrating exploration efforts.
Naoe the Shinobi: Pros and Cons
Naoe embodies the classic Assassin's Creed assassin. Her agility and mastery of stealth and parkour make her ideal for traversing the environment. With skill investment, she becomes a master of stealth takedowns, aerial assassinations, and the nimble movements fans expect.
Yet, Naoe's lower health and weaker melee capabilities make direct combat risky. Facing multiple enemies can quickly overwhelm her, making stealth and evasion crucial. When discovered, escaping to regain stealth is often the best strategy.
When to Play as Each Protagonist
While character selection often depends on personal preference and story constraints, certain situations favor each protagonist.
Use Naoe for exploration. Her superior mobility allows for efficient map clearing, synchronization, and province discovery. She's also effective for assassinations, especially after investing in relevant skills.
For challenging combat encounters, especially against powerful enemies like Daimyo in castles, Yasuke is the superior choice. His strength allows for easier takedowns and open combat victories.
Ultimately, the choice often boils down to personal preference and playstyle. Do you prefer the classic stealth approach or the powerful melee combat? The answer will dictate your preferred protagonist in Assassin's Creed Codename: Red.
Assassin's Creed Codename: Red is coming soon to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
