Assassin's Creed Overhauls Parkour in Shadows Update

Assassin's Creed Shadows: Revamped Parkour and Dual Protagonists

Assassin's Creed Shadows, Ubisoft's highly anticipated feudal Japan-set installment, 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 environments, and Yasuke, a powerful samurai specializing in open combat. This design aims to appeal to both fans of classic stealth gameplay and those who prefer the more action-oriented RPG combat of recent titles like Odyssey and Valhalla.

A Refined Parkour Experience:

Ubisoft has significantly overhauled the parkour mechanics. Instead of freeform climbing, players will navigate designated "parkour highways," carefully designed routes for traversal. While this might seem restrictive, Ubisoft assures players that most surfaces remain climbable, requiring a strategic approach. The addition of seamless ledge dismounts, allowing for stylish flips and dives, enhances the fluidity of movement. A new prone position also enables sprinting dives and slides, adding further dynamism.

Associate Game Director Simon Lemay-Comtois explains the design choice: "...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."

A Competitive Launch Window:

With its February 14th release, Assassin's Creed Shadows faces stiff competition from 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, but Ubisoft's detailed insights into the game's innovative features certainly generate excitement. The game will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.