Assassin's Creed Shadows: Who Are Naoe and Yasuke?

Summary

The video script discusses the dual protagonists of a game, Yasuke and Naoe, who represent the samurai and shinobi classes respectively. Yasuke, a historical figure, is a foreigner discovering Japan, which aligns with the player's journey of discovery. Naoe hails from Iga, the birthplace of shinobi, and is connected to the legendary shinobi figure, Fujibayashi Nagato. The contrasting perspectives of these characters highlight different aspects of the era. Yasuke is depicted as physically imposing and combat-oriented, while Naoe excels in stealth and subterfuge, with a hidden blade as her signature weapon. Their personalities also contrast, with Naoe being passionate and determined, and Yasuke thoughtful and respectful of the culture he encounters. The narrative is enriched by the tension between the two characters, as Yasuke and Oda Nobunaga aim to destroy the shinobi, while Naoe fights to preserve her heritage.

Takeaways

• 🎭 The game features two protagonists with distinct fantasy roles: a samurai and a shinobi, representing different social classes and life experiences.
• 🚫 The developers chose not to combine the samurai and shinobi into one character due to their contrasting backgrounds and abilities.
• 📚 The narrative team approached the story with a strong emphasis on historical research, especially regarding the character Yasuke.
• 🗓️ Yasuke arrived in Japan in 1579, which coincides with the start of the game, and had relationships with key historical figures like Oda Nobunaga.
• 🌟 Yasuke's character is seen as an exciting opportunity because he is a foreigner discovering Japan, paralleling the player's experience.
• 🏞️ Naoe hails from Iga, a region known as the birthplace of shinobi, and her story is tied to the legendary shinobi figure Fujibayashi Nagato, her father in the game.
• 🔥 The contrast between Yasuke and Naoe's perspectives and skills highlight different aspects of the era, with Yasuke being combat-heavy and Naoe being stealth-heavy.
• 💥 Oda Nobunaga's destruction of Iga creates a tension between Yasuke and Naoe, who are on opposing sides of the conflict.
• 🛡️ Yasuke's physical stature gives him combat advantages, such as breaking doors and fighting multiple enemies.
• 🕴️ Naoe's stealth abilities and the hidden blade make her character focused on invisibility and subtlety in gameplay.
• ❤️ Naoe is portrayed as a passionate and determined character, while Yasuke is thoughtful and respectful, providing a balanced dynamic between the two.
• 🔍 Yasuke's mysterious nature and intelligence are key aspects of his character, which are further explored as the game progresses.

Q & A

Why can't the samurai and shinobi be combined into one character in the game?

The samurai and shinobi come from different social classes and have distinct lives, making it unrealistic to mix them into a single character.

What is the historical significance of Yasuke in the context of the game?

Yasuke is a historical figure who arrived in Japan in 1579, the same year the game starts. He had relationships with influential people like Oda Nobunaga, which provides a rich narrative opportunity.

How does the character Yasuke fit into the game's narrative?

Yasuke is portrayed as a foreigner discovering Japan, which parallels the player's experience of exploring the game's setting.

What is the background of Naoe, the other protagonist?

Naoe comes from the province of Iga, known as the birthplace of Shinobi, and is connected to the legendary Igan Shinobi historical figure, Fujibayashi Nagato, who is her father in the game.

How does the destruction of Iga by Oda create tension in the game?

The destruction of Iga by Oda sets up a conflict between Yasuke and Oda, who are intent on destroying the shinobi, and Naoe, who is from Iga and has a personal connection to the place.

What are the core values that Naoe learns from her father and the people of Iga?

Naoe learns the values of valor, benevolence, and wisdom from her father and the people of Iga.

How do the combat and stealth styles of Yasuke and Naoe differ?

Yasuke is combat-heavy, with advantages in strength and stature, while Naoe is stealth-heavy, with skills in remaining unseen and a unique hidden blade.

What is the personality contrast between Yasuke and Naoe?

Naoe is intense, passionate, and determined, whereas Yasuke is thoughtful, level-headed, and respectful of the culture he encounters.

How does Yasuke's character development reflect his historical persona?

Yasuke's character is designed to be intelligent and thoughtful, similar to the historical figure who was able to achieve much in Japan, including serving Oda Nobunaga.

What narrative device is used to make Yasuke's character more mysterious?

Yasuke's mysterious nature is revealed as the game progresses, adding depth to his character and engaging the player in his story.

How do the contrasting perspectives of Yasuke and Naoe enhance the game's narrative?

Their contrasting perspectives expose different sides and facets of the era, providing a richer and more comprehensive view of the setting.

What is the significance of the hidden blade in Naoe's character design?

The hidden blade is a unique feature of Naoe's character, emphasizing her stealth capabilities and setting her apart from Yasuke in terms of gameplay style.

Outlines

00:00

🗡️ Samurai and Shinobi: Diverse Experiences

The video script introduces two main characters, the samurai and the shinobi, highlighting their distinct social backgrounds and lifestyles. The narrative team explores the historical figure of Yasuke, a foreigner in Japan in 1579, as an exciting opportunity to intertwine historical facts with the game's story. Yasuke's relationships with key figures like Oda Nobunaga, the Portuguese, and Jesuits are central to the narrative. The character Naoe, from the province of Iga, the birthplace of Shinobi, is also introduced. The contrasting perspectives of Yasuke and Naoe provide a rich view of the era, with Yasuke representing the samurai's combat-heavy approach and Naoe embodying the stealth and cunning of the shinobi. Their skills and values are shaped by their respective cultures and personal histories, creating a dynamic tension between the two characters.

Keywords

💡Dual Protagonists

The concept of having two main characters in a narrative, allowing players to experience different perspectives and gameplay styles. In the video, this is exemplified by the characters Yasuke, a samurai, and Naoe, a shinobi, who come from different social classes and have distinct experiences in the game.

💡Samurai

A member of the Japanese warrior class, known for their honor, combat skills, and adherence to the bushido code. In the video, Yasuke is a samurai, which influences his character's abilities and style, such as being able to break doors and fight multiple enemies.

💡Shinobi

A covert agent or spy in feudal Japan, known for stealth and espionage. Naoe represents the shinobi, with her character design and abilities focused on stealth and the use of a hidden blade, contrasting with Yasuke's more combat-oriented samurai role.

💡Yasuke

A historical figure who was a black samurai in the service of Oda Nobunaga. In the video, Yasuke is a foreigner discovering Japan, which parallels the player's experience of exploring the game's setting. His character is thoughtful and respectful of Japanese culture, providing a balance to Naoe's fiery passion.

💡Naoe

A character from the province of Iga, known as the birthplace of Shinobi. Naoe is portrayed as intense, passionate, and determined, with her skills and values inherited from her father, Fujibayashi Nagato, a legendary shinobi figure. Her character represents the stealth and espionage aspects of the game.

💡Oda Nobunaga

A prominent daimyo during the Sengoku period of Japan, known for his ambition and military prowess. In the video, Oda Nobunaga is mentioned as having a relationship with Yasuke, which is historically accurate and adds depth to the narrative by connecting the characters to significant historical events.

💡Iga Province

A remote, mountainous region in Japan, historically known for producing skilled ninja or shinobi. The video highlights Iga as Naoe's homeland, which is destroyed by Oda, creating a personal conflict and tension between the characters and their respective roles in the game.

💡Stealth Gameplay

A style of gameplay that emphasizes avoiding direct confrontation and using covert tactics to achieve objectives. Naoe's character is designed for stealth gameplay, with abilities that allow her to remain unseen and use a hidden blade, contrasting with Yasuke's more direct combat approach.

💡Combat Gameplay

A gameplay style that focuses on direct confrontation and physical battles. Yasuke's character is tailored for combat, with his large stature allowing him to break armor and engage multiple enemies, providing a different experience from Naoe's stealth-focused gameplay.

💡Cultural Respect

The concept of being considerate and respectful of another culture, which is embodied by Yasuke's character in the video. His intelligence and thoughtful approach to the Japanese culture he encounters adds depth to his character and provides a counterpoint to Naoe's more emotional and direct interactions.

💡Historical Research

The process of studying and incorporating historical facts and figures into the game's narrative. The video emphasizes the importance of historical research in creating the characters of Yasuke and Naoe, ensuring that their backgrounds and the game's setting are grounded in historical context.

💡Character Dynamics

The interactions and relationships between characters in a narrative. The video discusses the contrasting perspectives of Yasuke and Naoe, which create tension and depth in the story. Their differing personalities and approaches to gameplay are designed to complement each other, enhancing the player's experience.

Highlights

The game features two protagonists, a samurai and a shinobi, to provide players with two distinct fantasy experiences.

Samurai and shinobi come from different social classes and have different lives, so they cannot be combined into one character.

The historical character Yasuke provides an exciting opportunity for the narrative team.

Yasuke arrived in Japan in 1579, the same year the game starts, and had relationships with key figures like Oda Nobunaga.

The narrative team approached Yasuke's character with extensive research into his historical background.

Yasuke is a foreigner discovering Japan, which parallels the player's own experience of discovering the game's setting.

The second protagonist, Naoe, comes from the province of Iga, the birthplace of shinobi.

Naoe's perspective contrasts with Yasuke's, exposing different facets of the era.

Oda Nobunaga destroyed Iga, creating an interesting tension between Yasuke, Oda and Naoe.

Naoe is connected to the legendary Igan shinobi Fujibayashi Nagato, who is her father in the game.

Naoe embodies the values of valor, benevolence and wisdom from her father and the people of Iga.

Samurai combat is heavy, while shinobi combat is stealth-heavy, creating a clear distinction between the two playstyles.

Yasuke, being a big guy, has advantages like breaking doors and fighting multiple enemies.

Naoe specializes in stealth, being unseen, and is the only character with a hidden blade.

Yasuke and Naoe are a great pair, with Yasuke's thoughtfulness balancing Naoe's fiery passion.

Yasuke is intelligent, respectful of Japanese culture and somewhat mysterious.

The game allows players to see Yasuke's character unfold as it progresses.

Transcripts

With our dual

protagonists, we have two fantasies.

The samurai and the shinobi,

we want the player to experience both.

And we cannot squeeze

both fantasies into one character

because the samurai and shinobi came from

a different social classes.

They have different lives,

so we cannot really mix them together.

The historical character of Yasuke

presented a really exciting opportunity

for the narrative team.

We approached it

in the same way that so much of the work is done

in Assassin's Creed,

which is really

in terms of research and history first.

Not a lot is known about him,

but what we did know or we do know

is that he arrived in Japan in 1579 right

when our game starts.

And that he had relationships

with some of the most interesting people

in our setting, like Oda Nobunaga,

the Portuguese and Jesuits,

which made it very sort of tantalizing

and enticing

from a narrative perspective to come in

and start weaving these facts

with story in between.

The more we read that

about the character,

the more he was inspiring for us.

He's a foreigner discovering Japan,

and we thought it's the perfect fit

because he's discovering Japan

and you are discovering Japan also.

And on the flip side,

we have Naoe,

who comes from the province of Iga,

which is a remote mountainous area, fiercely

independent

and known as the birthplace of Shinobi.

So they're very contrasting perspectives

that really expose

a lot of different sides in facets of the era.

When Oda came he completely destroyed Iga.

You have Yasuke and Oda,

they are coming to destroy the shinobi.

So it kind of create this

this interesting tension between two characters.

We were able to connect her

to the province of Iga

in the legendary Igan Shinobi historical figure

Fujibayashi Nagato who's her father in the game.

So we understand why she has the skills

that she has

and the values that she learns from her father

and the people of Iga,

which are valor, benevolence and wisdom.

And as a young person

still at the start of the game,

we get to see Naoe

we acquire even more of that wisdom

as the story unfolds.

And if you ask anybody, it's super clear

that samurai will be combat heavy

and the shinobi will be stealth heavy.

It creates this distinction right away.

Yasuke can fight with all this advantage

in stature like he's a big guy.

He can break doors,

he can fight multiple enemies he can break armor.

Compared to Naoe,

like her character and their outfit

it's really about being stealth being unseen.

She's the only one with the hidden blade.

So they have clear advantages

that put them in the stealth and the combat,

even if they can do a bit of both.

They're really great paired together

because on one side

we have Naoe, who's very intense and passionate

and determined woman who is very

set on her goals, and she's kind of

got her heart on his sleeve

and she'll say, What she feels

in the heat of the moment and this intensity

that she brings as a shinobi

but that she also brings to her relationships

and this balance is very well with Yasuke,

who is sort of a thoughtful

level headed to Naoe’s fiery passion.

We really thought about somebody like Yasuke

historically who was able to come to Japan

and have the life that he did there

to enter service for Oda Nobunaga and achieve

all of the things that he did -

Like what kind of person

would go through all of this?

So our Yasuke is very intelligent, thoughtful

and respectful of this culture

that he encounters,

and that makes him a very nice

sort of counterpart to Naoe.

He's a bit mysterious as well,

and that's something we get to see

unfold as the game progresses.