Assassin's Creed Mirage's parkour faced a reality check from two professional parkour athletes. Discover their insights into the game's realism and how Ubisoft brought Feudal Japan to life.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage: A Parkour Deep Dive
A Parkour Perspective on Assassin’s Creed Mirage
In a recent PC Gamer "Reality Check" video (March 15th), Toby Segar and Benj Cave of STORROR, a UK-based parkour team, offered their expert opinions on Assassin's Creed Mirage's parkour, comparing it to previous entries in the series. Both athletes, fans of the series and creators of their own parkour-focused game, STORROR Parkour Pro, provided insightful commentary.
Segar highlighted a scene where protagonist Yasuke uses an "alpine knee" technique to climb, labeling it a "hate crime against parkour." This move, they explained, places excessive strain on the knee, making it impractical and potentially dangerous in real-life parkour.
Cave focused on the game's unrealistic portrayal of stamina and precision. He noted the protagonist's ability to perform consecutive parkour moves without rest or hesitation, contrasting it with the careful planning and measured execution required in real parkour. He emphasized the importance of observation, assessment, and preparation in real-world parkour, a stark contrast to the game's fluid, uninterrupted movements.
While acknowledging the fictional nature of the game, Ubisoft's commitment to realism in its parkour is evident. An interview with IGN in January revealed that the game's delayed release was partly attributed to the team's dedication to refining its parkour mechanics.
Recreating Feudal Japan
Beyond the parkour, Ubisoft is striving for historical accuracy. A March 18th post on their website detailed the "Cultural Discovery" feature, an in-game codex offering encyclopedic entries on the history, art, and culture of Feudal Japan's Azuchi-Momoyama period. Written by historians and featuring images from museums and institutions, this feature boasts over 125 entries at launch, exceeding the scope of similar features in previous titles, such as Assassin's Creed Mirage's History of Baghdad.
However, recreating Feudal Japan presented significant challenges. A March 17th interview with The Guardian highlighted the difficulties faced by the development team. Executive Producer Marc-Alexis Coté discussed the long-standing desire to set an Assassin's Creed game in Japan, noting that the concept had been considered for years before finally coming to fruition. Creative Director Jonathan Dumont emphasized the team's extensive research, including collaborations with historians and trips to Kyoto and Osaka. Even seemingly minor details, such as the unique way light falls on Japan's mountainous terrain, posed considerable hurdles. Despite these challenges, the team's dedication resulted in a compelling and authentic portrayal of Feudal Japan. Coté summarized the undertaking as "a challenge" with exceptionally high expectations.
Assassin's Creed Mirage is set for release on March 20, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates!
