Parkour Pros Review Assassin's Creed Shadows Moves

Two professional parkour athletes evaluated the movement mechanics in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Discover their take on the game’s realism and how Ubisoft authentically recreates Feudal Japan.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Prepares for Launch

Parkour Experts Critique AC Shadows’ Movement Mechanics

In PC Gamer’s March 15 Reality Check feature, STORROR team athletes Toby Segar and Benj Cave analyzed parkour realism in Assassin’s Creed Shadows and earlier series titles. As creators of STORROR Parkour Pro—a game rooted in authentic parkour techniques—they noted significant departures from real-world movement physics.

Segar highlighted a particularly jarring animation where protagonist Yasuke improperly uses his knee ("alpine knee" technique) to hoist himself up—a move nonexistent in professional parkour due to injury risks. "This would destroy your kneecap in reality," Segar remarked.

Cave emphasized another unrealistic element: unlimited stamina during extended parkour sequences. "Real practitioners meticulously plan each movement," he explained. "The game’s non-stop acrobatics might look cool, but they disregard fundamental safety checks."

While acknowledging Shadows’ fictional nature, Ubisoft has committed to enhancing authenticity. Game Director Charles Benoit told IGN in January that refined parkour mechanics contributed to the delayed release.

Immersing Players in Feudal Japan

Beyond movement mechanics, Ubisoft deepens historical immersion through its "Cultural Discovery" system. Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio detailed this feature on March 18: Over 125 expert-vetted entries illuminate the Azuchi-Momoyama period, complete with museum-curated artifacts—surpassing AC Mirage’s educational content.

This authenticity came at a price. Developers revealed to The Guardian how painstakingly they reconstructed 16th-century Japan. Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Coté explained their 16-year hesitation: "Japan always surfaced during pitches, but we awaited the right technology."

Creative Director Johnathan Dumont described extensive research trips to Kyoto and Osaka, consulting historians to perfect environmental details—even studying mountain light patterns. Coté admitted: "Meeting fan expectations demanded extraordinary effort."

Assassin’s Creed Shadows arrives March 20, 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Follow our coverage for upcoming updates.