Summary
- Assassin's Creed Shadows revamps its parkour system, focusing on designated "parkour highways" for climbing and introducing seamless ledge dismounts.
- The game features dual protagonists: the stealthy shinobi Naoe and the powerful samurai Yasuke, offering diverse playstyles.
- Launching February 14th, Assassin's Creed Shadows aims to blend classic stealth gameplay with RPG combat elements, appealing to a wider audience.
Ubisoft has detailed significant changes to the parkour system in their upcoming RPG-like title, Assassin's Creed Shadows. Originally slated for November 2024, the game's release has been pushed back to February, bringing the feudal Japan setting to the Assassin's Creed franchise for the first time.
Featuring dual protagonists, Naoe (a nimble shinobi) and Yasuke (a powerful samurai), Assassin's Creed Shadows caters to both stealth and combat fans. Naoe's skills emphasize stealth and agility, while Yasuke excels in open combat but lacks climbing abilities. This duality promises a diverse gameplay experience, appealing to fans of both classic Assassin's Creed stealth and the more recent RPG-focused entries like Odyssey and Valhalla.
In a recent blog post, Associate Game Director Simon Lemay-Comtois explained the revamped parkour system. A key change is the limitation of free climbing; players will now navigate pre-designed "parkour highways" for vertical traversal.
Players Won't Be Able To Climb Everything In Assassin's Creed Shadows
While this may seem restrictive, Ubisoft emphasizes careful design of these pathways, aiming for optimal flow and intuitive navigation. Lemay-Comtois assures players that most surfaces remain climbable, requiring a strategic approach. The blog also highlights seamless ledge dismounts, replacing the need to manually grab ledges with stylish, fluid movements. A new prone position allows for diving during sprints, adding another layer to movement.
"...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."
Assassin's Creed Shadows arrives on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC February 14th. With launch approaching, Ubisoft is expected to share more details soon. The game faces stiff competition that month, including titles like Monster Hunter Wilds, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, and Avowed.
