The license Assassin’s Creed has always rested on three pillars: infiltration, assassination and parkour. This is indeed what the developers of the recently released back-to-basics episode, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, have constantly repeated. And obviously, those of Assassin’s Creed Shadows follow the same credo. If we have already had the right to a whole explanatory section on the importance of infiltration for Naoe, today it is parkour which is put in the spotlight by the game team. And the least that What we can say is that its members have worked particularly hard on the subject. It is in fact a complete overhaul of the parkour system that is proposed, an overhaul detailed in a post written with the contribution of Simon Lemay-Comtois, associate director of the game. And you will have understood, for the second time, it Naoe’s agility and speed are particularly highlighted.
With feudal Japan, Ubisoft chose a playground particularly suitable for parkour. Whether it’s the architecture of the castles with their central Tenshu or the streets, but also the flourishing vegetation, there are a whole bunch of places to climb and explore. Visually, we can very well imagine the satisfaction that this can provide, especially since the teams have added very well-polished animations to the parkour, it must be admitted. But that’s not all!
Upward parkour is going to get some improvements. We remind you, for a while now, it has been possible to launch a fluid ascent of a building by holding down a button. This will always be the case in Assassin’s Creed Shadowsbut it should not be abused. Firstly because Yasuke’s upward parkour will be more limited and laborious than Naoe’s, the samurai not being able to afford to jump as high or be as agile as his partner. What’s more, in monitored areas, this easy solution will risk getting you spotted because it is much noisier. Assassin’s Creed Shadows therefore focuses on a more thoughtful and complex approach to parkour, as the associate director explains: “In our game, holding down the parkour button as if it were a gas pedal is not the best way to do parkour. You have to be able to discern which button does what is necessary to maximize the smooth running of parkour and maintaining your momentum.” So, jumping from the third floor into a guarded area won’t always be a great idea, as reception generates quite a bit of noise. Small subtlety for Naoe: the latter can use theIgan Recovery Rollan ability that allows her to land softer and quieter when jumping from great heights, all with the press of a single button – the dodge/parkour down button.
It is not for nothing that the two commands have been assigned to the same button – because yes the mapping commands have also been changed. With Naoe, it will be possible to mix the two actions, for example by dodging while passing from one roof to another below, all while performing a somersault worthy of the greatest gymnasts. And Naoe is capable of doing a lot of somersaults. By dodging, by sprinting over obstacles… Yasuke is of course more of a nag type than an acrobat, but he can also jump, although less gracefully, over obstacles. If they are destructible, he can simply run into them to break them. Note that it will also be possible to slide to change position while sprinting.
Because yes, we knew that, there will be different positions in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. And when we tell you that, we’re not just talking about the squatting and standing position. In this new opus, it will be possible to lie down and crawl, we remind you. Note that both characters will be able to perform directional dodges while crouching, but Naoe will be the only one who can do so while lying down. Another known novelty that will have a more profound impact on parkour: the grappling hook. The latter, exclusive to Naoe, allows several different movements, such as vertical ascension, wall running or the pendulum effect. This new tool already promises to be very pleasant and useful, especially since not all surfaces will be climbable. “It’s a big plus for us,” explains Simon Lemay-Comtois, “This meant we had to think more about creating interesting parkour courses and we were able to better control where Naoe can go and where Yasuke can’t, making our two playstyles even more contrasting.” On paper, it is clear that real overhaul work has been carried out. The more he shows himself, the more attractive he seems, this Assassin’s Creed Shadows. All that remains is to wait until February 14 to see if the theory works as well as the practice.
- Also read | [News] Assassin’s Creed Shadows: a mode without dialogue choices to follow the official story
- Also read | [News] Assassin’s Creed Shadows details its combat mechanics
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