Assassin's Creed Shadows, which will be released on November 15, 2024, promises to take players to the rich, detailed world of feudal Japan. This latest installment, available for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Mac, and Amazon Luna, offers a deeply immersive experience with historical detail, dynamic gameplay, and an engaging narrative. Here's what we know so far.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: The Setting
Assassin's Creed Shadows takes place during the Azuchi-Momoyama period, which begins in 1579 and lasts into the early 1580s. This era sees the return of the Assassins and Templars in their classic incarnations, reminiscent to the 2015 game Assassin's Creed Syndicate. Players will meet historical personalities such as Oda Nobunaga, Japan's "great unifier," and Fujibayashi Nagato, a well-known ninja master from the Iga clan.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Dual Protagonists
Unlike previous titles, Shadows has two protagonists. Throughout the campaign, players have the ability to switch between:
Naoe: A fictional character and Fujibayashi Nagato's daughter who has been trained as a talented shinobi.
Yasuke: A true historical individual from Africa who arrived in Japan in 1579 and became a samurai under Oda Nobunaga. For the first time in the series, gamers can take on the role of an actual historical figure.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Stealth and Parkour
The combination of light and shadow has a significant impact on Assassin's Creed Shadows stealth mechanics. A new global illumination system dynamically alters enemy visibility, allowing players to hide themselves in shadows and generate darkness through removing light sources. The stealth system contains the following:
Light Meter: indicates your level of hiding, ranging from fully visible to entirely hidden.
Servants: A new NPC class that can summon reinforcements and sound alarms but cannot combat. They patrol with lights, introducing a new element of strategy.
Non-Lethal Takedowns: Enables a more pacific approach.
Prone Position: Allows crawling to keep a low profile and reach tight locations.
Grappling Hook: Naoe uses a grappling hook to swing and climb into secret locations.
Eagle Vision: Returns, highlighting NPCs through walls, with enemies in red and servants in orange.
Notably, the drone-like bird from before versions is removed, leaving players to perform their own reconnaissance.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Immersive World and Seasonal Changes
Assassin’s Creed Shadows, built on an improved Anvil game engine, provides a richly detailed and dynamic environment. The key features include:
Seasonal Changes: The world goes through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, altering both gameplay and the ecology. For example, in the spring, blooming plants give cover, whereas in the winter, these hiding places are removed and water bodies freeze.
Weather System: Dynamic weather, such as fog and storms, affects visibility and sound, resulting in strategic advantages.
Ecology System: Seasons have an impact on the ecology, with sections such as spring pollen gusts increasing immersion.
Map: The map is comparable in size to Assassin's Creed Origins and includes central Japan, with historical provinces such as Iga, Arima, and Omi.
Synchronization points return, but with a twist: instead of hard the map with icons, they highlight locations of interest for players to discover organically. These points are still used for fast travel.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Combat and RPG Systems
Combat in Shadows is heavily impacted by the period's combat dynamics:
Gears: Without shields, players rely on avoiding and positioning. Yasuke can block and parry, whereas Naoe deflects attacks.
Durability: Enemy armor can be damaged during fight.
Dynamic Damage: Weapons strike the environment easily, slicing through plants and destroying things.
Weapons: A wide range of period-appropriate weapons are available, each with its own skill tree. Yasuke may also use arquebus rifles for long-distance fighting.
Crafting and Customization: Players can create and personalize their katanas, and a transmog system allows them to tailor the appearance of their gear.
Shared Resources: Yasuke and Naoe share XP, weapons, and resources, but have their own skill trees and armor.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Assassinations and Quests
Assassin's Creed Shadows features a nonlinear campaign focused on target elimination. The key features include:
Organic Encounters: Certain targets can be discovered without prior research.
Player Autonomy: Instead of giving straight directions, hints encourage players through exploration and tactics.
Dual Character Missions: While both characters may finish the majority of the main tasks, each has their own set of missions and introduction quests.
Side Quests: Discover castles, temples, shrines, and art.
Spy Network: Players can set up a network of agents to gather intelligence on targets.
Assassin's Creed Shadows promises a fascinating blend of historical intrigue, dynamic settings, and subtle gameplay mechanics, making it a widely anticipated addition to the franchise. Whether you choose to master the shadows as a shinobi or defend the honor of a samurai, the game provides a fully detailed and immersive adventure through feudal Japan
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