Assassin\'s Creed Shadows Details Parkour Changes

Assassin's Creed Shadows: Revamped Parkour and Dual Protagonists

Assassin's Creed Shadows, Ubisoft's upcoming feudal Japan adventure, introduces significant changes, particularly to its parkour system and protagonist design. Launching February 14th, the game aims to blend classic stealth with RPG combat elements.

A New Approach to Parkour:

The game's parkour has been redesigned, shifting from free-climbing to designated "parkour highways." While this might seem restrictive, Ubisoft assures players that most climbable surfaces remain accessible, requiring strategic approaches. The development team emphasizes a more curated parkour experience, focusing on optimized pathways for smoother traversal. Seamless ledge dismounts, allowing for stylish flips and dives, enhance the fluidity of movement. A new prone position adds sprinting dives and sliding capabilities. The design choice, according to Associate Game Director Simon Lemay-Comtois, allows for better control over character movement, differentiating the abilities of the two protagonists.

Dual Protagonists, Divergent Playstyles:

Shadows features two playable characters: Naoe, a stealthy shinobi adept at climbing and shadow maneuvering, and Yasuke, a powerful samurai excelling in open combat but limited in climbing abilities. This dual-protagonist approach caters to both stealth and action-oriented gameplay preferences, drawing inspiration from both classic Assassin's Creed titles and more recent RPG entries like Odyssey and Valhalla.

Release and Competition:

Launching on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC on February 14th, Assassin's Creed Shadows faces stiff competition from other high-profile releases that month, including Monster Hunter Wilds, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, and Avowed. Ubisoft will likely unveil more details in the lead-up to the launch.