The Naughty Northern Gamer Podcast

Bear Wood
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Video Games

Welcome to The Naughty Northern Gamer Podcast, where we explore the games that shaped generations. From the hidden stories behind legendary franchises to retrospectives on gaming’s biggest successes and failures, each episode dives deep into the worlds, characters, mechanics, and moments that made gaming what it is today. Whether it’s Assassin’s Creed, Battlefield, Call of Duty, Halo, Red Dead Redemption, or forgotten classics, this podcast celebrates gaming history one story at a time. If you'd like what I do, you can also find me on YouTube and Patreon @ That Naughty Northern Gamer

Episodes

  1. 27 Aug

    Assassin’s Creed III: The Most MISUNDERSTOOD Game in the Series?

    Assassin’s Creed III had the impossible task of following Ezio Auditore. Instead of giving us another charismatic Italian Assassin, Ubisoft introduced Connor Kenway, the American Revolution and one of the biggest reinventions the series had ever attempted. And players absolutely did not agree on whether it worked. In this complete Assassin’s Creed III retrospective, we’re revisiting Connor’s entire story, the American Revolution, the gameplay innovations, the controversial ending and one of the most ambitious Assassin’s Creed games Ubisoft ever made. Was Assassin’s Creed III actually disappointing? Or have we been too harsh on it for more than a decade? We begin with Haytham Kenway, whose opening hours pull one of the best tricks in Assassin’s Creed history before introducing Ratonhnhaké, better known as Connor. Connor is nothing like Ezio. He’s quieter, more serious, stubborn, idealistic and frequently caught between people who are more interested in using him than helping him. And then there’s the Homestead. A piece of optional content that quietly contains some of Connor’s best character moments while the main story occasionally seems determined to make him look permanently furious at everyone within a five-mile radius. We’ll also look at one of Assassin’s Creed III’s biggest innovations: naval combat. What began here would eventually become one of the defining features of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. But AC3’s greatest strength may also be the reason it struggled. It was trying to change almost everything at once And occasionally it feels like Connor has accidentally wandered into the background of his own American Revolution documentary. But more than a decade later, Assassin’s Creed III deserves another look. Because underneath the criticism is a story about freedom, hypocrisy, revenge and the uncomfortable reality that history rarely divides itself neatly into heroes and villains. So was Connor really the problem? Was Assassin’s Creed III simply released after the wrong protagonist? Did Ubisoft try to change too much too quickly? Or is Assassin’s Creed III one of the most misunderstood games in the entire franchise? Subscribe for more Assassin’s Creed retrospectives, gaming documentaries, complete story breakdowns and ridiculously detailed video game deep dives as we continue through the entire Assassin’s Creed franchise. Next stop: the Caribbean. 🏴‍☠️ #AssassinsCreed3 #AssassinsCreed #ConnorKenway

    Assassin’s Creed III: The Most MISUNDERSTOOD Game in the Series?

  2. 15 Aug

    Assassin’s Creed Revelations: The PERFECT Ending to Ezio’s Story?

    Assassin’s Creed Revelations brought Ezio Auditore and Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad together for one final journey, but was it the perfect ending the legendary Assassin deserved? In this complete Assassin’s Creed Revelations retrospective and story analysis, we travel to Constantinople as an ageing Ezio searches for the secrets hidden beneath Masyaf, uncovering the final memories of Altaïr and beginning to understand what his entire life as an Assassin has truly been leading towards. After decades of fighting the Templars, Ezio is older, wiser and considerably more tired of climbing buildings because somebody left an important object on the roof. But his final adventure becomes much more than another Assassin versus Templar conflict. Revelations is a story about legacy, obsession, sacrifice, love and finally knowing when it is time to walk away. In this deep dive, we’ll explore the COMPLETE story of Assassin’s Creed Revelations, including: • Ezio Auditore’s journey to Masyaf• The mystery of Altaïr’s hidden library• Constantinople and the Ottoman Empire• Yusuf Tazim and the Constantinople Assassins• Prince Suleiman and the Ottoman succession conflict• Manuel Palaiologos and the Byzantine Templars• Prince Ahmet and his true ambitions• Sofia Sartor and Ezio’s changing priorities• Ezio and Sofia’s relationship• The Masyaf Keys• Altaïr’s final memories• Altaïr’s life after the original Assassin’s Creed• Abbas and the collapse of the Assassin Brotherhood• Altaïr rebuilding the Assassins• The death of Maria Thorpe• Altaïr’s final years• The heartbreaking truth behind the Masyaf library• Ezio finally speaking directly to Desmond• Desmond Miles and the mysterious Animus Island• Subject 16 and Clay Kaczmarek• The First Civilization• The ending and its connection to Assassin’s Creed III We’ll also take a detailed look at the gameplay. Revelations introduced the Hookblade, expanded Ezio’s parkour abilities and gave players new ways to move through Constantinople. And yes, the Hookblade has two parts. The hook. And the blade. Ubisoft apparently felt we needed that clarified. And then there’s one feature every Revelations retrospective eventually has to discuss… Den Defense. Because apparently after three games about stealth, assassination and parkour, what Assassin’s Creed desperately needed was tower defence. We’ll look at what worked, what didn’t and whether some of Revelations’ stranger experiments deserve the criticism they received. But underneath all of the new mechanics is something much more important. This is the conclusion of two extraordinary Assassin stories. Altaïr began the series as an arrogant Master Assassin who believed he understood the Creed. Ezio began his journey as a young man seeking revenge for the murder of his family. By Assassin’s Creed Revelations, both men have spent almost their entire lives serving something larger than themselves. And eventually they both have to ask the same question: When is enough… enough? The final moments inside Altaïr’s library remain some of the most memorable scenes in Assassin’s Creed history, bringing Altaïr, Ezio and Desmond together across hundreds of years. Three Assassins. Three different lives. One message travelling through time. But more than a decade after its release, how well does Assassin’s Creed Revelations actually hold up? Was it an unnecessary extension of the Ezio trilogy? An experimental sequel released too quickly? Or is Assassin’s Creed Revelations actually one of the most emotional and underrated games Ubisoft ever made? Join me as we return to Constantinople, uncover the secrets of Masyaf and say goodbye to Ezio Auditore da Firenze. ⚠️ FULL SPOILERS for Assassin’s Creed Revelations and the previous Assassin’s Creed games. Subscribe for more Assassin’s Creed retrospectives, gaming documentaries, complete story analyses and ridiculously detailed video game deep dives. #AssassinsCreedRevelations #AssassinsCreed #EzioAuditore

    Assassin’s Creed Revelations: The PERFECT Ending to Ezio’s Story?

  3. 25 Jul

    Assassin's Creed Brotherhood: The Peak of the Ezio Trilogy?

    The Brotherhood rises. Following the events of Assassin's Creed II, Ezio Auditore arrives in Rome to rebuild the Assassin Brotherhood and wage war against Cesare Borgia in one of Ubisoft's most beloved entries in the series. In this complete retrospective, we explore everything that made Assassin's Creed Brotherhood a landmark title. From its gripping story and memorable characters to its refined gameplay, open world, side content, parkour, combat, recruitment system, multiplayer and lasting legacy. We'll take an in-depth look at: The complete story explainedEzio Auditore's character developmentCesare and Rodrigo Borgia analysedThe modern-day narrativeRome and its world designBrotherhood recruitment systemParkour and freerunning improvementsCombat evolutionLeonardo's war machinesSide missions and collectiblesAssassin's Creed Brotherhood multiplayerDevelopment historyCritical receptionHow Brotherhood influenced the future of the franchise Whether you're replaying the Ezio Collection or experiencing Brotherhood for the first time, this retrospective explores why many fans still consider it one of the greatest Assassin's Creed games ever made. If you enjoy long-form gaming documentaries and deep video essays, subscribe for more retrospectives covering every Assassin's Creed game in release order. #AssassinsCreed #AssassinsCreedBrotherhood #GamingDocumentary #Retrospective

    Assassin's Creed Brotherhood: The Peak of the Ezio Trilogy?

  4. 11 Jul

    Assassin’s Creed II: The Game That Perfected the Formula

    The Assassin’s Creed franchise changed forever in 2009. After the foundations laid by Altaïr’s adventure, Ubisoft delivered a sequel that transformed the series into one of gaming’s greatest franchises. Enter Ezio Auditore da Firenze, a charismatic young noble whose journey of revenge evolves into the story of a legendary Assassin. In this episode of The Naughty Northern Gamer Podcast, we dive deep into every aspect of Assassin’s Creed II. 🎙️ In this retrospective, we explore: * The complete story of Ezio Auditore * Renaissance Italy and its breathtaking open world * The evolution of parkour, stealth and combat * Leonardo da Vinci’s inventions and gadgets * The Assassin vs Templar conflict * Gameplay improvements over the original game * Historical accuracy and real-world inspirations * Behind-the-scenes development * Why Assassin’s Creed II is still considered one of the greatest games ever made Whether you’re revisiting the series or experiencing it for the first time, join me as we break down Ubisoft’s defining masterpiece. If you enjoy deep gaming documentaries, retrospectives, lore discussions and franchise analysis, be sure to follow the podcast and subscribe to That Naughty Northern Gamer for more episodes. #AssassinsCreed #AssassinsCreed2 #EzioAuditore #Ubisoft #GamingPodcast #GamingHistory #Retrospective #VideoGames #Lore #ThatNaughtyNorthernGamer

    Assassin’s Creed II: The Game That Perfected the Formula

  5. 26 Jun

    Assassin’s Creed (2007): The Game That Started It All

    Welcome to the very first episode of The Naughty Northern Gamer Podcast. We’re starting where it all began: Assassin’s Creed (2007). Nearly two decades later, does the original Assassin’s Creed still deserve its legendary reputation, or has time exposed its flaws? In this episode we take a deep dive into the game that launched one of Ubisoft’s biggest franchises, exploring: ⚔️ The creation of Assassin’s Creed 🦅 Altaïr Ibn-La’Ahad and his journey 🏙️ World design and historical setting 🎮 Gameplay mechanics and parkour 🗡️ Combat, stealth and assassinations 📖 Story, lore and the Animus 🏛️ The Templars vs the Assassins 🎵 Soundtrack and atmosphere ⏳ How well the game has aged 🏆 Final verdict and legacy Whether you’re a lifelong Assassin or discovering the series for the first time, join me as we revisit the game that started it all. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow for future episodes covering every Assassin’s Creed game in release order. #AssassinsCreed #Altair #Ubisoft #GamingPodcast #VideoGamePodcast #Gaming #Retrospective #VideoEssay #Lore #StealthGames #TheNaughtyNorthernGamer #AssassinsCreed2007 #GamingHistory

    Assassin’s Creed (2007): The Game That Started It All
  • 5 Episodes

About

Welcome to The Naughty Northern Gamer Podcast, where we explore the games that shaped generations. From the hidden stories behind legendary franchises to retrospectives on gaming’s biggest successes and failures, each episode dives deep into the worlds, characters, mechanics, and moments that made gaming what it is today. Whether it’s Assassin’s Creed, Battlefield, Call of Duty, Halo, Red Dead Redemption, or forgotten classics, this podcast celebrates gaming history one story at a time. If you'd like what I do, you can also find me on YouTube and Patreon @ That Naughty Northern Gamer

Information