Since 2007, Assassin's Creed has introduced some of the most interesting and layered protagonists in video games. Many of its characters have become iconic, like the pirate assassin Edward Kenway, whose journey from scoundrel to hero made him a fan favorite. However, one assassin who deserves far more attention is Shao Jun.

Shao Jun was introduced in the animated short film Assassin's Creed Embers. In the film, she seeks the help of an elderly Ezio Auditore to aid her in restoring the Chinese Brotherhood. While he never joined her on her trip to China, their time together gave her the drive she needed to restore her Brotherhood. Shao's story was expanded in the side-scroller, Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China, but while this was the strongest entry in the Chronicles trilogy, the game's performance was lackluster. Still, Shao Jun's life is fascinating and deserves further exploration.

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Shao Jun is shown as possessing kindness like Ezio's, as well as a drive to defeat the Templars no matter the cost. She also has a strong desire to gain knowledge from anywhere, similar to Altair. Her sense of justice also mirrors Bayek's, and her ferocity in combat is no different than Edward Kenway's. All together, Shao Jun has the best qualities of each of the most honorable assassins.

While Shao is soft-spoken, she's unafraid to do whatever it takes to complete her mission. During her time as an Assassin, she helped dismantle the Eight Tigers, an Templar-aligned organization that existed during the Ming Dynasty. While Chronicles covers her time facing off against them, a larger game with side-missions that revisit these assassinations could provide a deeper look at her accomplishments. For instance, perhaps Shao's most impressive moment as an Assassin came when (in her old age) she successfully orchestrated the assassination of the Jiajing Emperor.

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In her lifetime, Shao Jun overthrew governments, defeated Mongol invaders and rebuilt her Brotherhood. However,  these amazing feats have mainly been relegated to short levels or cutscenes. Considering the turbulent era she lived in, combined with the adventures we already know about, it's clear that her story is an interesting one that deserves more attention from fans and the developers.

Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China did a great job at providing a fast-paced look at Shao Jun's story. However, what she really needs is an in-depth adventure that gives players complete control over the most important moments of her life. With the franchise choosing to focus on RPG mechanics, now is the perfect time to give this underrated character the attention she has clearly earned.

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