Assassin’s Creed Shadows Movements Reviewed by Two Parkour Athletes

Assassin’s Creed Mirage's parkour faced a reality check from two professional parkour athletes. Discover their insights into the game's realism and Ubisoft's meticulous recreation of Feudal Japan.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage: A Parkour Reality Check

A Parkour "Hate Crime"?

In a recent PC Gamer "Reality Check" video (March 15th), STORROR team members Toby Segar and Benj Cave, renowned UK parkour athletes, offered their expert opinions on Assassin’s Creed Mirage's parkour, comparing it to previous entries in the series. Both are Assassin’s Creed fans and creators of STORROR Parkour Pro, their own parkour-themed video game.

Segar highlighted a scene where protagonist Yasuke uses an "alpine knee" technique to climb, a move deemed impractical and potentially injurious by real-life parkour practitioners. This, he declared, was a "hate crime against parkour."

Cave further critiqued the series' unrealistic portrayal of unlimited stamina and reckless maneuvers without assessment. He explained that real-world parkour involves careful planning, observation, and a slower, more deliberate approach, a stark contrast to the game's depiction.

While acknowledging the game's fictional nature, Ubisoft's commitment to realism is evident. Game Director Charles Benoit (IGN interview, January) revealed that the game's delayed release was partly due to refining its parkour mechanics.

Recreating Feudal Japan

Beyond the parkour, Ubisoft's dedication to historical accuracy shines through the game's "Cultural Discovery" feature (Ubisoft website, March 18th). As explained by Ubisoft Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio, this in-game Codex provides detailed historical, artistic, and cultural insights into the Azuchi-Momoyama period, compiled with the help of historians and museum resources. Boasting over 125 entries at launch, and more to come, this surpasses the scope of Assassin's Creed Mirage's Baghdad historical feature.

However, realizing this vision presented challenges (The Guardian, March 17th). The development team faced difficulties replicating the nuances of Feudal Japan, particularly the unique way light interacts with the mountainous terrain. Despite these hurdles, Ubisoft spared no effort, collaborating with historians, and conducting research trips to Kyoto and Osaka to authentically capture the essence of the era. As Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Coté noted, "The expectations have been this high throughout. It’s been a challenge."

Assassin’s Creed Mirage launches March 20th, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates!