Summary
Assassin’s Creed Shadowsmay have introduced and improved a lot of features to the series, but one thing it stays true to are the three tenets of the Assassin’s Creed: “Stay your blade from the flesh of an innocent,” “Hide in plain sight, be one with the crowd,” and “Never compromise the Brotherhood.” The three tenets of the Assassin’s Creed ensure the organization remains morally and ethically grounded, that it utilizes the effectiveness of stealth over brute force, and that every member of the Creed remains unified with the rest to maintain a strong, organized order at all times. As such, they are the most importanttraditions of anAssassin’s Creedgame, andAssassin’s Creed Shadowsupholds them well.
WhileAssassin’s Creed Shadowsdoesn’t spend a significant amount of time directly unpacking the tenets of the Creed in its story, these traditions are still noticeable in its narrative, characters, and gameplay. Whether it’s Naoe’s pursuit of jusitce, Yasuke’s moral compass, or the game’s renewed emphasis on stealth gameplay,Assassin’s Creed Shadowspulls out all the stops to ensure the tenets of the Creed are upheld.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows and the Tenets of the Creed
Stay Your Blade From the Flesh of an Innocent
The first tenet of the Creed, “Stay your blade from the flesh of an innocent,” is heavily baked intoAssassin’s Creed Shadows' narrative and gameplay, to the point that it is unavoidable. Just as every entry has done before it,Assassin’s Creed Shadowspunishes players for harming innocent civilians by eventually “desynchronizing” them, which isAssassin’s Creed’s form of killing the player and resetting them back to a previous save. From a narrative standpoint,Assassin’s Creed Shadows' dual protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, both have a strong moral compass and are driven by justice, honor, and integrity.
It’s also impossible to kill animals inAssassin’s Creed Shadows, which further reinforces this tenet of the Creed and fosters a deeper connection to Japanese culture, even though players can still kill civilians.
Hide in Plain Sight, Be One With the Crowd
The second tenet of the Creed, “Hide in plain sight, be one with the crowd,” is a significant part ofAssassin’s Creed Shadows' gameplay, and even more so than recent entries in the series.Assassin’s Creed Shadowshas reimagined the series' stealth system to be more realistic and demanding, making stealth an integral part of its gameplay and therefore emphasizing the second tenet of the Creed. This is especially noticeable inAssassin’s Creed Shadows' AI overhaul, which has resulted in enemies being more alert and aware of the game’s protagonists, to the point that stealth is often the best option.
Never Compromise the Brotherhood
The third tenet of the Creed, “Never compromise the Brotherhood,” is a core part ofAssassin’s Creed Shadows' story, as players are presented with choices throughout the narrative where they must consider how their actions are going to impact the organization of Assassins. Loyalty is a major part of what defines an Assassin in the Brotherhood, andAssassin’s Creed Shadowsensures its players are fully aware of that as they are faced with multiple decisions that could lead to dire consequences for the organization. While that ultimately puts the decision to potentially compromise the Brotherhood in the player’s hands, it still emphasizes the importance of this particular tenet.
Just as every entry has done before it,Assassin’s Creed Shadowspunishes players for harming innocent civilians by eventually “desynchronizing” them, which isAssassin’s Creed’s form of killing the player and resetting them back to a previous save.
In a series that has seen countless changes in gameplay, setting, andsize,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsstill leans on the core values that define the Assassin Brotherhood. By integrating the Creed’s tenets into its mechanics, characters, and choices,Assassin’s Creed Shadowshonors the roots of the Creed and cements its place in the series as a faithful entry.
