Assassin's Creed Shadows: Revamped Parkour and Dual Protagonists
Assassin's Creed Shadows, Ubisoft's highly anticipated feudal Japan adventure, is set to launch February 14th. This latest installment introduces significant changes, notably a revamped parkour system and dual protagonists with distinct playstyles.
The game's parkour mechanics have undergone a major overhaul. Instead of freeform climbing, players will navigate pre-designed "parkour highways." While this might initially seem restrictive, Ubisoft assures players that most climbable surfaces remain accessible, requiring strategic approaches. The design aims for smoother, more intuitive traversal. Seamless ledge dismounts, allowing for stylish flips and dives, enhance the parkour experience. A new prone position adds diving during sprints, alongside sliding.
Shadows introduces Naoe, a stealthy shinobi adept at scaling walls and shadow-based maneuvers, and Yasuke, a powerful samurai excelling in open combat but unable to climb. This dual protagonist system caters to both classic stealth fans and those who prefer the RPG-style combat of titles like Odyssey and Valhalla.
Ubisoft's Associate Game Director, Simon Lemay-Comtois, explains the parkour redesign: "...we had to be more thoughtful about creating interesting parkour highways and afforded us more control about where Naoe can go, and where Yasuke can't...Rest assured that most of what you'll see in Assassin's Creed Shadows is still very much climbable - especially with the grappling hook - but players will have to look for valid entry points from time to time."
Launching on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC, Assassin' Creed Shadows faces stiff competition in a busy February release window, including Monster Hunter Wilds, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, and Avowed. Ubisoft is expected to reveal further details before the game's launch.
