Parkour Athletes Review Assassin's Creed Shadows Movements

Discover the authenticity of Assassin’s Creed Shadows' parkour through the lens of two professional parkour athletes. Dive into their insights on the game's realism and how Ubisoft meticulously crafted the backdrop of Feudal Japan.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Gearing Up For Its Release

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

In a detailed review by PC Gamer on March 15, Toby Segar and Benj Cave from the UK's STORROR team, both avid fans of the Assassin’s Creed series, provided their expert analysis on the realism of Assassin’s Creed Shadows' parkour. They are also working on their own game, STORROR Parkour Pro, which aims to reflect real-life parkour dynamics.

In the video, Segar highlighted a scene where protagonist Yasuke performs what he termed a "hate crime against parkour." He specifically critiqued Yasuke's use of an "alpine knee" to ascend a ledge, a move that places undue stress on the knee and is considered impractical in the parkour community.

Cave further noted the game's portrayal of endless endurance and the unrealistic ability to navigate without assessing risks, contrasting this with the cautious, measured approach of real-life parkour. Despite these critiques, Ubisoft has strived to enhance the realism of parkour mechanics, as confirmed by AC Shadows Game Director Charles Benoit in an IGN interview in January, where he mentioned delays to refine these elements.

Bringing Players Closer to Feudal Japan

Beyond the fictional narrative of Templars and Assassins, Ubisoft is committed to immersing players in the historical context of Feudal Japan through the "Cultural Discovery" feature. As detailed on Ubisoft's website on March 18, Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio explained that this in-game Codex will offer over 125 entries at launch, covering the history, art, and culture of the Azuchi-Momoyama period, crafted with input from historians and enriched with museum imagery.

The development team faced significant challenges in authentically recreating Feudal Japan, as shared in a March 17 interview with The Guardian. Ubisoft Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Coté discussed the long-standing interest in setting a game in Japan, finally realized with Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Creative Director Johnathan Dumont emphasized the team's dedication, including trips to Kyoto and Osaka, and collaboration with historians to ensure accuracy.

Despite technical hurdles, such as accurately depicting the unique light in Japan's mountains, the team's commitment to detail has been unwavering. Coté acknowledged the high expectations and the challenges they posed, yet the team's efforts have paid off in capturing the essence of Japan.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is slated for release on March 20, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates on this highly anticipated title!