Splinter Cell Remake in Jeopardy

by

2024 wasn’t the best year for video game publisher Ubisoft. To put it plainly, their release “Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown” was critically acclaimed but failed commercially. Their long-awaited live-service game, “Skull and Bones,” didn’t meet expectations either. Even the well-known brand of “Star Wars Outlaws” couldn’t draw in players. Ubisoft really needed a success, and it seems like “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” might have been just that, at least when it comes to sales figures.

Within mere three days, it’s said that “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” surpassed the two million mark in sales. This figure outshines what “Star Wars Outlaws” managed in its initial two months, yet it falls short of providing Ubisoft a full rescue. Nevertheless, such success could provide a temporary reprieve, giving the company enough time for the long-anticipated revamp of “Splinter Cell” to emerge. Originally announced in 2021, the remake of the 2002 stealth sensation “Splinter Cell” is still under development and, according to Insider Gaming, is slated for a 2026 release. However, considering the enhanced stealth elements in “Assassin’s Creed Shadows,” a mere remake of the original “Splinter Cell” gameplay might no longer suffice for fans who have grown accustomed to more advanced experiences.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Stealth Mechanics Set High Expectations For The Splinter Cell Remake

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Goes All-In on Stealth

In 2007, when Assassin’s Creed was first introduced, stealth was a fundamental aspect of its gameplay. While Altair, the player character, could sprint across rooftops and block incoming sword attacks, his main arsenal was more about blending in, striking from hidden places, and vanishing without leaving a trace.

Over the years, the Assassin’s Creed series evolved to place greater emphasis on action, reducing the importance given to strategic planning and execution. Instead, it began to emphasize counters, evasive maneuvers, and weaponry. This shift was particularly noticeable with the launch of Assassin’s Creed Origins in 2017, which introduced numerous action-RPG elements that the franchise has since adopted.

For the first time in a while, Assassin’s Creed Shadows emphasizes once more the series’ core stealth gameplay, particularly for one of its two main characters. Trained by the renowned Momochi Sandayu, Naoe’s abilities and equipment are centered around covert maneuvers.

In contrast to past installments of the Assassin’s Creed RPG series, Naoe’s Hidden Blade has the ability to instantly eliminate common opponents, while dealing heavy damage to more seasoned adversaries. The game Shadows introduces a shadow-based mechanic that allows players to put out light sources and conceal themselves in darkened locations to avoid detection. A fresh prone mechanism offers players greater flexibility in deciding their approach towards unsuspecting targets. Furthermore, a physics-based grappling hook has been incorporated, enabling players to adhere to rooftops, scale buildings swiftly, hide among the rafters above enemies, and perform air assassinations on targets below them.

As Naoe wields a katana, tanto, and kusarigama, she’s capable of handling one-on-one combat quite well. However, it’s advisable for players to stay in stealth mode whenever they control the shinobi character. This is because she can easily be overwhelmed when confronted by multiple attackers.

The Splinter Cell Remake Might Need to Come Up With Some New Tricks

In the world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, many stealth elements could seem reminiscent to long-time followers of another popular Ubisoft series. The game’s use of light and shadow is heavily influenced by Splinter Cell, while its fresh prone mechanism and ascension tool share some resemblances too.

Fans are eager for classic features in the upcoming Splinter Cell remake, but they shouldn’t be the only skills protagonist Sam Fisher possesses. Back in 2022, Technical Director of the Splinter Cell remake, Christian Carriere, hinted at enhanced enemy AI and lighting systems in the remake. These improvements are likely just the beginning of new gameplay mechanics for the Splinter Cell remake, as Assassin’s Creed Shadows has recently set a high standard with its stealth mechanics.

Read More

2025-03-27 02:34