Everyone Missed the Best Addition to the Assassin’s Creed Franchise in Assassin’s Creed Shadows Gameplay Deep Dive

The Assassin’s Creed series used to be about stealth and assassinations, and the in-depth stealth mechanics make a return in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Each game tries to add something new to keep the series fresh and exciting. 

The latest entry is no different. While everyone was busy talking about the new setting, characters, and combat from the latest gameplay reveal at Ubisoft Forward 2024, they likely missed one of the coolest new features – Naoe’s bamboo straw pipe for underwater stealth.

Stealth Takes a Dive in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the second playable character besides Yasuke is Naoe, a skilled shinobi assassin. This new Feudal Japan setting brings a lot of interesting elements to the game, like samurais, detailed cities, and beautiful landscapes. But what really stands out is how the game handles stealth. One of the most intriguing additions is the bamboo straw pipe, which lets Naoe breathe underwater while staying hidden. 

I think she automatically pulls out the bamboo straw when not moving underwater, also think it’s a skill you’ll have to unlock

Not officially confirmed, just my own thoughts

— Weirdly Art  (comms open) (0/15 slots taken) (@Weirdly_Art) June 12, 2024

In previous games, hiding was mostly about blending in with crowds, staying out of sight, and using the environment to your advantage. But Assassin’s Creed Shadows takes it a step further by letting you hide underwater for extended periods, as long as it’s not too deep.

I’m not kidding, I’m not ashamed to admit it, that Assassin’s Creed Shadows walkthrough brought a tear to my eye.

Breaking armor, carrying multiple weapons at once, the grappling hook, the bamboo snorkel, clinging to the ceiling to hide…

They have absolutely nailed it.

— All-Father – 🇵🇸 (@AllFatherMedia) June 10, 2024

Imagine sneaking through a heavily guarded castle, diving into a pond, and using the bamboo straw pipe to stay submerged until the coast is clear. This is exactly what Naoe does in the gameplay trailer, and it adds a lot of depth to the stealth gameplay.

The stealth is a lot deeper than it’s ever been. You can hide in shadows and submerge in shallow water and use a bamboo shoot to breathe while you sneak up on enemies. Looks inspired by Ghost of Tsushima, I’ll give you that. I personally can’t wait to play it.

— noah (@noahkelllly) June 11, 2024

This mechanic not only looks cool but also opens up a lot of strategic possibilities. You can plan your approach by using bodies of water as hiding spots, making it harder for enemies to detect you. Plus, it adds a realistic touch to the game, as it’s based on actual techniques used by ninjas in ancient Japan. 

In past games, you might have relied on rooftops, bales of hay, and crowds to stay hidden. But now, you have to consider the various ponds of water as a viable option. This means rethinking your strategies and adapting to new situations. 

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Is Shaping up to Be Great

A fan-favorite mechanic makes a welcome return. Besides the cool new bamboo stick, Naoe’s grappling hook allows for swift traversal across rooftops, as well as scaling surfaces, tall buildings, and castles, and even initiating takedowns from above.

A departure from the single-protagonist format of recent Assassin’s Creed titles, Shadows introduces players to Naoe and Yasuke. Players will be able to switch between these two distinct characters, each offering a different combat style and approach to stealth.

This marks a return to Assassin’s Creed Syndicate’s system, which also had two different protagonists that could be switched at any time. It is also likely that a few missions will force you to play as one of the characters specifically. 

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is shaping up to be an incredible addition to the franchise. The setting of feudal Japan, with its rich history and beautiful landscapes, provides a stunning backdrop for the game. This has been a highly request setting for the franchise for almost a decade now, and we will finally get to experience it when the game releases on November 15th later this year.

Are you looking forward to the game? Let us know in the comments.