New parkour mechanics in Assassin's Creed Shadows look promising

New parkour mechanics in Assassin's Creed Shadows look promising
GAMING NEWS Rine Ikarus - Jan 10, 2025, 13:53 - 47 comments

As we step into 2025, Assassin's Creed Shadows is just few months away from its highly anticipated release. For Ubisoft, this is more than just another installment—it’s a pivotal title that could shape the future of the franchise, especially following the recent backlash the company has faced. Assassin's Creed Shadows might very well determine the series’ trajectory.

Ubisoft has promised a return to more traditional gameplay, reminiscent of the earlier Assassin's Creed titles, emphasizing stealth and a deeper “assassin” experience. In the latest gameplay reveal, Naoe, described as Ubisoft’s "fastest assassin ever", showcases a variety of changes, improvements, and additions that aim to elevate the series in this upcoming entry.
 

 

A recent blog post by director Simon Lemay-Comtois outlined several exciting updates and tweaks to the parkour system in Assassin's Creed Shadows.
 

You will like the new parkour system
 

Parkour has always been a core aspect of Assassin's Creed's identity. In earlier titles, parkour felt almost like a mini-game, where mastering the mechanics allowed skilled players to traverse the map with speed and finesse. Many fans still consider Assassin's Creed Unity to have some of the best parkour mechanics in gaming history.

In contrast, the newer generation of Assassin's Creed games has adopted a more straightforward traversal system, simplifying parkour and allowing players to scale vertical surfaces to their heart's content. However, Assassin's Creed Shadows seems poised to return to the more intricate parkour systems of earlier titles, recapturing the essence of what made exploration in the series so rewarding.

"It is important to note that Naoe and Yasuke will not be able to climb on surfaces that do not have physical handholds for them to grab onto.

This means we had to be more thoughtful about creating interesting parkour highways and afforded us more control over where Naoe can go, and where Yasuke can't, making our two playstyles even more contrasted."

Ubisoft has promised distinct gameplay experiences for the two protagonists in Assassin's Creed Shadows. Yasuke focuses on brute force and close combat, drawing parallels to the combat systems of "new generation" Assassin's Creed titles like Assasin's Creed Odyssey and Assasin's Creed Origins. Naoe, on the other hand, represents a more traditional Assassin's Creed approach, prioritizing stealth, parkour, and fast-paced combat.

The blog post elaborates on the unique features accessible to Naoe but unavailable to Yasuke. This suggests that Naoe will excel at traversal with her advanced parkour skills, complementing her stealth and agility-focused playstyle. Conversely, Yasuke’s raw strength makes him the ideal choice for players who enjoy direct and powerful combat.

Assassin's Creed Shadows is set to launch on March 20 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Don’t forget to use our comparator tool to secure the best deal on Assassin's Creed Shadows and prepare for this exciting addition to the Assassin's Creed saga.

Rine Ikarus

Rine Ikarus

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A PC gamer with unrequited love for games, loves all kinds of games, especially Visual Novels.

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Nachos
Nachos
Jan 29, 2026, 18:57 on dlcompare.fr
Après avoir bien exploré le monde d’AC Shadows, le parkour, et particulièrement celui de Naoe, est clairement l’un des plus gros points forts. On retrouve enfin cette sensation de fluidité qu’on avait dans les anciens jeux. Les mouvements possibles sont variés : sauts, courses murales, glissades, grappin pour gagner de la verticalité avec des animations particulièrement réussies. En combat, ses mouvements restent cohérents avec son style : rapides, précis et élégants. On sent que le parkour et le combat ont été pensés ensemble, et ça donne un gameplay hyper satisfaisant, dynamique, et surtout très plaisant à jouer sur la durée. Pour moi, cet opus propose le meilleur compromis de la licence : Naoe incarne un gameplay très proche des anciens AC, centré sur le parkour et l’infiltration, tandis que Yasuke offre une approche plus lourde clairement inspirée des derniers épisodes. Deux styles opposés, mais parfaitement complémentaires, qui rendent l’expérience plus riche et équilibrée
Having thoroughly explored the world of AC Shadows, parkour - and Naoe's parkour in particular - is clearly one of the biggest highlights. At last, we've rediscovered the feeling of fluidity we had in the old games. There's a wide range of movement options: jumps, wall runs, slides and grappling hooks to gain verticality, with particularly well executed animations. In combat, his movements remain consistent with his style: fast, precise and elegant. You can feel that parkour and combat have been thought out together, and the result is a highly satisfying, dynamic and, above all, fun game to play over time. For me, this opus offers the best compromise of the license: Naoe embodies a gameplay very close to the old ACs, centered on parkour and infiltration, while Yasuke offers a heavier approach clearly inspired by the latest episodes. Two opposing but perfectly complementary styles, making for a richer, more balanced experience.
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Mirlaco
Mirlaco
Jan 29, 2026, 09:34 on dlcompare.es
Shadows no solo se basa en las mecánicas de RPG modernas, sino que intenta rescatar y perfeccionar el parkour clásico que muchos fans añorábamos. Esto nos permite explorar entornos y planificar rutas sea más interesante y divertido, y que cada movimiento tendrá significado. El contraste de estilos entre Naoe y Yasuke también sugiere que el parkour no será monótono, sino variado y desafiante.
Shadows is not only based on modern RPG mechanics, but tries to rescue and perfect the classic parkour that many fans longed for. This allows us to explore environments and plan routes to be more interesting and fun, and that every move will have meaning. The contrast of styles between Naoe and Yasuke also suggests that parkour will not be monotonous, but varied and challenging.
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Balas
Balas
Jan 28, 2026, 10:44 on dlcompare.es
Las mecánicas de parkour de Assassin’s Creed Shadows me parece algo muy positivo. Que Ubisoft esté recuperando un enfoque más intrincado y significativo del parkour me hace sentir que este título puede ser uno de los más memorables en cuanto a exploración y movimiento. Ese retorno a técnicas más complejas y a rutas pensadas para desafiar al jugador es justo lo que necesitaba la saga para sentirse más viva, estratégica y gratificante en cada salto y trepada.
The parkour mechanics of Assassin's Creed Shadows feel like a very positive thing to me. That Ubisoft is bringing back a more intricate and meaningful approach to parkour makes me feel like this title could be one of the most memorable in terms of exploration and movement. This return to more complex techniques and routes designed to challenge the player is just what the saga needed to feel more alive, strategic and rewarding in every jump and climb.
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Th4n0s
Th4n0s
Jan 27, 2026, 21:06 on dlcompare.es
Me encanta que el parkour sea un elemento central en la experiencia de Shadows. Ubisoft ha ajustado y mejorado los sistemas para darle mayor profundidad y control, lo cual podría traducirse en movimientos más fluidos y satisfactorios. Además, saber que el parkour de Naoe será distintivo y más tradicional que el de Yasuke, que motiva a probar ambos estilos y descubrir cómo cada ruta puede ser única en función de tu elección de personaje y táctica.
I love that parkour is central to the Shadows experience. Ubisoft has tweaked and improved the systems to give it more depth and control, which could translate into more fluid and satisfying movements. Also, knowing that Naoe's parkour will be distinctive and more traditional than Yasuke's, which motivates you to try both styles and discover how each route can be unique depending on your choice of character and tactics.
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SalsaJapi
SalsaJapi
Jan 27, 2026, 14:01 on dlcompare.es
Me gusta que Assassin’s Creed Shadows haya podido recuperar parte de la magia de los títulos clásicos, pero con mejoras modernas. La idea de que no todo se trepa automáticamente y de que hay que estudiar bien el entorno para moverse con fluidez suena realmente emocionante. Esto convierte el desplazamiento en una parte integral de la experiencia, no solo en un trámite para llegar al objetivo.
I like that Assassin's Creed Shadows was able to recapture some of the magic of the classic titles, but with modern enhancements. The idea that not everything climbs automatically and that you have to study the environment well to move around smoothly sounds really exciting. This makes movement an integral part of the experience, not just a procedure to get to the objective.
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MrWild
MrWild
Jan 26, 2026, 08:37 on dlcompare.es
Me ha parecido muy positiva la dirección que se ha tomando en AC Shadows. Tengo la sensación de que han escuchado las críticas sobre mecánicas demasiado simplificadas y han trabajado para hacer algo más profundo. El hecho de que Naoe destaque por su estilo ágil promete un contraste jugable convincente con Yasuke, y el parkour tradicional tiene el potencial de hacer que cada recorrido por el mapa sea especial y lleno de estrategia.
I've found the direction they've taken with AC Shadows to be very positive. I get the feeling that they've listened to the criticisms of oversimplified mechanics and worked to make something deeper. The fact that Naoe stands out for his agile style promises a compelling playable contrast to Yasuke, and the traditional parkour has the potential to make every run around the map special and full of strategy.
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Atem
Atem
Jan 24, 2026, 20:05 on dlcompare.es
El parkour en Assassin’s Creed Shadows promete devolver un estilo de movimiento que muchos extrañábamos. El enfoque en que los personajes no puedan escalar todo sin más, sino que tengan que usar asideros y rutas específicas, añade una capa de realismo y aprendizaje que hará que explorar el entorno sea mucho más gratificante. Estoy convencido de que esto dará lugar a escenas memorables de infiltración y escape, haciendo que cada misión sea más intensa.
Parkour in Assassin's Creed Shadows promises to bring back a style of movement that many of us missed. The focus on characters not being able to just climb everything, but having to use handholds and specific routes, adds a layer of realism and learning that will make exploring the environment that much more rewarding. I'm convinced this will lead to memorable infiltration and escape scenes, making each mission more intense.
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M0ЯĐRΕĐ
M0ЯĐRΕĐ
Jan 24, 2026, 18:57 on dlcompare.fr
Sur le papier, le nouveau parkour a l’air prometteur, avec un vrai effort pour revenir à quelque chose de plus “Assassin’s Creed” et moins automatique, et la différence entre les deux persos est une bonne idée. Mais honnêtement, j’ai du mal à y croire : Ubisoft a déjà vendu ce genre de retour aux sources plusieurs fois, et au final le parkour reste souvent rigide, situationnel et très dépendant du level design. J’ai surtout l’impression que ça sonne bien en théorie, mais que manette en main, ça risque de ne pas changer grand-chose ni de vraiment redonner de la fluidité aux déplacements.
On paper, the new parkour looks promising, with a real effort to return to something more "Assassin's Creed" and less automatic, and the difference between the two characters is a good idea. But honestly, I find it hard to believe: Ubisoft has already sold this kind of return to basics several times, and in the end, parkour often remains rigid, situational and highly dependent on level design. Mostly, I get the impression that it sounds good in theory, but that with the controller in hand, it's unlikely to change much, or really make the movements any more fluid.
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draikyn
draikyn
Jan 24, 2026, 17:04 on dlcompare.fr
Le parkour sur Assassin's creed Shadows montre qu’Ubisoft a enfin compris certaines critiques des fans. Fini l’escalade automatique sans réflexion. Ici, chaque déplacement compte, surtout pendant les phases d'infiltration. Les villes sont clairement le point fort du système, avec des parcours bien pensés. La différence entre les deux personnages est intéressante, mais pas toujours équilibrée. On retrouve une vraie sensation d’infiltration, surtout avec Naoe. C’est une bonne direction pour la série, mais elle demande encore à être affinée
The parkour on Assassin's creed Shadows shows that Ubisoft has finally understood some of the criticisms made by fans. No more automatic, thoughtless climbing. Here, every move counts, especially during infiltration phases. Cities are clearly the system's strong point, with well-thought-out routes. The difference between the two characters is interesting, but not always balanced. There's a real sense of infiltration, especially with Naoe. This is a good direction for the series, but it still needs to be refined.
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MissyBunny
MissyBunny
Jan 24, 2026, 16:26 on dlcompare.es
Eestas mejoras en el parkour de Shadows me hace confiar de nuevo en Ubisoft como desarrollador que escucha a su comunidad. Tras años de mecánicas más simplificadas, parece que han dado un paso atrás para recuperar esa sensación de sorpresa y dominio que tenías al jugar los clásicos. Que Naoe se mueva con agilidad y que se requiera más estrategia para el desplazamiento me parece una evolución exquisita. Estoy deseando saltar, trepar y planificar rutas ingeniosas por todo el mapa japonés.
These improvements to Shadows' parkour make me trust Ubisoft again as a developer that listens to its community. After years of more simplified mechanics, they seem to have taken a step back to recapture that sense of surprise and mastery you had when playing the classics. That Naoe moves with agility and requires more strategy for movement seems like an exquisite evolution to me. I'm looking forward to jumping, climbing and planning clever routes all over the Japanese map.
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Assassin's Creed Shadows
Assassin's Creed Shadows: Samurai in action fighting an opponent in a Japanese village. Cherry blossoms and fruit baskets in the background.
Assassin's Creed Shadows gameplay: A hooded character prepares to assassinate a target in Fukuchiyama Castle. UI shows the objective.
Assassin's Creed Shadows: Choose between Yasuke and Naoe. Yasuke in golden armor, Naoe in a hooded jacket.
Close-up of Assassin's Creed Shadows character in a hood, with a sword visible
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