Assassin’s Creed Shadows wasn’t supposed to have two characters the developers reveal
Face to face with Ubisoft to discover the behind the scenes of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, from the genesis of the characters to some of the new mechanics of this long-awaited return.
With the Summer Game Fest in Los Angeles, the shadows surrounding Assassin’s Creed Shadows have dissipated a bit, allowing us to have a clearer idea of what awaits us. Ubisoft showed a sequence of the game that highlighted the “dual” gameplay of the game and the differences in approach of the two protagonists; on the one hand the shinobi, Naoe, more focused on stealth, while on the other Yasuke, a devastating samurai in combat.
After the presentation we had the opportunity to have a chat with Simon Lemay-Comtois, associate game director of Ubisoft Québec , about the philosophy behind the two characters and the genesis of the first, long-awaited episode of Assassin’s Creed set in feudal Japan.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows wasn’t supposed to have two characters the developers reveal
Ninja vs Samurai
Assassin’s Creed has never had a historical character as its protagonist. Why was it decided to break tradition with Yasuke?
The decision to include him was made around the time we decided that we would set the game in the Azuchi-Momoyama period and specifically during the rise of Oda Nobunaga. While doing research we realized that Yasuke was present in every important event that actually happened, and it was a surprise to us. ‘Who is this guy?’ we asked ourselves, and when we found out more we said ‘Okay, that’s interesting, let’s put him in the game.’
Subsequently, when we started to define the gameplay we decided that we wanted a dual approach: at the beginning we didn’t plan to do it with two protagonists, let’s be clear, but the idea right from the start was that if you played in stealth mode you had to stay in stealth mode and you couldn’t just jump into combat like it was nothing. Conversely, if you wanted a combative approach, you couldn’t switch to stealth with the snap of your fingers. The more we worked on this idea, the more obvious it became that the only solution was to have a shinobi and a samurai. To highlight this difference we looked for the biggest samurai possible and Yasuke pops up again. He was in front of us all the time and so we decided to include him as a second character.
The dualism of Assassin’s Creed Shadows is very particular: it is as if Naoe represents the stealthy soul of the first chapters, while Yasuke represents the action derivative of the more recent episodes. Is this something that was actively considered in the conception of the gameplay?
With Shadows we’re trying to bridge the gap, so yes, we have an old-fashioned assassin and a more new trilogy-based, combat-focused character. The goal for us is to unite fans of both approaches, allowing them to choose their preferred style but also giving them reasons to experiment with the other character and perhaps switch between them. There are moments in the game where it’s fun to switch characters and approach the situation in a completely different way.
During the presentation, it was clear to me that Yasuke will actually be very limited in his stealth options.
He can do some stealth, but it’s especially difficult because he’s heavy, makes a lot of noise, and when he ducks, his armor sticks out from the covers. While Naoe can hide better, Yasuke always ends up being visible with his large helmet. He may try some stealth, but he would really be a fish out of water.
And I guess it’s the same in reverse with Naoe and his combat skills, right?
Yes, I would say that for Yasuke the balance leans more towards fighting skills. Naoe isn’t completely helpless and can defend himself so it’s not a perfect balance, but Yasuke has a greater variety of options in combat. If an enemy doesn’t see Naoe coming, she has a big advantage and deals much more damage than combat. In combat, Naoe must make many attacks to kill an enemy, while in stealth mode, with the right progression, she can kill an enemy with a single hit. So the preferable approach for Naoe is always stealth, while for Yasuke it is always combat.
Japan in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Are we talking about the weather system? How does it affect characters’ abilities? Is it just atmosphere or does it have a real impact?
It mainly affects the perception of enemies. If there is a strong thunderstorm, it completely covers your steps, making it much easier to move stealthily in that environment, even for Yasuke. If there is a thick fog, the distance from which enemies can see you is practically zero. So it mainly affects how characters can detect and hear you.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows wasn’t supposed to have two characters the developers reveal
Can it be exploited strategically? I mean, is it possible to see a storm coming from afar and decide to use a certain character or use a different approach based on how the weather will change?
Not really: weather is mostly handled by procedural systems and you have to deal with it based on the moment. You can’t predict it and that’s part of the challenge. If you are trying to achieve a goal and a storm comes, you can use it to your advantage or ignore it: weather conditions do not bring disadvantages but, it is always something that the player can use to his advantage.
Naoe was seen using the grappling hook to give her more movement options, but other than that little was seen about parkour specifically. Is there any news from this point of view? I wouldn’t talk about big changes but the grappling hook allows you to join parkour animations together in a more fluid way. Perhaps the two most important skills from this point of view are swinging, with which distances of up to 30 meters can be covered, and then the vertical ascent of the castle walls, which would otherwise be inaccessible. For both characters, some surfaces in Assassin’s Creed Shadows cannot be climbed and you must use the hook to reach the roof.
Let’s move on to the scout system that was shown during the presentation. Is it something similar to the spy system from the first Assassin’s Creed?
It’s the same idea but revisited and reworked. Scouts are a small part of the spy network, but as you help people (like the woman in the demo who asks Yasuke to rid the village of corrupt samurai) they become assets you can use to gain information. In general, the way in which points of interest are revealed has changed. There are no longer sync points at the top of a tower that reveal each icon. Now he is more tied to the characters and the relationship with them.
Another abandoned tradition is the drone mechanic, with the eagle peering down from above, right? Yes, he will not be present because we wanted to make this game more realistic. Now Naoe discovers what happens as he explores and it’s up to the player to face unexpected events and remove himself from uncomfortable situations. Now you can’t just tag all the enemies at once and keep an eye on them at the same time, but you have to work methodically and have the scouts help you figure out the right path.
But can Yasuke use eagle eye?
No, it’s one of the stealth abilities that Yasuke doesn’t have.
And what about Discovery Tour mode? Will we also see her in Shadows?
At the moment I don’t think we are ready to reveal it.
Today there are many games set in feudal Japan. Maybe the market isn’t saturated yet, but how do you think Shadows will be able to offer something different from the others?
2024 is Japan’s year in gaming. It’s one of those things that happens. We started working on this episode a long time ago, before we knew others would do the same. For us, our formula is an evolution of Assassin’s Creed, very different from other games. With our weather system, the two characters and the narrative that has a foot in the real story… I think we have a good chance of offering something very different and fresh, even for the Assassin’s Creed saga itself.
When did you start discussing making a game set in Japan?
Maybe 15 years? (laughs) I don’t actually have a precise answer. We’ve explored the idea in the past, but there were always better ideas that prevailed. I’m glad we waited because now we have the technology to represent Japan in all its glory through the passing of the seasons. It’s amazing how much the setting changes from autumn to spring, with the cherry blossoms we only see in spring. It’s not just aesthetics: the scenery changes and you don’t have the same opportunities to hide in the grass, and so on. Even though we wanted to make this game 15 years ago, now we can certainly do it in the best possible way.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows wasn’t supposed to have two characters the developers reveal
When working on an Assassin’s Creed, always talk about the many research that is done first on the setting and story. For feudal Japan, was the approach the same as always or was there some difference?
I would say similar. We have a good roadmap when it comes to research, with historians on staff, expert and museum contacts. Japan is far away, so this was the hardest part compared to other chapters, but otherwise it’s about being respectful and humble towards a culture that isn’t ours. Represent it correctly, with the help of experts in Japan. It’s a delicate balance to represent it correctly without westernizing it. But I think we did it well.
Can you mention some of the books, films and works in general that you have used as a source of inspiration?
There are many, it’s difficult to list them all, but I would say historical novels, films and the history of Japan itself. The Netflix series that tells the story of Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi helped us a lot. We didn’t draw inspiration from works of fiction this time, but mostly from historical events.
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