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