Summary
While theAssassin’s Creedseries has long been known for its stealth gameplay, it hasn’t always put stealth at the forefront — particularly in its modern era.SinceAssassin’s Creed Origins, the series has leaned more into open, real-time action than it had previously, largely leaving its iconic stealth system in the dust. However, that is precisely where the latest entry,Assassin’s Creed Shadows, shines the brightest, as it has reimagined the series' stealth system to be more fulfilling, engaging, and rewarding than ever before, with more realistic encounters and increased challenge as a result.
Unfortunately,Assassin’s Creed Shadows' renewed emphasis on stealth is a bit of a double-edged sword for the game, as it has led to its parkour (another iconic element of theAssassin’s Creedseries) being severely downgraded. Parkour mechanics are still very much present inAssassin’s Creed Shadows, and they have even received some new animations that make it a bit flashier at times. Even so, the parkour is not at all what it once was, though perhaps that can be excused thanks to the refined stealth mechanics the game possesses.
AC Shadows' Parkour Has Been Reimagined to Prioritize Stealth
AC Shadows Offers Fewer Opportunities for Extensive Parkour
There are still just as many buildings and geographical obstacles to traverse inAssassin’s Creed Shadowsas there have been in previous installments. The inclusion of traditional Japanese architecture, especially, creates a lot of unique opportunities for parkour. That being said,Assassin’s Creed Shadows' parkour mechanicsare some of the most grounded to date, primarily due to the game’s increased emphasis on stealth gameplay. Rather than encouraging players to go higher,Assassin’s Creed Shadowsencourages them to remain closer to the ground, with the new prone ability even being evidence of that philosophy.
Enemies on the ground are also more likely to notice players when they’re on rooftops inAssassin’s Creed Shadows, which is something the series has rarely fully leaned into.
In previousAssassin’s Creedgames, players have been able to climb just about anything that looks like it has visible handholds. In some installments, players have even been able to climb anything, regardless of whether it looks climbable.Assassin’s Creed Shadows, on the other hand, prevents players from climbing everything in sight. Even rock walls that look like they have handholds are often not climbable inAssassin’s Creed Shadows. Add to that the inability to accurately discern just how far Naoe or Yasuke will be able to leap when leaving an edge, andAssassin’s Creed Shadowshas one of the most limited parkour systems in the series to date.
Stealth Is the Best It Has Ever Been in AC Shadows
However, this more grounded approach thatAssassin’s Creed Shadowstakes also means a greater focus on stealth — and that focus has paid off immensely. Stealth inAssassin’s Creed Shadowsis arguably the best the series has ever been, as it strongly encourages players to move slowly and carefully assess every situation before engaging.Enemies inAssassin’s Creed Shadowsare more alert and will even pursue players to a greater degree, and it’s much more difficult to pull off assassinations on enemies that are already aware of the player’s presence in the area.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows' renewed emphasis on stealth is a bit of a double-edged sword for the game, as it has led to its parkour being severely downgraded.
This renewed emphasis on stealth is exactly whatAssassin’s Creed Shadowsneeded. EvenAssassin’s Creed Mirage, which was supposed to be a “return to roots” for the series, didn’t emphasize stealth to the degree thatAssassin’s Creed Shadowsdoes, and that really comes down toACShadows' stealth-focused design philosophy. With its AI overhaul andnew stealth mechanics,Assassin’s Creed Shadowssoars to the top of the list when it comes to the series' best stealth-focused games, in spite of a downgraded parkour system.
