A newly released gameplay video from Assassin's Creed Shadows has provided fans with their first glimpse of Kyoto, as seen through the eyes of protagonist Naoe from a synchronization viewpoint. The footage, shared by the Japanese media outlet Impress Watch, showcases Naoe scaling a rooftop to unveil a sweeping view of the city. However, the size of Kyoto appears smaller than many fans anticipated, igniting conversations about its design and its impact on gameplay.

On Reddit, users have expressed their admiration for Kyoto's visual appeal but have also voiced concerns about the core mechanics of the Assassin's Creed series, particularly climbing and parkour. The video suggests that the city might not offer the extensive free-running opportunities that the series is known for, resulting in a mixed reception among the community.

Some of the comments from Reddit users highlight these concerns:

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 launch date approaches, fans are keenly awaiting further details on how the game will incorporate the series' signature mechanics into its unique historical setting. While Kyoto may focus more on historical accuracy than on action-packed traversal, it remains to be seen whether the developers have struck the right balance between aesthetics and gameplay.