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 depiction of movement and how the developers brought the world of feudal Japan to life.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage: A Parkour Reality Check

A Parkour Perspective on Assassin’s Creed Mirage

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 the realism of 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 long-time 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. This, he stated, was a "hate crime against parkour."

Cave further noted the series' consistent departure from reality in its depiction of unlimited stamina and reckless maneuvers. He emphasized the careful planning and precision inherent in real-world parkour, contrasting it with the game's portrayal of continuous, unchecked movement. "In real-life parkour," he explained, "you check, you measure, you prep; it's a much slower process."

While acknowledging the fictional nature of the game, Ubisoft's dedication to realistic parkour is evident. In a January interview with IGN, Game Director Charles Benoit attributed a delay in the game's release to the extensive refinement of its parkour mechanics.

Recreating Feudal Japan

Beyond the gameplay, Ubisoft's commitment to historical accuracy shines through in Mirage's "Cultural Discovery" feature. As detailed on their website (March 18th), Ubisoft Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio described the in-game Codex's comprehensive encyclopedic entries on the history, art, and culture of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Created with the assistance of historians and featuring images from reputable museums and institutions, this feature boasts over 125 entries at launch, exceeding the historical content found in Assassin's Creed Mirage's "History of Baghdad" feature.

However, achieving this level of historical detail presented significant challenges, as revealed in a March 17th interview with The Guardian. Developers discussed the difficulties of accurately representing Feudal Japan, a setting long requested by fans.

Ubisoft Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Coté explained the lengthy process of selecting Japan as the setting, stating, "I've been on this franchise for 16 years, and every time we start a new game, Japan comes up. We finally decided this was the time."

Creative Director Jonathan Dumont highlighted the extensive research undertaken, including collaborations with historians and research trips to Kyoto and Osaka. Even seemingly minor details, such as the unique way light interacts with Japan's mountainous terrain, posed significant hurdles. Despite these challenges, the team's dedication resulted in a meticulously crafted representation of Feudal Japan, a testament to their commitment. Coté concluded, "The expectations have been this high throughout. It’s been a challenge."

Assassin's Creed Mirage is set for release on March 20, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For the latest news and updates, be sure to check out our follow-up article!