The past seven years of Assassin’s Creed games have turned me into the fan I never wanted to be: a withered old grumpy person who wishes things were the way they were. Used to Happen. Nobody likes that guy—especially not the millions of people who became Assassin’s Creed fans through the immaculate worlds of Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla.
I’ve gotten used to the idea that a modern day, like a playable episode of Assassin’s Creed Deadliest Warrior, is about stepping into the shoes of historical warrior ideals and not, like, being a killer. But the next mainline game, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, set in feudal Japan, seemingly wants to do both.
Ubisoft is splitting the two themes of Assassin’s Creed between two protagonists: Nao, an agile shinobi armed with a hidden blade, and Yasuke, the historical black samurai who boldly faces his enemies. In an interview with IGN, Ubisoft stated that most missions can be tackled as any character (some are character-specific), with it being up to the player to decide whether they want to be completed in an Odyssey-style manner. Want to approach Contact From the Shadows like an action RPG or traditional stealth game. ,
I’m resisting the urge to say ‘bullshit’ on UB’s suggestion that stealth and open combat be given equal attention after how untrue this proved to be in Odyssey and Valhalla. Ubi has made a habit of reassuring AC’s oldest fans that you can still play the new games like the old ones, only to be disappointed in the follow-through. But there is reason to believe that UBI is taking a new turn. Assassin’s Creed Mirage first delivered on its promise as a dangerous game, which was personally exciting, and Ubi also shared some specific details about stealth in Shadows that impressed me. Some highlights from the same IGN interview:
Sticking to shadows matters, and Nao can eliminate light sources to create dark areas.
It has a light meter like Splinter Cell(!).
Now can go prone, a first for the series and a rare treat in a stealth game outside of Metal Gear Solid
Similar to Basim in Mirage, Nao is not strong in open combat
There is a grapple hook (the dangling type, not the zipline type) that expands parkour.
Guard patterns are influenced by weather and seasons: for example, guards will seek shelter from the rain.
If I were to judge solely based on which aspects of Shadows Ubisoft chose to focus on for its grand reveal, stealth also feels like the star of the show. The studio talked about how the passing seasons would affect the guards’ patrols and concealment options.
(Image credit: Ubisoft)
IGN wrote, “As the months go by, winter weather depletes these natural hiding places. Hanging icicles are at risk of breaking and falling off, exposing the condition of your roof.” “But at the same time, deteriorating weather limits the enemies’ view. Strong winds obscure your steps. Guard patrols stick to warmer areas, allowing you to take new, cooler routes.”
Less was said about Yosuke’s combat-forward playing style. He will be able to cut through almost anything in the world that is not nailed (cleanly), and he can block/counterattack enemies to instantly kill them. Repeated attacks can wear or break the enemy’s armor. If it’s going to feel something like the button-mashy fights of Valhalla or Odyssey, then I don’t have too high expectations from Shadows of the Fallen’s swordplay, especially after enjoying two playthroughs of the game, which earned Yubi the title of “assassin in Japan.” Breed,” defeated by the Ghost of Tsushima’s punch. ,
But it’s nonsense to speculate about a game without the benefit of gameplay. all this sound Promising, but a 10-minute demo could change everything. We’re a stubborn group of classic AC enthusiasts who know how small missteps can spoil the killer’s imagination – weak stealth kills, messy parkour, silly NPCs. Shadow of the Assassin’s Creed is extremely promising in my mind. Fingers crossed the actual game will be similar.
