The Game Everyone's Talking About

Assassin's Creed Shadows has taken the gaming world by storm since its release, becoming 2025's hottest topic. While my colleagues have drifted towards other games, the chatter about this stunning title still lingers, especially as I made a surprising announcement in our team Slack.

My 26-Hour Struggle for Yasuke

As I blurted out my progress update, 'I’m ~26 hours in and finally unlocked Yasuke,' a flurry of responses erupted. My colleague Pete's immediate reaction set off a 75-message thread: 'How on earth did you spend so much time?'

The Backstory of Yasuke

For those unfamiliar, Yasuke is one of the two main characters in Assassin's Creed Shadows. Players typically unlock him after completing the first act, usually taking around 10-12 hours. Even guides suggest a max of 20 hours. So how did I turn a simple quest into a marathon?

The Distraction Dilemma

Well, I confess, I’m easily distracted. My exploration instincts in open-world games are relentless. Stealth mechanics and my perfectionist tendencies only complicate matters. I’ll spend hours replaying a mission to achieve the perfect outcome—something that seems to take me longer than most.

My Chaotic Castle Infiltration

In what should be a straightforward mission, my approach to infiltrating castles is methodical yet reckless. I might find a route over a moat, eliminate guards, but then get sidetracked by a treasure chest. Each castle turns into an hour-long ordeal—an exhausting yet thrilling experience.

The Slow Burn of Gameplay

After clearing several castles, the game's repetitive elements started to dull the thrill, yet the stealth aspects still keep my adrenaline pumping. Now that Yasuke is available, I'm eager to see how adjusting to his unique gameplay style can help me break free from my obsessive tendencies.

Future Adventures Await!

As I ponder my next steps, there’s no rush to speed through the game. Perhaps a leisurely haul through the stunning environments of feudal Japan and perfecting my photography skills in the game’s photo mode will be my new focus. Himeji Castle, here I come!