Parkour Athletes Review Assassin's Creed Shadows Movements

Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ parkour has been meticulously scrutinized by two professional parkour athletes, providing a unique perspective on the game's realism and the developers' efforts to authentically recreate Feudal Japan.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Gearing Up For Its Release

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

In a fascinating PC Gamer’s Reality Check video released on March 15, two parkour experts from the UK-based team STORROR, Toby Segar and Benj Cave, delved into the realism of Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Both athletes, who are avid fans of the series, are also working on their own video game, STORROR Parkour Pro, which aims to capture the essence of real-life parkour.

In the video, Segar highlighted a scene from AC Shadows where the protagonist, Yasuke, performs a move described as a "hate crime against parkour." This move, known as an "alpine knee," involves Yasuke using his knee as a crutch to ascend a ledge, which Segar criticizes for its impracticality and potential for injury in real-life parkour.

Cave also pointed out other unrealistic elements, such as characters climbing structures without ledges and balancing on tightropes. He emphasized the series' portrayal of unlimited endurance, stating, "In parkour, no one ever just runs and commits to stuff without looking. In parkour in real life, you check, you measure, you prep, and it’s such a slower process."

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, AC Shadows Game Director Charles Benoit mentioned that the game's release was delayed to refine these mechanics.

Bringing Players Closer to Feudal Japan

Beyond the parkour, Ubisoft is committed to immersing players in the historical setting of Feudal Japan through the "Cultural Discovery" section of the game. On March 18, Ubisoft Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio detailed how the team plans to integrate historical elements into the gameplay.

Vicencio explained that the in-game Codex features a cultural encyclopedia with over 125 entries at launch, covering the history, art, and culture of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. These entries, crafted by historians and illustrated with images from museums and institutions, provide a deeper understanding of the era.

Creating this immersive world was not without its challenges. In an interview with The Guardian on March 17, the AC Shadows development team shared the difficulties they faced in accurately representing Feudal Japan. Ubisoft Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Coté discussed the long-standing desire to set a game in Japan, stating, "I've been on [this] franchise for 16 years and I think every time we start a new game, Japan comes up and we ask, is this the time?"

Ubisoft Creative Director Johnathan Dumont emphasized the team's dedication, mentioning their collaboration with historians and trips to Kyoto and Osaka to gather authentic details. Despite challenges such as the unique lighting in Japan's mountains, the team's commitment has resulted in a faithful recreation of the setting.

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 highly anticipated game by checking out our article below!