The stunningly detailed re-creation of Notre-Dame Cathedral in an 'Assassin's Creed' game could help with the rebuilding efforts. Here's what it looks like up close.

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The stunningly detailed re-creation of Notre-Dame Cathedral in an 'Assassin's Creed' game could help with the rebuilding efforts. Here's what it looks like up close.

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Firefighters tackle the blaze as flames and smoke rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris, Monday, April 15, 2019. Massive plumes of yellow brown smoke is filling the air above Notre Dame Cathedral and ash is falling on tourists and others around the island that marks the center of Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

Associated Press

Firefighters tackle the blaze as flames and smoke rise from Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

A fire on Monday devastated the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

The structure, including its two main towers, remains intact, but its spire collapsed before firefighters could contain the blaze. French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to rebuild the famous cathedral, tweeting in French: "We will rebuild it. All together."

One potential source of help in those efforts is the 2014 video game "Assassin's Creed Unity," which is set in Paris.

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That's because the game, which takes place during the French Revolution, has a lavishly detailed, historically accurate depiction of Notre-Dame Cathedral.

That's because the game, which takes place during the French Revolution, has a lavishly detailed, historically accurate depiction of Notre-Dame Cathedral.

In the wake of this week's fire at Notre-Dame, YouTube users have started creating detailed walkthroughs of the cathedral in game. Given the game's graphical fidelity and stunningly accurate depiction, these walkthroughs offer an amazing opportunity to pore over every inch of the cathedral.

In the wake of this week's fire at Notre-Dame, YouTube users have started creating detailed walkthroughs of the cathedral in game. Given the game's graphical fidelity and stunningly accurate depiction, these walkthroughs offer an amazing opportunity to pore over every inch of the cathedral.
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The game's main character, a Frenchman named Arno, is able to explore the entire cathedral, both inside and out. From the stunning interior ...

The game's main character, a Frenchman named Arno, is able to explore the entire cathedral, both inside and out. From the stunning interior ...

... to impossible overhead shots you couldn't actually experience in real life. In fact, a signature element of "Assassin's Creed" games is the ability to climb to the very top of iconic structures.

... to impossible overhead shots you couldn't actually experience in real life. In fact, a signature element of "Assassin's Creed" games is the ability to climb to the very top of iconic structures.
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As detailed in a 2014 feature published in The Verge, Caroline Miousse, an Ubisoft level artist, spent two years poring over details of the cathedral to create as accurate a depiction as possible in the game.

As detailed in a 2014 feature published in The Verge, Caroline Miousse, an Ubisoft level artist, spent two years poring over details of the cathedral to create as accurate a depiction as possible in the game.

"I made some other stuff in the game, but 80% of my time was spent on the Notre-Dame," she said at the time.

While the effort to rebuild the iconic cathedral could benefit from the designers' work, it's unclear whether their work will be referenced.

Source: The Verge

One YouTube user's extremely thorough walkthrough offers a much deeper look at the game's lovingly detailed re-creation of Notre-Dame Cathedral — check it out right here:

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