Assassin's Creed Shadows: A Revamped Parkour System 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, particularly to its parkour mechanics and protagonist design.
The game features a redesigned parkour system, shifting from the free-climbing style of previous titles to designated "parkour highways." While this might initially seem restrictive, Ubisoft assures players that most climbable surfaces remain accessible, albeit requiring strategic approaches. The new system allows for more controlled level design, influencing character movement and differentiating the gameplay experiences of the two protagonists.
Speaking of protagonists, Shadows introduces a dual-protagonist system: Naoe, a stealthy shinobi adept at climbing and shadow maneuvers; and Yasuke, a powerful samurai excelling in open combat but unable to climb. This dual approach caters to both classic stealth fans and those who prefer the more action-oriented RPG combat of recent Assassin's Creed entries like Odyssey and Valhalla.
Further enhancing the parkour experience, Shadows introduces seamless ledge dismounts, allowing for stylish flips and a smoother descent. A new prone position also enables sprinting dives and slides, adding another layer of fluidity to movement.
Ubisoft's Associate Game Director, Simon Lemay-Comtois, emphasized the deliberate design of these parkour pathways, stating, "...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's Creed Shadows faces stiff competition in a busy February release window, including Monster Hunter Wilds, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, and Avowed. The coming weeks will undoubtedly reveal more about this highly anticipated title.
