Parkour Athletes Review Assassin's Creed Shadows Movements

Dive into the world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows as two seasoned parkour athletes give their expert take on the game's parkour realism and Ubisoft's efforts to authentically represent Feudal Japan.

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 by PC Gamer on March 15, Toby Segar and Benj Cave from the UK's STORROR team, both fans of the Assassin’s Creed series and creators of STORROR Parkour Pro, scrutinized the parkour realism in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. They specifically critiqued a scene where protagonist Yasuke uses an "alpine knee" to ascend, a move considered impractical and potentially injurious in real parkour.

Cave also highlighted the unrealistic portrayal of endless endurance and spontaneous decision-making in parkour within the game, contrasting it with real-life practices where preparation and safety checks are paramount. Despite these fictional liberties, Ubisoft's dedication to refining parkour mechanics was acknowledged, with Game Director Charles Benoit mentioning to IGN in January that the game’s delay was for enhancing these elements.

Bringing Players Closer to Feudal Japan

Beyond its parkour, Assassin’s Creed Shadows aims to immerse players in the rich tapestry of Feudal Japan. Ubisoft's "Cultural Discovery" section, detailed by Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio on March 18, integrates over 125 historical entries into the in-game Codex, offering a deep dive into the Azuchi-Momoyama period, crafted with the help of historians and museum resources.

The development team faced significant challenges in authentically recreating Feudal Japan, as shared in an interview with The Guardian on March 17. Ubisoft's Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Coté explained the long-standing interest in setting an Assassin’s Creed game in Japan, finally realized in Shadows. Creative Director Johnathan Dumont highlighted the extensive efforts, including trips to Kyoto and Osaka, and collaboration with historians to capture Japan’s essence accurately. Despite technical hurdles like the unique lighting in Japan's mountains, the team's commitment to authenticity prevailed.

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