Parkour Athletes Review Assassin's Creed Shadows Movements

The parkour mechanics of *Assassin’s Creed Shadows* have been put to the test by real-life parkour athletes, giving us a fascinating insight into the game's realism and the efforts to authentically portray Feudal Japan. Dive in to discover how the developers have approached these elements and what fans can expect from the upcoming release.

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, both avid fans of the Assassin’s Creed series, provided their expert feedback on the parkour realism in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. These athletes are also working on their own game, STORROR Parkour Pro, which aims to bring authentic parkour moves to the gaming world.

In the video, Segar highlighted a particular scene where the protagonist Yasuke uses an "alpine knee" to climb, a move considered impractical and potentially harmful in real parkour due to the strain it places on the knee. Cave also critiqued the game's portrayal of endless endurance and the lack of realistic preparation in parkour sequences, noting that real-life parkour involves careful planning and assessment.

While Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a fictional game, Ubisoft has made significant efforts to enhance the realism of its parkour mechanics. In an interview with IGN in January, Game Director Charles Benoit explained that the delay in the game's release was to refine these mechanics, showcasing Ubisoft's commitment to delivering a more authentic experience.

Bringing Players Closer to Feudal Japan

Beyond the parkour, Assassin’s Creed Shadows aims to immerse players in the rich history of Feudal Japan. Ubisoft Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio detailed the "Cultural Discovery" feature in a post on March 18, which will include over 125 entries at launch, offering an in-depth look at the Azuchi-Momoyama period. This feature, part of the in-game Codex, is crafted with input from historians and includes authentic images from museums and institutions.

The development team faced significant challenges in accurately depicting 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 Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Creative Director Johnathan Dumont emphasized the team's dedication, including trips to Kyoto and Osaka and collaboration with historians, to capture the essence of Japan despite technical challenges like the unique lighting in its mountains.

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 and insights into this highly anticipated game.