Unveiling Assassin’s Creed Shadows: The Hanno-ji Incident

Hey there, fellow gamers! Heads up—this article is chock-full of spoilers for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, so proceed with caution!

The Assassin’s Creed franchise is famous for its imaginative interweaving of historical figures like Benjamin Franklin and Napoleon, to name just a couple. But what really sets these games apart is how they cleverly incorporate major historical events into their storylines. Take Assassin’s Creed 3, for example: you get to experience the Boston Tea Party firsthand. In AC Odyssey, you’re right there in the thick of the Battle of Thermopylae, and AC Unity has you escaping from the Bastille during its storming. Assassin’s Creed Shadows is no exception, offering its own fascinating historical moments.

Jumping into 1581, this game is set during the tumultuous end of Japan’s Sengoku period—a time riddled with constant warfare among the daimyos and clans. You’ll kick off Assassin’s Creed Shadows by diving into Oda Nobunaga’s ambitious campaign to unify Japan, only for it to be dramatically interrupted by the infamous Honnō-ji Incident. Yes, you get to witness this pivotal moment up close.

Now, a quick trip back in time: By 1582, after decimating the Takeda clan, Oda Nobunaga was the most formidable daimyo in Japan. Entering the final stretch of his efforts to unify the nation, he dispatched his most trusted generals to take over central Japan’s strategic provinces, places already weakened by internal strife and rivalries.

Believing he was just a step away from achieving his dream, Nobunaga made his way back to Kyoto. Hearing that the Mori clan boasted a larger force than anticipated, he sent Akechi Mitsuhide to reinforce their ranks in the Chūgoku region, planning to follow suit after a brief respite at the nearby Honnō-ji temple.

But here’s where the plot thickens. With his core army scattered across distant battlefields, Nobunaga was vulnerable in his capital. Akechi Mitsuhide seized the opportunity, leading his 13,000 troops to the Honnō-ji temple, overwhelming the meager defenses.

In a mere two hours, Mitsuhide’s forces decimated the temple walls, setting the complex ablaze and leaving Nobunaga with no choice but to commit seppuku, a ritual suicide, amid the flames.

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows, they put their own twist on this. At one point, the player character, Naoe, answers a summon to meet Akechi Mitsuhide. It’s here she learns of Nobunaga’s alleged role as head of the Shinbakufu, the same group believed to have killed her father. This revelation pushes her to aid Mitsuhide against Nobunaga.

Slipping past Nobunaga’s defenses at Honnō-ji, Naoe confronts him just as Mitsuhide’s forces launch their attack. Nobunaga insists that she’s been manipulated, claiming it was actually Mitsuhide who killed her father, not him. Distraught and confused, Naoe exits the fiery scene, leaving Nobunaga to his fate. As the temple burns, Yasuke steps in as kaishakunin, reluctantly fulfilling his duty by severing Nobunaga’s spinal cord.

As you can see, Assassin’s Creed Shadows presents an intriguing reimagining of this critical moment in history, blending real-world events with its own narrative flair. It’s this kind of storytelling that makes the Assassin’s Creed series a staple in immersive historical gaming. Game on!