Kyoto in Assassin's Creed Shadows: A Parkour Paradise?

A new gameplay video from Assassin's Creed Shadows has recently emerged, giving fans an exciting first glimpse of Kyoto from a synchronization viewpoint. Shared by the Japanese media outlet Impress Watch, the footage features protagonist Naoe scaling a rooftop to unveil a breathtaking view of the city. However, the size of Kyoto has sparked discussions among fans, as it appears smaller than anticipated, leading to conversations about its design and functionality.

Reddit users who viewed the video praised the stunning aesthetics of Kyoto but expressed concerns about core elements of the Assassin's Creed series, particularly the climbing and parkour mechanics. The footage suggests that the city might not provide ample opportunities for extensive free-running, which has resulted in a mix of reactions within the community.

Some comments from Reddit users reflect these sentiments:

Isn't Kyoto supposed to be about half the size of Paris from Unity? Don't get me wrong, it looks beautiful, and exploring it will definitely be enjoyable, but I was hoping for at least one densely populated city designed for parkour.

It looks great, but it's disappointing that we might be limited to restricted parkour instead of full-on freerunning. Hopefully, the grappling hook will make up for it.

Looks nice, but there aren't enough structures for proper parkour.

While it's visually appealing, it doesn't quite feel like a city. I'm sure it's historically accurate, but it seems lacking when it comes to parkour potential.

Assassin's Creed Shadows is scheduled for release on March 20, 2025, and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. As the release date approaches, fans are keenly awaiting more information on how the iconic mechanics of the series will be woven into this unique historical setting. While Kyoto may prioritize historical accuracy over action-packed traversal, only time will tell if the developers have successfully balanced visual beauty with engaging gameplay.