Parkour Athletes Review Assassin's Creed Shadows Movements

Dive into the world of Assassin’s Creed Shadows as two seasoned parkour athletes put the game's movements to the test. Discover how Ubisoft strives for realism in the game's parkour and brings the vibrant setting of Feudal Japan to life.

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 avid fans of the Assassin’s Creed series, reviewed the realism of Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ parkour. They're also working on their own game, STORROR Parkour Pro, which aims to capture the essence of real-life parkour.

During the review, Segar pointed out a particular move by Yasuke, one of the game's protagonists, describing it as a "hate crime against parkour." He highlighted a scene where Yasuke uses an "alpine knee" to ascend a ledge, a technique that's frowned upon in the parkour community due to the risk of knee injury from bearing the full body weight.

Cave also critiqued the game's portrayal of parkour, noting unrealistic elements like climbing structures without visible ledges and perfectly balancing on tightropes. He emphasized the stark contrast between the game's endless endurance and the cautious, measured approach required in real-life parkour, where practitioners always assess their surroundings before committing to a move.

While Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a fictional game that naturally deviates from real-life mechanics, Ubisoft has made significant efforts to enhance parkour realism. In a January interview with IGN, Game Director Charles Benoit explained that the delay in the game's release was to refine these parkour mechanics further.

Bringing Players Closer to Feudal Japan

Beyond its fictional narrative of Templars versus Assassins, Assassin’s Creed Shadows aims to immerse players in the history of Feudal Japan through its "Cultural Discovery" feature. As announced on Ubisoft's website on March 18, Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio detailed how the game will include an in-game Codex with over 125 entries on the Azuchi-Momoyama period, crafted by historians and enriched with images from museums and institutions.

Creating this immersive experience wasn't without challenges. In a March 17 interview with The Guardian, the developers of Assassin’s Creed Shadows shared their struggles in accurately portraying Feudal Japan. Ubisoft Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Coté reflected on the long-standing fan demand for a Japan-set Assassin’s Creed game, explaining that it took until now to move beyond the conceptual stage.

Creative Director Johnathan Dumont emphasized the team's dedication to authenticity, including consultations with historians and research trips to Kyoto and Osaka. They faced unique challenges, such as capturing the distinctive light in Japan's mountainous regions, but their efforts paid off in creating a true-to-life representation of the setting.

Despite these hurdles, Ubisoft's commitment to detail and historical accuracy shines through. Assassin’s Creed Shadows is set to launch on March 20, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates on this highly anticipated game.