Assassin's Creed Mirage's parkour faced a reality check from two professional parkour athletes. Learn how their assessment reveals the game's realism and Ubisoft's dedication to recreating Feudal Japan.
Assassin's Creed Mirage: A Parkour Reality Check
A "Hate Crime Against Parkour"?
In PC Gamer's March 15th "Reality Check" video, STORROR team members Toby Segar and Benj Cave, renowned UK parkour athletes, critiqued Assassin's Creed Mirage's parkour, comparing it to previous installments. While fans of the series, and creators of their own parkour game, STORROR Parkour Pro, their analysis was insightful.
Segar highlighted a scene where protagonist Yasuke uses an "alpine knee" climb, deemed a "hate crime against parkour" due to the high risk of knee injury. This technique, they explained, places excessive strain on the knee, unlike the fluid movements of authentic parkour.
Cave further noted unrealistic aspects, such as climbing impossible structures and flawlessly balancing on precarious ledges. He emphasized the game's most significant fictional element: unlimited stamina. "In real parkour," Cave stated, "you assess, plan, and execute—it's a much slower, deliberate process, not just running and leaping without a second thought."
While acknowledging the game's fictional nature, Ubisoft's commitment to realism is evident. A January IGN interview 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. As detailed on their website (March 18th), Ubisoft Editorial Comms Manager Chastity Vicencio described the feature's encyclopedic entries on the Azuchi-Momoyama period's history, art, and culture. Created with historians and museum resources, this feature boasts over 125 entries at launch, surpassing the "History of Baghdad" feature in Assassin's Creed Mirage.
However, bringing Feudal Japan to life wasn't without its challenges. A March 17th Guardian interview revealed the difficulties faced by the development team. The long-awaited setting presented unique obstacles.
Ubisoft Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Coté explained the journey to selecting Japan: "I've been with this franchise for 16 years, and Japan always comes up. This time, we finally pushed past the conception phase."
Creative Director Johnathan Dumont highlighted the team's extensive research, including collaborations with historians and on-site trips to Kyoto and Osaka. Even with advanced technology, challenges arose—precisely replicating the unique lighting of Japan's mountainous terrain proved particularly demanding. Coté concluded, "The expectations were incredibly high; it was a significant challenge."
Assassin's Creed Mirage launches March 20, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates!
