Parkour Athletes Review Assassin's Creed Shadows Movements

Dive into the world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows as two professional parkour athletes provide a reality check on the game's parkour mechanics. Discover how Ubisoft has strived to blend realism with the excitement of Feudal Japan in this highly anticipated title.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Gearing Up For Its Release

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

In a recent PC Gamer’s Reality Check video released on March 15, Toby Segar and Benj Cave from the UK's renowned parkour team STORROR offered their insights into the realism of Assassin’s Creed Shadows' parkour system. Both avid fans of the Assassin’s Creed series, these athletes are also developing their own parkour-inspired game, STORROR Parkour Pro.

During the video, Segar criticized a particular move performed by the protagonist Yasuke in AC Shadows, labeling it a "hate crime against parkour." This move, known as an "alpine knee," involves using the knee as a crutch to support body weight while climbing, which Segar and Cave argue is impractical and potentially injurious in real-life parkour.

Cave also highlighted other unrealistic elements such as the protagonists' ability to climb structures without ledges and balance on tightropes, as well as their seemingly endless stamina. 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 not bound by real-world conventions, Ubisoft has made efforts to enhance the realism of its parkour mechanics. In a January interview with IGN, AC Shadows Game Director Charles Benoit explained that the game's release delay was dedicated to refining these mechanics.

Bringing Players Closer to Feudal Japan

Beyond parkour, Ubisoft aims to immerse players in the historical context of Feudal Japan through the "Cultural Discovery" feature. Announced on their website on March 18, Ubisoft Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio detailed how this in-game Codex will offer over 125 entries at launch, crafted by historians and enriched with images from museums and institutions, focusing on the Azuchi-Momoyama period.

Creating an authentic representation of Feudal Japan was not without challenges, as revealed in an interview with The Guardian on March 17. Ubisoft Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Coté shared the long-standing interest in setting an Assassin’s Creed game 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?" It was with Assassin’s Creed Shadows that the team finally pushed forward with this setting.

Creative Director Johnathan Dumont emphasized the extensive efforts to bring Feudal Japan to life, including collaborating with historians and visiting Kyoto and Osaka for firsthand research. Despite facing issues such as the unique lighting in Japanese mountains, the team's dedication and meticulous referencing allowed them to capture the essence of 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, and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting addition to the Assassin’s Creed franchise!