Why AC Shadows’ AI Overhaul Might Be a Game-Changer

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Posted 1 days ago by inuno.ai

Category: Gaming

Summary

AC Shadows enhances stealth by improving enemy awareness and responsiveness.
Diverse enemy archetypes in AC Shadows add complexity to gameplay scenarios.
The AI overhaul in AC Shadows could redefine the series’ iconic stealth system.

There is certainly a lot riding on Assassin’s Creed Shadows, especially after all that it and Ubisoft have been through lately. In a nutshell, it really needs to get as much right as it can, lest it risk reinforcing the subjective stain that has darkened its legacy as of late. In its attempts to accomplish this, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is implementing a variety of changes to the franchise’s longstanding formula to try and make the latest entry the best the series has ever been. One of its most significant fundamental changes involves a considerable AI overhaul that might not only change Assassin’s Creed Shadows, but it may also set the tone for the series moving forward.

Assassin’s Creed‘s AI has received plenty of criticism over the years, with that criticism particularly aimed at enemy behavior during stealth and combat scenarios. Enemies have been known throughout the franchise’s history to be unintelligent and lacking the reactivity necessary to make the overall experience feel more immersive and produce tangible tension in what should be its most tense moments. Fortunately, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is addressing criticisms with a complete overhaul of the series’ AI in what could be a game-changing move with a lasting impact.

The Case For and Against Assassin’s Creed Establishing a New Ezio

Assassin’s Creed 2’s Ezio Auditore set a new course for the franchise that it has yet to repeat, and there exists a case both for and against that.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ AI Overhaul Could Change the Series Forever

AC Shadows Enhances Enemy Alertness, Awareness, Responsiveness, and Search Patterns

While one of Assassin’s Creed‘s most iconic features is its stealth gameplay, it hasn’t necessarily been one of the better stealth systems in gaming. In order for stealth mechanics to feel authentic, the chances of danger and even failure need to be considerably high. Otherwise, there is largely no need for players to use stealth, nor is there any need for players to move cautiously through an area filled with enemies. This has largely been the case with Assassin’s Creed, as enemies are generally not smart enough to pose a significant threat to players while they use stealth.

Assassin’s Creed‘s AI has received plenty of criticism over the years, with that criticism particularly aimed at enemy behavior during stealth and combat scenarios.

In Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ stealth system, however, enemy alertness, awareness, and responsiveness have been overhauled to make stealth scenarios less favorable towards players while they’re sneaking around. Upon detecting any suspicious activity or catching a glimpse of the player, they will investigate the situation in pairs, with one guard actively searching while the other keeps watch. With Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ enemies taking a more coordinated approach, then, players will need to be more strategic than the series has called for them to be in the past. Additionally, enemies become increasingly suspicious after they’ve been alerted once, making it more difficult for players who like to use the same tactics repeatedly.

AC Shadows Has Diverse Enemy Archetypes With Unique Behaviors

It’s not just the series’ stealth that will be impacted by Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ AI overhaul either, as these changes will be felt in more direct scenarios as well, due to an increase in the diversity of enemy archetypes. In the past, Assassin’s Creed‘s enemies have made attempts at diversity, but their archetypes have proven to be somewhat standard, leading to predictable encounters that can feel monotonous after a while. Assassin’s Creed Shadows aims to flip the script here with more varied enemy archetypes, each with distinct behaviors and responses to the player’s actions.

Samurai: These formidable foes are resistant to certain stealth tactics. For instance, they can evade smoke bombs and are more likely to detect and counter assassination attempts. When searching for the player, samurai may slash through hiding spots like bushes, thereby reducing the effectiveness of traditional hiding places.
Servants: Non-combatant characters who, upon spotting the player, will alert nearby guards. While they don’t engage in combat themselves, their presence adds more complexity to Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ stealth scenarios, as players need to account for their patrols, in addition to standard enemies, in order to avoid detection.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ AI overhaul has the potential to be one of the most significant changes the series has seen in many years. By increasing tension in stealth scenarios and making enemies more unpredictable, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is officially reworking the very foundation of how players take advantage of the series’ iconic stealth system. If these improvements are executed well, they could finally take Assassin’s Creed‘s stealth gameplay to the level it was always meant to rest at while also reinforcing the franchise’s identity as a stealth-action series.