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Assassin’s Creed Shadows faces what’s known in the community as the dreaded yellow paint dilemma, but developers emphasize there’s a logical rationale behind its inclusion.
In recent years, those immersed in the gaming world have often stumbled upon heated discussions about games featuring yellow paint. Many AAA titles use it to subtly point players towards the main path. This contrasts with games like God of War: Ragnarok, where NPCs frequently guide players audibly.
The game currently in the spotlight for this ‘unforgivable’ tactic is Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Praised by GamesRadar+ games editor Oscar Taylor-Kent, this installment of Assassin’s Creed raised questions about its stylistic choice. The courtesy of GamesRadar+, there was an engaging conversation with Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ creative mind, Jonathan Dumont, discussing their methodology behind the much-debated yellow paint and Ubisoft’s strategy to blend game direction with maintaining an immersive experience.
Dumont shared insights, telling us, “Well, we didn’t have it until players were really struggling in playtests to find their path when engaging in hidden trails activity.” The expansive and intricate world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows presented challenges for players unfamiliar with the terrain. Dumont elaborated, “The environment is lush and full, and giving a bit of guidance was needed.” This revelation points to the necessity of yellow paint in ensuring an accessible gameplay experience.
Despite varying opinions regarding yellow paint in games, it undeniably aids some players. Perhaps the ideal choice would be an in-game toggle, quelling this ongoing debate once and for all.
Additionally, Dumont revealed intriguing character updates. Assassin’s Creed Shadows initially did not feature Yasuke as a playable character. The samurai was integrated to prevent the transformation of Naoe into a “stealth tank,” which risked “diluting the fantasy of the shinobi.” This decision underscores the importance of preserving the thematic essence within character development.
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