TheAssassin’s Creedseries has always been known for its constantly evolvingstealth mechanics, from the crowd-dense hidden-in-plain-sight mechanics of the original to the more traditional action-adventure game stealth of the modern releases.
The modern games ranging fromOriginstoValhalla(excluding Mirage) seem to steadily remove the focus on stealth. For example,Valhalla’sViking rampagestook a massive spotlight in that game. That said, we still had many stealth abilities and takedowns that made tackling an enemy base from the shadows engaging and fun.
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The latestgameplay updatefor the upcoming titleAssassin’s Creed Shadowshas informed us that thetraditional stealth system will undergoa massive overhaul.Although a few key aspects from previous games are being removed, the title “Shadows” does an excellent job defining the new focus on stealth they seem to be taking with this game.
So,despite whispersthat stealth will be a “huge step back” inShadows, the stealth structure ofAssassin’s Creedhas been evolving from its original form for a long time.Compared to other recent titles, it actually looks like a step in a good direction, although some may still argue if it’s the right direction for Assassin’s Creed.
OddyseyandOriginsimplemented a literal eagle with an overhead perspective to replace the classic eagle vision. YetShadows, likeValhalla,removes thisin favor of the original version, allowing players to see through walls and sense enemies within their proximity.
This means scouting a base before entering must be done entirely alone.Without an eagle companion, you may not know the exact location of every enemy in a base as you work your way through it, so as the overview states:
players must rely on their main character’s own senses and engage enemies in a more tactical moment-to-moment manner.
To be fair, the eagle tool in previousAssassin’s Creed gamesmay have allowed players to breeze by stealth and minimized the amount of risk involved with any stealth move you decided to make. Although fans of modernAssassin’s Creedtitles may feel a bit naked, we suspect this new version will only make stealth gameplay more enthralling.
Another new addition to this title should make the difference betweenassassinationand combat segments more engaging. There is a dynamic distinction between the two main characters, the samurai Yasuke and the assassin Naoe, who are vastly different in stealth and combat.
Yasuke, being a big, bulky samurai, relies on much different stealth tactics than the more nimble Naoe. As this overview explains, they both must tackle similar challenges with entirely different methods.
New Stealth Mechanics And Abilities
Both main characters have theirown unique toolsetfor tackling stealth. Naoe uses four main stealth tools: the smoke bomb, shinobi bells, kunai knives, and shuriken. While Yasuke lacks these abilities, his bow still allows him to remain silent while taking down numerous enemies.
Of Naoeo’s four abilities, the stealth bombs and shinobi bells primarily distract enemies, whether escaping imminent danger or getting around them quietly. Kunai can be used for easy one-hit kills, and while shuriken may only momentarily stun enemies, they can still be strategically used when sneaking through a large base.
A few modifiers make the stealth much more engaging from a gameplay perspective, such as added mechanics like a series first prone ability. Additionally,there is an added focus on enemy senses, as staying in complete darkness hides you completely, and you must remain careful about sounds and footsteps.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows' Yasuke Will Have His Own Assassination Variant
Yasuke won’t have his own hidden blade, but he will be able to perform some “brutal” assassinations, according to Ubisoft.
With nightingale floors specifically designed to creak, allowing enemies to hear any approaching assassin, making strategic takedowns in more populated areas is more challenging than ever.
A massive highlight is thathigher-level enemies, such as samurai, will have added resistance, such as being able to dodge an incoming assassination attempt.This means you’ll have to work around bases with added precision and level up your stealth abilities to deal with higher-difficulty areas.
Even if it may not be the direction all fans had hoped for, this focus on samurai, addedAI intelligencelike patrolling in pairs, and player tools make this new stealth system feel like a massive improvement upon recentAssassin’s Creedstealth mechanics.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows
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