Assassin's Creed Shadows - Claws of Awaji

It took 62 hours to finish. When I put down the controller, I didn't feel that "finally done" sense of relief. Instead, it felt a bit like saying goodbye to a friend who'd stayed for two months. Reluctant to part, but knowing it was time.

The game's biggest problem is that it wants too much. It wants to be a hardcore action game, but won't give up Ubisoft's mass-market appeal. It wants to tell a culturally deep story, but also cram in 50 hours of main content. The result is that every part reaches seven or eight out of ten, but nothing makes you jump out of your seat.

The visuals are genuinely beautiful, the cultural authenticity is genuinely thoughtful, the content volume is genuinely substantial. But the stickiness of gameplay, the formulaic plot, the mediocre sound design—these issues start becoming glaring after you hit the 30-hour mark. You won't hate this game, but it's hard to love it either.

Is it worth 60 hours? If you're an Assassin's Creed fan, or interested in Japan's Warring States period, then yes. If you're expecting a "series-changing" work, wait for a sale. This is a competent AAA open-world game, nothing more.