Explaining All Three Game Modes in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Upon launching Assassin’s Creed Shadows, players are immediately greeted by a setup screen where they can customize crucial settings, including subtitles and difficulty levels. Here, players will also encounter three distinct game modes, each designed to enhance different aspects of the gameplay experience.

This article delves into each mode, providing insights into how they can shape your journey in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

1. Overview of Game Modes in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Assassin's Creed Shadows Game Modes Overview — Overview of Game Modes in Assassin’s Creed Shadows | Source: Ubisoft

Assassin’s Creed Shadows introduces three game modes tailored for varying playstyles:

1. Guided Exploration Mode: This mode marks objectives and items on the map for players, facilitating a more structured gameplay experience.

2. Canon Mode: In this mode, players follow the narrative precisely as it was crafted by the developers, eliminating any options for player dialogue choices.

3. Immersive Mode: This option immerses players in the game’s authenticity by providing voiceovers in Japanese, enhancing the overall atmosphere.

Let’s unpack these game modes in further detail to help you select the one that aligns with your preferred style of play.

i. Canon Mode

As its name suggests, Canon Mode restricts players to the storyline as initially conceived by the writers. This means that your decisions won’t influence the narrative direction, allowing for a more linear story driven purely by its original plotline. Players face binary choices between characters, Naoe or Yasuke, without altering significant story arcs.

Unlike previous Assassin’s Creed titles, Shadows introduces the option to toggle Canon Mode, offering two distinct experiences:

With Canon Mode deactivated, players may select dialogue choices that can subtly shift the trajectory of the story.
Activating Canon Mode presents a linear narrative, in line with traditional game storytelling.

Importantly, players cannot switch this mode midway; changing modes necessitates starting a new game save.

ii. Guided Exploration Mode

Guided Exploration Mode serves as a navigational aid, marking specific locations for mission objectives and critical items. While this mode enhances playability, it does limit certain achievements and trophies. Those who chase accomplishments might prefer to keep this mode turned off.

In the absence of this guiding light, players will need to explore independently, engage with NPCs, and solve objectives based on intuition. If you encounter difficulty during your adventure, you can easily enable Guided Exploration Mode via the settings menu.

iii. Immersive Mode

Immersive Mode amplifies the game’s authentic resonance by offering voiceovers exclusively in Japanese and Portuguese. While some characters may still converse in these languages even when this mode is deactivated, on-screen captions will remain in your selected game language.

This mode is non-intrusive regarding achievements and purely enhances the aesthetic experience, allowing players to absorb Assassin’s Creed Shadows without missing out on any story elements. The option to toggle Immersive Mode can be easily found in the Audio Settings menu.

2. Deciding on the Right Game Mode

Choosing a Game Mode in Assassin's Creed Shadows — Choosing a Game Mode in Assassin’s Creed Shadows | Source: Ubisoft

When considering Guided Exploration Mode and Immersive Mode, it’s essential to note that these do not significantly impact the narrative but rather focus on enhancing gameplay:

If you prefer defined guidance for quests and objectives, enabling Guided Exploration Mode is advisable. However, if self-discovery and exploration appeal to you more, it’s best to leave it turned off—this way, you won’t sacrifice potential achievements.
If immersing yourself in the game’s cultural nuances and original language enriches your experience, you should activate Immersive Mode. Conversely, you can always play in your chosen language since this mode does not alter the storyline.

Both modes offer flexibility, allowing players to toggle them during gameplay without missing narrative lore. For those who desire a story experience as envisioned by the writers, activating Canon Mode is the way to go.

It’s important to note that once you select Canon Mode, reverting your choice is not possible. In contrast to previous games, Shadows enables players to determine their dialogue interactions, aligning with varied preferences for narrative engagement.

Fortunately, the core storyline remains intact regardless of dialogue choices in Canon Mode, giving players the freedom to choose their gameplay experience. If you enjoy crafting your character’s dialogue and influencing events, you might prefer to skip Canon Mode. For a classic, narrative-driven experience reminiscent of earlier entries in the franchise, Canon Mode offers that traditional feel.

3. About Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is poised for release on November 15, 2024, as the 14th major title in the franchise, developed by Ubisoft Quebec. This game serves as a continuation of last year’s Assassin’s Creed Mirage and marks the introduction of the series into the Assassin’s Creed: Infinity platform.

Set in 16th-century Japan during the late Sengoku period, the narrative centers on the ancient conflict between the Assassin Brotherhood, striving for peace and liberty, and the Templar Order, which seeks control as a means to achieve peace. Players will navigate the game through the eyes of two protagonists: Naoe, a female shinobi, and Yasuke, an African samurai inspired by a historical figure.

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