"Parkour Athletes Review Assassin's Creed Shadows Movements"

Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ parkour mechanics have been put to the test by two renowned parkour athletes. Dive into their insights on the game's realism and how Ubisoft brings the world of Feudal Japan to life in this much-anticipated title.

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 by PC Gamer, released on March 15, Toby Segar and Benj Cave from the UK's STORROR team—a duo known for their expertise in parkour—offered their professional take on the realism of Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ parkour mechanics. As fans of the series, they're also working on their own game, STORROR Parkour Pro, which focuses on authentic parkour movements.

During the video, Segar critiqued a scene featuring Yasuke, one of the protagonists, performing what he called a "hate crime against parkour." The move in question, known as an "alpine knee," involves Yasuke using his knee as a crutch to pull himself up from a ledge. Segar explained that this technique is not only impractical but potentially harmful, as it places excessive weight on the knee.

Cave highlighted additional aspects of the game's parkour that stretch reality, such as climbing structures without visible ledges and maintaining balance on tightropes. He also noted the unrealistic portrayal of endless endurance in parkour, saying, "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 work of fiction, Ubisoft has strived to infuse realism into its parkour mechanics. In a January interview with IGN, Game Director Charles Benoit shared that the game's release delay was to refine these mechanics further.

Bringing Players Closer to Feudal Japan

Ubisoft is also committed to immersing players in the historical context of Feudal Japan through the "Cultural Discovery" feature. As detailed on their website on March 18 by Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio, this in-game Codex will include over 125 entries at launch, covering the history, art, and culture of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. These entries, crafted with the help of historians and featuring images from museums and institutions, aim to enrich the gaming experience with educational content.

Creating an authentic representation of Feudal Japan has been no small feat for the Assassin’s Creed Shadows team. In a March 17 interview with The Guardian, Ubisoft’s developers discussed the challenges of capturing Japan's essence. Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Coté reflected on the long-standing desire to set 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?"

Creative Director Johnathan Dumont emphasized the team’s dedication, mentioning trips to Kyoto and Osaka and collaborations with in-house historians to ensure accuracy. Despite technical hurdles, such as accurately simulating the unique lighting in Japan's mountains, the team's perseverance paid off, as Coté noted, "The expectations have been this high throughout. It’s been a challenge."

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to launch on March 20, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates and in-depth coverage on this exciting title.