"Assassin's Creed Shadows: Parkour Athletes' Movement Review"

Assassin’s Creed Shadows' parkour has been put to the test by two seasoned parkour athletes. Dive into this article to explore the realism behind the game's parkour mechanics and how Ubisoft has meticulously recreated the atmosphere of Feudal Japan.

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 from PC Gamer dated March 15, two renowned parkour athletes from the UK's STORROR team, Toby Segar and Benj Cave, provided their expert feedback on the realism of Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ parkour mechanics. These athletes, who are avid fans of the Assassin’s Creed series, are also developing their own game, STORROR Parkour Pro, based on authentic parkour techniques.

During the video review, Segar highlighted a particular scene from AC Shadows where the protagonist Yasuke uses an "alpine knee" technique to ascend from a ledge. This move, where Yasuke uses his knee as a crutch to support his weight, was dubbed a "hate crime against parkour" by Segar. He explained that such a technique is impractical in real-life parkour, as it could lead to injury by placing too much strain on the knee.

Cave also critiqued the game's portrayal of parkour, pointing out the unrealistic aspect of the protagonist’s endless endurance and the ability to perform continuous parkour moves without rest. He emphasized that real-life parkour involves careful assessment and preparation, contrasting with the game's portrayal of non-stop action.

While Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a fictional game and doesn't adhere strictly to real-life parkour rules, Ubisoft has made significant efforts to enhance the realism of its parkour mechanics. In an interview with IGN in January, AC Shadows Game Director Charles Benoit mentioned that the game's release was delayed to refine these mechanics further.

Bringing Players Closer to Feudal Japan

Beyond the parkour critique, Ubisoft is committed to immersing players in the rich history of Feudal Japan through the game's "Cultural Discovery" feature. As detailed on their website on March 18, Ubisoft Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio explained how this feature integrates historical elements into the gameplay. The in-game Codex will include over 125 encyclopedic entries about the Azuchi-Momoyama period, crafted by historians and enhanced with images from museums and institutions.

Creating an authentic representation of Feudal Japan was not without its challenges, as revealed 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, a dream that finally came to fruition with AC Shadows. Coté shared that Japan had been considered for the series multiple times over his 16-year tenure, but only now did it progress beyond the conceptual stage.

Ubisoft Creative Director Johnathan Dumont highlighted the extensive efforts to capture Japan's essence, including collaborations with historians and trips to Kyoto and Osaka. Despite challenges such as accurately replicating the unique lighting in Japan's mountains, the team's dedication has paid off in creating an immersive experience.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is slated 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 Assassin’s Creed Shadows by checking out our related articles!