Assassin\'s Creed Shadows Details Parkour Changes

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, bringing significant changes to the franchise's iconic parkour system and introducing a unique dual-protagonist structure.

The game features Naoe, a stealthy shinobi adept at traversing walls and navigating shadows, and Yasuke, a powerful samurai specializing in open combat. This design aims to appeal to both fans of classic Assassin's Creed stealth and those who prefer the RPG-style combat introduced in titles like Odyssey and Valhalla.

Ubisoft has detailed significant parkour system overhauls. Instead of freeform climbing, players will navigate designated "parkour highways," carefully designed routes that optimize movement flow. While this might seem restrictive, the majority of climbable surfaces remain accessible, requiring players to identify appropriate entry points. The addition of a grappling hook further enhances traversal options.

Seamless ledge dismounts replace the traditional ledge-grabbing mechanic. Players can now smoothly dismount from ledges with stylish flips, enhancing the fluidity of parkour. A new prone position allows for sprinting dives and slides, adding further dynamic movement options.

Associate Game Director Simon Lemay-Comtois explains the shift: "...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 will launch on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Its February release places it amidst a competitive gaming landscape, including titles like Monster Hunter Wilds, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, and Avowed. Whether it can capture the gaming zeitgeist remains to be seen.