Discover the realism behind Assassin’s Creed Shadows' parkour, as assessed by two professional parkour athletes, and explore how Ubisoft brings the vibrant world of Feudal Japan to life.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Gearing Up For Its Release
Assassin’s Creed Shadows' Parkour Under the Microscope
In a recent Reality Check video by PC Gamer, released on March 15, Toby Segar and Benj Cave from the UK's renowned STORROR team, who are also fans of the Assassin’s Creed series, provided their expert critique on the parkour realism in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The athletes, who are developing their own game, STORROR Parkour Pro, based on real-life parkour, offered valuable insights into the game's mechanics.
Segar highlighted a scene where the protagonist Yasuke uses an "alpine knee" to ascend, a move they described as a "hate crime against parkour." This technique, where the knee bears the full weight of the body, is considered impractical and potentially harmful in real-life parkour scenarios.
Cave critiqued the game's portrayal of continuous parkour without breaks, pointing out the unrealistic stamina of the characters. He noted, "In parkour, no one ever just runs and commits to stuff without looking. 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 and not bound by real-world parkour conventions, Ubisoft has made significant efforts to enhance the realism of its parkour mechanics. Game Director Charles Benoit, in an interview with IGN in January, mentioned that the game's release was delayed to refine these mechanics further.
Immersing Players in Feudal Japan
Beyond the parkour, Ubisoft aims to immerse players in the rich tapestry of Feudal Japan. The game includes a "Cultural Discovery" section within the in-game Codex, which, as Ubisoft Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio explained on their website on March 18, will feature over 125 entries on the history, art, and culture of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. These entries, crafted by historians and illustrated with images from museums and institutions, promise a deep dive into Japan's past.
Creating such an immersive environment was not without challenges. In an interview with The Guardian on March 17, AC Shadows developers discussed the difficulties in accurately representing Feudal Japan. Ubisoft Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Coté shared the journey of selecting Japan as the setting, 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?"
Creative Director Johnathan Dumont emphasized the team's commitment to authenticity, mentioning their collaboration with historians and trips to Kyoto and Osaka. They faced unique challenges, such as accurately simulating the unique lighting conditions of Japan's mountains, but their dedication has paid off in creating a true-to-life representation of the period.
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 and in-depth coverage on Assassin’s Creed Shadows!
