Summary
Rumors have suggested thatAssassin’s Creed Redcould feature two distinct protagonists, echoing the decision made with the Frye siblings inAssassin’s Creed Syndicate. The protagonists ofAssassin’s Creed Redmay be based on historical figuresthis time, though—a significant leap for the franchise, which has always featured fictional characters in its leading roles, despite the appearance of several real-world personalities in supporting roles.
Assuming the leaks and rumors are true,Assassin’s Creed Redwill star a man named Yasuke, an African mercenary-turned-samurai who was active in the late sixteenth century. Yasuke’s real story leaves a good bit of room for interpretation, but the historical record is comprehensive enough to form a clear image of his time in Japan and role in Oda Nobunaga’s army. The other rumored protagonist is a woman named Naoe Fujibayashi. Unlike Yasuke, Naoe never existed in the real world, though her in-game father, Fujibayashi Nagato, was a famous ninja in real life, also active in the late sixteenth century.
Assassin’s Creed Red’s Real-World Inspiration Could Be a Double-Edged Sword
Playable Historical Characters Would Make Assassin’s Creed Red a Novel Experience
The franchise may not be perfect, butAssassin’s Creed’s historical rootingmakes it unlike almost every other gaming series on the market. More than new features, technological advancements, or the next chapter in the overarching modern-day storyline,Assassin’s Creedfans look forward to learning about where and when each new game will be taking place. In many ways, this is the main selling point of the IP as a whole: it allows people to live out the fantasy of exploring Ancient Greece, Renaissance Italy, Revolutionary France, and other iconic settings.
It’s not clear whetherAssassin’s Creed Redwill make major changesto things like basic mechanics or the ARPG formula that was introduced withAssassin’s Creed Origins, but the long-awaited Japan setting is enough to get fans excited. Connecting the player directly to Japanese history through the game’s playable protagonists could serve to elevate the Feudal Japan fantasy that the game is going for, heightening verisimilitude and, by extension, immersion.
There aren’t many games that give players control over a real character from history. Even anAC-inspired game likeGhost of Tsushima, which beat Ubisoft to the punch with its Japanese setting, doesn’t star a real figure from history. But, as it happens, there might be a few reasons whyAssassin’s Creedhas kept real-world historical figuresat arm’s length.
Historical Protagonists Come With a Lot of Baggage
With a character like Ezio or Bayek, Ubisoft is able to craft engaging and fairly plausible stories within historical backdrops such as Renaissance Italy and Ancient Egypt. These characters strike a good balance between being believable within their historical contexts, and still having the breathing room that an open-world game hero demands.
Yasuke will have to be restrained by his real-world history, even if Ubisoft takes some creative liberties. Unlike the fictionalized depictions of samurai as lone wolves and rebels in modern media,Yasuke was very much a soldier, employed by warlord Oda Nobunaga during a period of civil war and unrest: he did not likely take long breaks to climb towers, hunt down collectibles, or help locals with trivial matters. This means that theACgameplay formula could be restricted by Yasuke’s real-world circumstances, just as much as its story could be.
Admittedly, Yasuke’s ultimate fate after just a few months as a samurai is unknown, so Ubisoft has a bit of play there.
A similar conundrum arises with Naoe, though not to the same extent. Since she’s a fictional character, there is much more room for interpretation and creativity, even if her story will need to be written with certain considerations given her parentage. Perhaps she will beAC Red’s main protagonist, engaging more directly with the series' overarching narrative and gameplay pillars, with the more stringently defined Yasuke being playable in a comparably linear context.
Assassin’s Creed: Mirage
WHERE TO PLAY
Play as a cunning young street thief seeking answers in this majestic Middle Eastern open world. Experience the home of the original Assassins in this exciting new narrative-driven, open world adventure. 15 years since the first Assassin’s Creed redefined adventure, experience the franchises' trademark parkour and stealth like never before - in Assasin’s Creed Mirage. In this smaller scale, back to basics Assassin’s caper, you play Basim, a young street thief seeking answers. Roam the richly-detailed, reactive and vibrant streets of 9th century Baghdad, uncovering the mysteries of the past as you fight to secure your future. Stalk the shadows. Become the ultimate assassin.
