The Acolyte Podcast

The "Hidden Blade" is one of the core identifiers of an Assassin and the hidden wristblade's main use is for the assassination of their target. However, in some of the games, we have seen the hidden blade be a middling but effective option for combat but, those games were a long time ago. So in this continuation of the Unique Ideas series, I talk about true hidden blade combat and how cool it actually could be if implemented properly in a future experience. Please enjoy!-The Hooded Shadow

Well, it's about damn time that the worst kept secret in gaming was finally revealed. Truth be told, it looks very good, so here are my honest thoughts about the reveal of the remake to a beloved entry and many gamers' favorite Assassin's Creed experience. It looks as if Black Flag Resynced is going to be an insanely good remake of the original. Please enjoy!-The Hooded Shadow

Remember back to Assassin's Creed 2's Truth puzzles that, when pieced together, revealed the insane Isu lore of the rebellion of the humans vs their creators (such cool stuff by the way...). And as time marched forward, we were given more and more tidbits through different projects concerning this fascinating period of time. Well, it's not really important to the teams anymore as unfortunately the love and care for this uniquely sci-fi element of the franchise that enhances their world building has largely been neglected since then. So in this episode, I give a detailed idea of the kind of Isu era game that would be incredibly cool to see happen so I hope you enjoy!-The Hooded Shadow

"Shadow of the Empire."The next episode of the Sanctuary Assassin series for Season 3 is here! Iltani, the Babylonian Assassin recieved a statue under the Villa Auditore because of her role in the assassination of one of history's greatest generals, Alexander The Great. In this episode, I give my own fictional version of her story and the reason why she is one of the greatest and most influential Assassins ever. Please enjoy!-The Hooded Shadow

King Kong vs Godzilla? I'm actually more interested in Hidden Ones vs. Assassins and in this episode, I explore the etymolgy of both groups and their respective names, I breakdown the purpose for the name change from Assassins to Hidden Ones, and why I actually prefer the term of "Hidden One" more so than "Assassin." Stay tuned for more great episodes coming throughout the year. Please enjoy!-The Hooded Shadow

One of the great things about entertainment is that you can like whatever your heart and soul fancies. Even if something isn't widely popular, even if you happen to like it, is ok. This has been a feeling I've had about Assassin's Creed over the last 10 years or so. But as I take a new perspective on the franchise (with the help of Ubisoft's terrible management), and compare the games to others in its genre, I came to the conclusion that Ubisoft is falling behind in many ways. So many games on the AAA level are much better, and I look at some AA games and Indie games as well, in comparison and I've now concluded that it is no longer acceptable for Ubisoft to be treating it's franchises this way and that they should be better!- The Hooded Shadow

For almost 17 years, Ezio Auditore has been the face of the franchise, meaning he is the most recognizable character in the gaming zeitgeist from Assassin's Creed. When you think Assassin's Creed, you think of Ezio and for the most part, every other character was largely forgotten about after the launch of the next game. But now we have had several appearances from Basim and even though he doesn't compare to Ezio, Basim has been firmly established as a fleshed out character and has the potential to continue to be with a few more *possible* stories. So in this episode, I recount Basim's journey and give an idea for one more experience to solidify his position as a memorable character. Please enjoy!-The Hooded Shadow

Hello there and welcome to the special series for Season 3. This year, I'm going to have an episode talking about each Sanctuary Assassin located under the Villa Auditore from Assassin's Creed 2. These characters have always fascinated me and I've very much wanted to see games or experiences featuring them. Each episode will be dedicated to one of these Assassins and will release bi-monthly throughout the current season. So sharpen your blades and keep an eagle eye on the rest of the episodes. Thanks for listening!-The Hooded Shadow

It's been a crazy journey with Shadows since launch. I'm completely miffed by how this game pretends to be an Assassin's Creed game (up to my standards), but I guess I shouldn't be all that surprised by it considering Shadows was developed by the Quebec studio team. That being said, I just thought with Shadows ushering in a new era of Assassin's Creed, that it would be a great Assassin game, let alone a good game. But here we are. I am "Revisiting" Shadows one more time before I close the book on my least favorite A.C. game.-The Hooded Shadow

As is tradition, the end of the year brings discussions on many gamers' Game of the Year. For this podcast, I put my own spin on it and give my FGOTY, otherwise known as Favorite Game of the Year. This is a game that I have completed a playthrough of, in the current year, but doesn't have to be released in said year. So, I want to nominate 2016's Watch_Dogs 2. Developed and published by Ubisoft, the Watch_Dogs franchise brought a unique spin to the open world genre where the player can hack digital items (such as phones and cameras) and manipulate the world to their benefit using this technology. I've played all three games and eagerly await the return of Watch_Dogs someday. Thank you for another successful year for the podcast and I hope you stick around for Season 3. Please enjoy!-The Hooded Shadow

Who's better than the legend himself? Ezio Auditore da Firenze is my number one favorite character in the franchise and narrowly edges past Bayek for that distinction. I don't have to explain anything about Ezio, so enjoy!!-The Hooded Shadow

Recently, Assassin's Creed Mirage got an update that stated a total of 10 million+ players have played this game. As an attempt to return to form, or a "back to the roots" if you will, it has been a well recieved entry from many core Assassin's Creed fans and the numbers (along with the help of massive updates) proves this. So, as I revisit Mirage once more, I look fondly upon a game that does truly serve as a love letter to the franchise and one that personally, holds a special place in my heart. Thanks for listening!-The Hooded Shadow

For almost 30 years, Lara Croft has been a mainstay in the video games zeitgeist. She is one of the few recognizable female characters, and a badass one at that, that has had so many unforgettable globe-trotting adventures. My introduction to the Tomb Raider series started with 2018's Shadow of the Tomb Raider and a few years later I played 2015's Rise of the Tomb Raider. Each game ended up having a profound impact on me emotionally and as a history and archaeological nerd and I couldn't wait to see what was next for Lara Croft. So in this episode, I recount my history with the franchise and look forward to what's next. Please enjoy!-The Hooded Shadow

As a passionate history nerd, the Viking Age fascinates me greatly. So when it was announced in 2020 that the newest game would be set in this era, my hype was comparable to only one other game in the franchise, Unity. I was so hyped, that it was borderline unhealthy. Jokes aside (kind of...), I couldn't wait to see how a Viking would navigate the conflcit of the Assassins (Hidden Ones) and Templars (Order of Ancients) and join the brotherhood to further their cause. Needless to say, that didn't quite happen nor did I think Valhalla was a fantastic "Viking" game (in the vein of a Red Dead being a great "Cowboy" game). So let's revisit Valhalla once again and re-rank it for my Tier List. Thanks for listening!-The Hooded Shadow

This episode is a companion piece to my 3-part review of Assassin's Creed Shadows released earlier this season. I just had a desire to make this and express my true feelings about the game after the smoke cleared, many months later. "Shadows Broke Me" is inspired by an infamous video titled "Odyssey Broke Me" by YouTuber LaZzerZ. I explain everything I currently feel about the franchise and come to terms with my status as a die hard fan moving forward. It makes me sad :( that it's come to this...-The Hooded Shadow

In this episode, I'm revisiting 2018's game expansion "Legacy of the First Blade, Episode 1." This expansion's first episode introduces us to legendary sanctuary Assassin, Darius, who is the first weilder of the iconic weapon of the Assassins, the hidden blade. The first episode of this expansion shows a bit of backstory for Darius and is, honestly, really great to experience as an Assassin's Creed lore aficionado. I don't acknowledge the base game as a legit part of the franchise but I really wanted to share my thoughts on this episode so I hope you enjoy!-The Hooded Shadow

One of my biggest critiques of Assassin's Creed has been the lack of memorable protagonists with most of the games released, especially the more recent ones. The early days featured most of these  memorable characters such as Edward and Altair, but it is Ezio that still remains the most iconic of the bunch. So when Bayek came along in Origins, he instatntly won over the hearts of many Assassin's Creed fans, especially myself. Bayek's warmth and empathy contrasts with his passion and fervor which makes him THE character with the widest range of emotions in the franchise. As such, Bayek of Siwa earns his spot on my favorite characters list. Please enjoy!-The Hooded Shadow

Altair Ib'n La Ahad was the first Assassin that we came to know and who set the standard for the prototypical Assassin. We get to see many phases of Altair's life not only in his respective game, but in "flashback" sequences during the story of Assassin's Creed Revelations; as well as other books and comics. So the "grandfather" of the Assassins ranks very highly on my list just by principal alone, that being the quintessential Assassin while showing traits of a nuanced character. Please enjoy my ranking episode of Altair!-The Hooded Shadow

The modern Hitman games (World of Assassination trilogy) have seen major success as a constantly updated, almost "live-service" style project. Unlike traditional live-service models, which prioritize small updates or items such as weapons and skins, Hitman takes a unique approach. So in my newest "Unique Ideas" episode, I discuss what I'd like to see happen with the live-service design for Assassin's Creed and use Hitman as the inspiration. And if Assassin's Creed is going to "copy" games, I'd rather them draw inspiration from the Hitman series instead of Witcher 3. Please enjoy!-The Hooded Shadow

Way back when, one of the most requested settings from fans was for the series to tackle Ancient Egypt and in 2017, Asassin's Creed finally delivered. Origins marked a shift in the design of the franchise and in hindsight almost serves as like a "soft reboot." As for me, from minute one to the last cutscene, I loved Origins despite it's different direction. And even though this was the moment that Assassin's Creed started down the RPG path, Origins was and still is my favorite game in the franchise. Please enjoy as I revisit Origins 8 years after its initial release!-The Hooded Shadow

Everybody's favorite pirate and the main character of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, is one of the most memorable characters in the franchise. Also, the game has the overall best writing and best cast of characters that help elevate Edward into my Top 4. This handsome, witty, and very stubborn Welshman earns his spot on my favorite charcaters ranking list. Thanks for listening!-The Hooded Shadow

One of my favorite things is to get info on a new Assassin's Creed game that is in development (sometimes more than playing the game itself) and boy did we just get a bombshell dropped on us by Stephen Totilo and additional information from Insider Gaming that talks of a now cancelled game set in the "Reconstruction Era" post-American Civil War. It sounded very interesting too...In this episode, I have a discussion about it and speak on some rumors about the premise of the game, why it was canceled, and how it may have been a cool idea on paper, but is probably smart that it got canceled. Please enjoy!- The Hooded Shadow

The young, charismatic protagonist of Assassin's Creed Unity has a strange relationship with me. On one hand, I don't like Arno's naivete and the fact that he blindly follows the woman he loves at the expense of being a dedicated Assassin but his performance and aura is incredible, and is probably the best in the series for any main character. So please enjoy my ranking of Arno Dorian.-The Hooded Shadow

Remember when Assassin's Creed was one of the top of the line, needle moving, franchises that when a new game was announced, it took its place as one of the most hyped games of that particualr year? Well, Assassin's Creed doesn't feel like that anymore as they have released another huge title with a setting that was requested for a decade and nobody really talked about it in the general gaming discourse after a week or two. So, in this episode, I break down in many ways why the franchise has lost its shine and what it would take to reclaim its status as a a tent-pole franchise. Please enjoy!- The Hooded Shadow

Can you believe it's been 10 years since Syndicate released!?! Anyway, the Victorian Era set entry has seen its fair share of praise and criticism over that span of time. I very much have a like/hate relationship with this game that constantly affects where I put it on my rankings list. So, lets revisit Syndicate one last time. Thanks for listening!

When we first saw the Crossover stories for Valhalla in late 2021, it sparked a passionate discourse on other characters appearing together. But this is not a new concept as we've seen ideas and fan fiction about this as far back as 2014. So, for the next entry in the "Unique Ideas" series, I thought I would add my two cents on other crossovers that I would like to see. Please enjoy!- The Hooded Shadow

While they are not mainline titles, probably the most overlooked or maybe least known entries in the franchise are the games in the Chronicles series. Chronicles covers three different time periods and therefore, lets us experience three different but familiar characters and their stories. Personally, I really enjoy these games, and even though they're not considered "mainline" releases, I just wanted to talk about my time playing them. Please enjoy!-The Hooded Shadow

One of the most interesting characters to wear the iconic hidden blade. He was born in Samarra, was picking pockets in Anbar, began his path to a Hidden One in Alamut, then ultimately laid his roots in Baghdad. Basim is such an intriguing character from the time we first met him in Valhalla and then get to experience his origin story in Mirage. He just misses my Top 5, but I love Basim to death in this game for many reasons. Please enjoy!-The Hooded Shadow

A butterfly that flaps its wings can cause a tornado elsewhere. That is the definition of a "Butterfly Effect." Nothing else describes Unity better than this because it had arguably the biggest impact on the franchise by altering its trajectory after the culmination of its golden years. I remember the hype for the game, I remember being so incredibly blown away by its graphics and art design and thinking to myself, "This is really what next-gen is going to look like." Assassin's Creed should've been, from that moment on, at the forefront of that transition but a lack of proper management led to a massive letdown and came to a point of no return for the franchise. Please enjoy this episode as I recount Unity's launch, the aftermath, and what an alternate timeline could've looked like had Unity landed properly.-The Hooded Shadow

In this "Revisited: Assassin's Creed" epsiode, I am discussing the rise, fall, and legacy of the game that affected the trajectory of the franchise forever. Unity despite being in my Tier 1 Rankings, is a game that has a lot of great ideas but is hindered by its flaws. Even though I love the player experience it gives of being a Brotherhood Assasin, a lack of execution of those great ideas did this game in. As a result of this outcome, the franchise has never been the same since. Please enjoy my revisiting of Assassin's Creed Unity.-The Hooded Shadow

Aya definitely makes her prescence felt in Origins (in a good way). And while she's the other playable character in that respective game, she is one of the many reasons why Origins is among my favorite games in the franchise. Here is my ranking of Aya of Alexandria, later known as Amunet). Be sure to check out my rankings of each playable character and it will continue through the rest of the season, culminating in December. Thanks for listening!-The Hooded Shadow

In this continuation of the "Unique Ideas" series, I discuss a way to improve on the design of the open world structure of these games. Being influenced by a particular peer of Assassin's Creed, designing a dynamic mission structure system could breathe a massive amount of fresh air into the "stale" RPG design of the current games. For context, this episode is just a fun idea that I had and I'm not at all a video game designer and have no idea how easy or difficult it would be to implement this into a future game. Thanks for tuning in and be on the lookout for more Unique Ideas episodes coming soon!-The Hooded Shadow

In this episode of my favorite characters ranking, I look at the better half of the Frye twins that stars in Syndicate. To be honest, I don't really care about Syndicate that much anymore and the only reason I ever boot up the game anymore is to run around Victorian London as Evie. Be sure to check out my other rankings episodes and thanks for listening!-The Hooded Shadow

I cannot describe the level of hype that I felt when it was officially announced that the next setting that Assassin's Creed would take place in was the Viking Age. It was one of my top 5 settings that I had wanted to see for several years and it took place during the invasions by the Scandinavian warriors unto the British Isles. However, I was very disappointed with the outcome of Valhalla because of its lack of a titular Assassin story and main character. So, in this episode, I have a discussion about what my Viking Assassin's Creed game would look like (and Vikings can be stealthy too). Thanks for listening!-The Hooded Shadow

In this episode of "Revisited: Assassin's Creed," I am going back through the black sheep of the family. Assassin's Creed Rogue continues the design formula of AC3 and Black Flag and gives a setting in the Seven Years War in Canada and the northeastern United States. I have a very volatile relationship with this game, so please check out the episode to find out why!-The Hooded Shadow

We see Adewale' appear in a few experiences throughout the "Colonial Era" of games and he is eligible for this list because of Freedom Cry. And I immensely enjoy his character but sadly we don't get a lot from him throughout these experiences. Thanks for listening!

Welcome to Part 3 of my review of Assassin's Creed Shadows. In this final review episode, I give my final thoughts about the game and give my ranking of the newest entry into this long-standing franchise. Please check out Part 1-Narrative and Part 2-Gameplay if you would like. Thanks for listening!-The Hooded Shadow

Here is Part 2 of my review of Assassin's Creed Shadows and in this episode, I will be discussing my thoughts about different aspects of the gameplay. Part 3 will be released next week and will reveal my final thoughts and Tier Ranking. Also, Part 1 is out now!-The Hooded Shadow

Here it is...my review of the newest entry in the Assassin's Creed franchise, is a 3 part review and will be released sequentially over the next couple of weeks. Part 1 is all about the narrative! Please enjoy and stay tuned for the other episodes on Assassin's Creed Shadows.-The Hooded Shadow

A brand new game from Chinese developer 24 Entertainment and NetEase just released a trailer for "Blood Message" and it has taken the video game world by storm. Interestingly enough though, the game looks like it takes all the best parts of games like Uncharted, Assassin's Creed, and God of War and brings them together to create what is seemingly an amalgamation of all the best of what they offer.

In this episode of "Revisited: Assassin's Creed" I'm giving another look at one of the most popular games in the franchise. My original Tier Ranking episode of Black Flag states that I think this is an amazing pirate game but just an ok Assassin's Creed game. I still feel that way but I give a bit more nuance here. Also, this is a good time to revisit with the rumored remake being revealed later this year. Thanks for listening!- The Hooded Shadow

Welcome back to the ongoing "Unique Ideas" series. For the first appearance in Season 2, I want to give some love to the most iconic weapon for any Assassin, the hidden blade. For their need of giving players the autonomy of open ended play styles and builds but not allowing customization of the hidden blade is asinine. So, I decided to give my two cents on a "unique" way to achieve this while keeping the core ideals of Assassin's Creed intact. Enjoy!-The Hooded Shadow

Making his first appearance in Assassin's Creed III, we get to meet the father of main protagonist Connor and son of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag's Edward Kenway. In the prologue section of ACIII, you get to take control of Haytham for a few hours. While oozing charm, charisma, and badassness, Haytham just  barely eeks into my Top 10 of favorite characters for reasons that aren't his fault.- The Hooded Shadow

The Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century, despite how relatively unknown a time period it is, was actually a very pivotal time in the history of the world. It has been said that this era was the progenitor to modern capitalism because the Dutch were a viable world power, that for a time, was competing with other major superpowers like France and England in economics, military, etc. In a way, this could lead to an interesting setting for an Assassin's Creed game but I don't think it will, personally. Find out why in this episode! Also check out the other two episodes in this mini-series of settings I don't want to see happen in the games, which are the American Wild West and a World War setting. Thanks for listening!-The Hooded Shadow

In this next episode of my "Revisited: Assassin's Creed" series, I discuss the game that really changed the game for the brand in a lot of ways. This game is also where my entry point into the franchise is. But all in all, Assassin's Creed 3 is a polarizing game and one that leaves it's mark. Thanks for listening!-The Hooded Shadow

The Red Dead series is very special to me. Not only does it feature my favorite time period in history but both games have a narrative that has stuck with me to this day. In this episode, I discuss if there will be another game in this franchise and what years it might be set in. Also, the first game, Red Dead Redemption is now 15 years old this month and I want to give love to these games that have greatly impacted my life. Thanks for listening!-The Hooded Shadow

Connor's spot amongst favorite characters always leads to heated discussions and opinions. And while he is far from the best character, he certainly isn't close to being the worst. I understand his motivations and I appreciate his convictions. Here is my episode ranking Connor Kenway.

Both World Wars were a very pivotal time in shaping the world in the early 20th century. This setting has also been done countless times throughout all forms of entertainment, most notably, movies and video games in the since the turn of the century. This era has been a somewhat highly requested setting for Assassin's Creed fans for many years and I don't think it makes for a good setting in a main game, however, for a myriad of reasons. In this episode I go over why this is, and a little surprise at the back half of the episode tells of my ideas for how I would like the design of a game with this setting to be done. This episode is part of a 3 episode mini-series within the "General Discussion" portion for Season 2, on settings that I don't want to see appear in any future game in this series so hopefully you check those out as well. Thanks for listening! youtube.com/HoodedShadowBrand

Revelations is an incredible experience. The culmination of Ezio's story. The finality of Altair's journey. The setting. The music. The best weapon introduced in any game ever, the hookblade. Assassin's Creed Revelations may be some people's least favorite Ezio adventure and despite this, however, it has recieved a lot more love in recent years. This final chapter of Ezio's story provides an experience that is much more important and special to me than it is to most other gamers. Reminisce with me as I revisit one of my favorite games of all time. Thanks for checking it out!-The Hooded Shadow

One of the coolest secrets you can find in Assassin's Creed Syndicate is a Rift that transports you forward about 50 years to World War 1 era London. Here, Lydia Frye is introduced. And while she is amazing for the time you play as her, it is very short-lived, unfortunately.