Assassin's Creed Shadows: Revamped Parkour Revealed

Summary

• The parkour system in Assassin's Creed Shadows has been revamped, limiting climbing to specific "parkour highways" and introducing seamless ledge dismounts.
• Assassin's Creed Shadows introduces dual protagonists with distinct playstyles: Naoe as a stealthy shinobi, and Yasuke as a powerful samurai.
• Ubisoft aims to cater to both classic stealth gameplay and RPG combat fans with Assassin's Creed Shadows, set to release on February 14.

Ubisoft has provided a detailed overview of the significant changes implemented in the parkour system of Assassin's Creed Shadows, the next major RPG-like installment in their acclaimed historical action-adventure series. After a delay that pushed it out of November 2024, the game is now scheduled for release on February 14.

Set in feudal Japan for the first time, Assassin's Creed Shadows introduces dual protagonists, Naoe and Yasuke, offering players diverse playstyles. Naoe, a nimble shinobi, excels in scaling walls and stealth, while Yasuke, a formidable samurai, dominates in direct combat but cannot climb. This dual approach aims to satisfy both fans of the traditional Assassin's Creed stealth experience and those who enjoy the more recent RPG combat-focused entries like Odyssey and Valhalla.

In a recent blog post, Ubisoft's Associate Game Director Simon Lemay-Comtois detailed the changes to the parkour system. A significant shift is the limitation on climbing; players can no longer scale nearly any wall as in previous games. Instead, Ubisoft has introduced specific "parkour highways" that players must discover to navigate vertically.

Players Won't Be Able To Climb Everything In Assassin's Creed Shadows

This change might seem restrictive, but Ubisoft has carefully designed these pathways to enhance the flow and engagement of parkour. Lemay-Comtois emphasized that most surfaces will remain climbable, but players will need to find the correct approach. Additionally, the game introduces new mechanics for dismounting from higher ledges, allowing players to perform stylish flips and dives, enhancing the fluidity of parkour. The new prone position also enables players to dive while sprinting, adding to the dynamic movement options.

...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 is set to launch on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC on February 14. With just over a month until its release, Ubisoft is expected to reveal more about this highly anticipated title. It will be fascinating to see if Assassin's Creed Shadows can capture the gaming community's attention in a month that also features releases like Monster Hunter Wilds, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Avowed, and more.