A new gameplay video from Assassin's Creed Shadows has surfaced, offering players their 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 an expansive view of the city. However, the size of Kyoto has sparked discussions among fans, as it appears smaller than anticipated, raising questions about its design and functionality.

Reddit users who commented on the post praised the visual appeal of Kyoto but expressed concerns regarding key elements of the Assassin's Creed series, particularly the climbing and parkour mechanics. Based on the footage, it seems that the city may not provide ample opportunities for free-running, which has led to mixed reactions within the community.

Here are some sentiments from the comments:

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 slated 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 eagerly anticipating more information on how the series' iconic mechanics will be woven into this unique historical setting. While Kyoto may focus more on authenticity than on action-packed traversal, the true test will be whether the developers have successfully struck a balance between aesthetics and gameplay.