Parkour Athletes Review Assassin's Creed Shadows Movements

Discover the realism behind the parkour mechanics of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, as evaluated by professional parkour athletes. Dive into how Ubisoft has brought the world of Feudal Japan to life in this much-anticipated game.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Gearing Up For Its Release

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

In a detailed analysis featured in PC Gamer's Reality Check video on March 15, Toby Segar and Benj Cave from the UK's STORROR team provided their expert insights on the parkour realism in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. As avid fans of the Assassin’s Creed series, these athletes are also developing their own game, STORROR Parkour Pro, which focuses on authentic parkour movements.

During the video, Segar critiqued a scene where Yasuke, one of the protagonists, uses a move known as an "alpine knee" to climb a ledge. This technique, where the knee bears the full weight of the body, was deemed unrealistic and potentially harmful by the parkour experts.

Cave further discussed the unrealistic aspects of the series, such as the protagonist’s ability to perform endless parkour without breaks and the lack of realistic checks before executing moves. He noted, "In real-life parkour, you check, you measure, you prep, and it’s a much slower process."

While Assassin’s Creed Shadows remains a fictional game, Ubisoft has strived to enhance the realism of its parkour mechanics. In a January interview with IGN, Game Director Charles Benoit explained that the game's release was delayed to refine these mechanics further.

Bringing Players Closer to Feudal Japan

Despite its fictional narrative involving Templars and Assassins, Ubisoft aims to immerse 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on Ubisoft's website on March 18, Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio outlined how this feature integrates historical content into the game.

The "Cultural Discovery" section, part of the in-game Codex, offers over 125 encyclopedic entries on the Azuchi-Momoyama period, crafted by historians and enriched with museum images. This feature surpasses the scope of AC Mirage’s History of Baghdad, promising an even deeper dive into the era's history, art, and culture.

Creating this immersive experience was not without challenges. In a March 17 interview with The Guardian, the developers shared the complexities of accurately depicting Feudal Japan. Ubisoft Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Coté discussed the long-standing interest in setting a game in Japan, saying, "I've been on this franchise for 16 years and 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 commitment, detailing their collaboration with historians and field trips to Kyoto and Osaka. Despite technological hurdles, such as the unique lighting conditions in Japan's mountains, the team's dedication to authenticity paid off. Coté reflected, "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. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting title by checking out our related articles!