"Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Parkour Athletes' Review"

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Movements Reviewed by Two Parkour Athletes

Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ parkour mechanics have been put to the test by two renowned parkour athletes, providing insight into the realism of the game's movement and how the developers have brought Feudal Japan to life.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Gearing Up For Its Release

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Does A "Hate Crime Against Parkour"

In a recent Reality Check video from PC Gamer, published on March 15, Toby Segar and Benj Cave from the UK-based parkour team STORROR offered their expert opinions on the realism of Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ parkour, alongside their reflections on previous games in the series. Both athletes are avid fans of the Assassin’s Creed franchise and are currently working on their own video game, STORROR Parkour Pro, which is inspired by real-life parkour moves and concepts.

In the video, Segar critiqued a scene from AC Shadows featuring protagonist Yasuke. He highlighted a move where Yasuke uses his knee as a crutch to ascend a ledge, which he termed a "hate crime against parkour." This move, known as an "alpine knee," is considered impractical in the parkour community due to the risk of injury from bearing the entire body weight on the knee.

Cave also pointed out other unrealistic elements, such as characters scaling structures without ledges and effortlessly balancing on tightropes. He emphasized that the most unrealistic aspect is the protagonist’s seemingly limitless endurance, performing continuous parkour without rest. He noted, "In parkour, no one ever just runs and commits to stuff without looking. In real life, you check, you measure, you prep, and it’s such a slower process."

While Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a fictional game and doesn't adhere strictly to real-world mechanics, Ubisoft has made significant efforts to enhance the realism of its parkour. In an interview with IGN in January, AC Shadows Game Director Charles Benoit explained that the game’s release delay was dedicated to refining its parkour mechanics.

Bringing Players Closer to Feudal Japan

Beyond its parkour, Assassin’s Creed Shadows aims to immerse players in the historical setting of Feudal Japan. Ubisoft has introduced a "Cultural Discovery" section in the game, as detailed by Ubisoft Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio on their website on March 18. This feature, part of the in-game Codex, offers an extensive encyclopedia of the history, art, and culture of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Developed with input from historians and featuring images from museums and institutions, the Cultural Discovery section will launch with over 125 entries, promising more to be added later.

Creating an authentic representation of Feudal Japan posed significant challenges for the development team. In an interview with The Guardian on March 17, the developers discussed their efforts to meet fan expectations for a game set in Japan. Ubisoft Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Coté shared the team's long-standing interest in Japan, stating, "I've been on [this] franchise for 16 years and I think every time we start a new game, Japan comes up and we ask, is this the time? We've never pushed beyond the conception phase with Japan until this one."

Ubisoft Creative Director Johnathan Dumont emphasized the team's commitment to authenticity, detailing their collaboration with historians and research trips to Kyoto and Osaka. Despite technological challenges, such as accurately simulating the unique light in Japan's mountains, the team's dedication and thorough referencing allowed them to capture the essence of Feudal Japan. Coté acknowledged the high expectations, saying, "The expectations have been this high throughout. It’s been a challenge."

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is scheduled for release on March 20, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For the latest updates on Assassin’s Creed Shadows, be sure to check out our dedicated article.