Parkour Athletes Review Assassin’s Creed Shadows Movements

Dive into the world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows as two real-life parkour athletes scrutinize the game's parkour mechanics for realism. Learn how Ubisoft has strived to authentically represent 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 detailed Reality Check video from PC Gamer, released 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 insights on the realism of Assassin’s Creed Shadows' parkour. These athletes are also working on their own parkour-based video game, STORROR Parkour Pro.

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

Cave further noted the game's portrayal of endless endurance and the ability to perform parkour moves without pause, contrasting this with real-life parkour where athletes meticulously plan and assess each move. Despite these critiques, Ubisoft has made significant efforts 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 that the game's release was delayed to refine these elements.

Bringing Players Closer to Feudal Japan

While Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set in a fictional universe, 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 include over 125 entries at launch, offering insights into the Azuchi-Momoyama period, crafted with the help of historians and enriched with museum images.

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

Despite technological 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 faced in meeting them.

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 exciting title!