Assassin’s Creed Shadows Movements Reviewed by Two Parkour Athletes

Assassin's Creed Mirage's parkour realism was put to the test by two professional parkour athletes. Discover their insights into the game's accuracy and how the developers recreated the atmosphere of Feudal Japan.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage: A Parkour Reality Check

A "Hate Crime Against Parkour"?

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

Segar highlighted a scene where protagonist Yasuke uses an "alpine knee" climb, a technique deemed impractical and potentially injurious by real-life parkour practitioners. The move, they explain, places excessive strain on the knee joint.

Cave further noted inconsistencies, such as climbing impossible structures and flawlessly balancing on narrow ledges. He emphasized the biggest discrepancy: the game's depiction of unlimited stamina. "In real parkour," Cave stated, "you plan, you assess, you prepare – it's a far more deliberate process. You don't just run and jump without thinking."

While acknowledging the game's fictional nature, Ubisoft clearly aimed for a degree of realism. An IGN interview (January) with Game Director Charles Benoit revealed that the game's delayed release was partly due to refining its parkour mechanics.

Recreating Feudal Japan

Beyond the gameplay, Ubisoft has strived for historical accuracy. A March 18th post on their website detailed the game's "Cultural Discovery" feature, an in-game encyclopedia of Azuchi-Momoyama period history, art, and culture. Ubisoft Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio explained that historians contributed to this encyclopedia, which includes museum-sourced imagery. With over 125 entries at launch and more to come, it surpasses the historical content in Assassin's Creed Mirage's "History of Baghdad" feature.

However, achieving this level of authenticity wasn't without its challenges. A March 17th interview with The Guardian revealed the difficulties faced by the development team in bringing Feudal Japan to life. The team's dedication to fulfilling fan demand for a Japan-set Assassin's Creed game is evident.

Ubisoft Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Coté discussed the long-standing desire to create a Japan-based game, stating, "Japan has always been brought up, and we've always asked, 'Is this the time?' Until now, it never progressed beyond the concept stage."

Creative Director Johnathan Dumont emphasized the team's commitment, collaborating with historians and undertaking research trips to Kyoto and Osaka. They even encountered unexpected obstacles, such as the unique way light interacts with Japan's mountainous terrain. Despite these hurdles, the team successfully captured the essence of Japan. Coté concluded, "The expectations were incredibly high throughout. It's been a challenging but rewarding journey."

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