Assassin’s Creed Shadows is shaking up the classic rooftop action, and fans can’t stop arguing about it—some love the smoother animations and new parkour choices, while others wonder if they’ll miss the “good old days” of tight, skill-based climbs. Ubisoft has mixed familiar wall-running moves with new traversal tricks, like expanded player control, so now players are wondering: is this the next step or just a fancy detour? Meanwhile, the debate is only heating up, and the best details are just ahead.
When Assassin’s Creed first leapt onto the scene back in 2007, it didn’t just bring hidden blades and cryptic conspiracies—it also made parkour in video games cool. Players were suddenly vaulting over rooftops, scaling towers, and running across crowded markets, all with the press of a few buttons. This wasn’t an accident. Ubisoft’s developers took notes from Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, aiming to make characters who didn’t just move—they flowed. The result? A parkour system that felt fresh, ambitious, and, for many, totally addictive.
As the series grew, so did its acrobatics. The earliest games focused on smooth climbing and believable movement, but fans quickly demanded more. Assassin’s Creed Unity, for instance, brought sideways wall-runs and the much-requested “parkour up and down” feature, letting players zip up and down buildings with more control. In Assassin’s Creed III, the introduction of tree climbing and natural rock formations expanded the freerunning mechanics beyond urban environments and gave players new ways to explore. The Leap of Faith move, a fan favorite, was introduced early on and became instantly recognizable thanks to its signature animation and the flock of pigeons that marked its landing spots.
Then there’s Syndicate, which tossed in a rope launcher, finally giving everyone the Spider-Man moment they’d been waiting for. Climbing Big Ben? No problem—just point, shoot, and zip.
Syndicate’s rope launcher turned every climb into a thrill—just aim, fire, and soar across London like a Victorian Spider-Man.
The technology got better, too. Environments got bigger and more detailed, meaning the parkour had to keep up. Game designers had to rethink how players could move horizontally and vertically, especially when the buildings got taller and the streets wider.
The free-running mechanics became more nuanced, with acrobatic animations like spinning dismounts and creative vaults. It wasn’t just about speed; it was about style.
Of course, fans have opinions—lots of them. Some swear by Unity’s parkour, claiming it set the gold standard. Others prefer the old-school simplicity, or they fall for Syndicate’s rope launcher and its “why walk when you can fly?” convenience. For hardcore players, taking regular breaks during intense parkour sessions helps prevent wrist strain and eye fatigue that can develop from extended gameplay.
Every new game, including the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Shadows, sparks debates about what parkour should feel like. Should it be smooth and automatic, or put more control in the player’s hands?
Whatever side players land on, one thing’s clear: Assassin’s Creed made parkour a core part of its identity, and every new entry keeps the conversation—and those rooftop races—alive.