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Echoes of History
Samurai & Shinobi: Assassin's Creed Shadows Review
5. Assassin's Creed Shadows Review
Assassin's Creed Shadows is now available to play! Matt Lewis had advanced access to the new game and stepped into the shoes of a samurai and shinobi in medieval Japan, armed with the knowledge he's gained about Japan's legendary warriors from this special series.
He's joined by historian and video game narrative designer Holly Nielsen, who brings her experience to review how the developers of Assassin's Creed adapted real history into entertainment.
Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit.
Hosted by: Matt Lewis, Holly Nielsen
Edited by: Robin McConnell
Produced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnell
Senior Producer: Anne-Marie Luff
Production Manager: Beth Donaldson
Executive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen Bennett
Music by The Flight
If you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here.
Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.com
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46:19|Assassin's Creed Shadows gives us the chance to explore the places where history occurred. One such place is recreated in remarkable detail: Azuchi Castle. Built by Oda Nobunaga as his ultimate stronghold, not only was its site of huge strategic significance, but it revolutionised Japanese castle-building and lent its name to a new era of Japanese history: the Azuchi-Momoyama period.Professor Oleg Benesch, author of Japanese Castles: Citadels Of Modernity In War And Peace joins Matt Lewis to explore the nooks and crannies of this architectural marvel. Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Hosted by: Matt LewisEdited by: Alex JonesProduced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnellSenior Producer: Anne-Marie LuffProduction Manager: Beth DonaldsonExecutive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen BennettMusic by The FlightIf you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here.Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.comHow Did Samurai And Shinobi Fight Battles In Medieval Japan?
43:23|Chasing Shadows 4. WarfareAssassin's Creed Shadows gives players the chance to experience history as two icons of medieval Japan: samurai and shinobi (known today as ninja). In this special series, Matt Lewis and Professor Eric Rath from the University of Kansas take an in-depth look at how these legendary warriors lived and answer the question, what is the difference between samurai and shinobi?This episode thrusts us into the thick of combat. How did samurai battle tactics compare to shinobi guerilla warfare?Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Hosted by: Matt Lewis, Prof Eric RathEdited by: Robin McConnellProduced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnellSenior Producer: Anne-Marie LuffProduction Manager: Beth DonaldsonExecutive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen BennettMusic by The FlightIf you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here.Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.comLady Nene: Female Samurai?
32:42|Assassin's Creed Shadows introduces us to some of Japan's mightiest historical leaders. Yet, "beside every great man is an ever greater woman". One of the women behind the great unifiers of this era was Lady Nene. Wife of Toyotomi HIdeyoshi, one of the highest-ranking men in Sengoku Japan, she arguably wielded as much political sway as her husband… Matt Lewis is joined once again by Lesley Downer to explain the role Lady Nene played in the unification of Japan, and what her story tells us about being a woman in late Sengoku era.Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Hosted by: Matt LewisEdited by: Alex JonesProduced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnell, Peta StamperSenior Producer: Anne-Marie LuffProduction Manager: Beth DonaldsonExecutive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen BennettMusic by The FlightIf you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here.Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.comSwords And Throwing Stars: What Weapons Did Samurai and Shinobi Use?
36:24|Chasing Shadows 3. WeaponsAssassin's Creed Shadows gives players the chance to experience history as two icons of medieval Japan: samurai and shinobi (known today as ninja). In this special series, Matt Lewis and Professor Eric Rath from the University of Kansas take an in-depth look at how these legendary warriors lived and answer the question, what is the difference between samurai and shinobi?This episode dives into the tools of the trade - from katana to grappling hook, samurai helmets to shinobi smoke bombs, Eric and Matt discuss the weapons used by the warriors of Sengoku Japan.Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Hosted by: Matt Lewis, Prof Eric RathEdited by: Robin McConnellProduced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnellSenior Producer: Anne-Marie LuffProduction Manager: Beth DonaldsonExecutive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen BennettMusic by The FlightIf you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here.Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.comSamurai vs Guns: The Battle of Nagashino
56:41|Assassin's Creed Shadows transports players to a formative period in Japanese history - the Sengoku era, when warlords vied for control of Japan, and new technology changed samurai warfare forever: the introduction of matchlock guns. Nate Ledbetter joins Matt Lewis to recount the events of the celebrated Battle of Nagashino - and to present a new perspective on the battle that saw samurai traditions confront the power of the gun.Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Hosted by: Matt LewisEdited by: Tim ArstallProduced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnellSenior Producer: Anne-Marie LuffProduction Manager: Beth DonaldsonExecutive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen BennettMusic by The FlightIf you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here.Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.comSamurai or Shinobi: Who Really Ruled Medieval Japan?
30:26|Chasing Shadows 2. PoliticsAssassin's Creed Shadows gives players the chance to experience history as two icons of medieval Japan: samurai and shinobi (known today as ninja). In this special series, Matt Lewis and Professor Eric Rath from the University of Kansas take an in-depth look at how these legendary warriors lived and answer the question, what is the difference between samurai and shinobi?This episode explores the political structures of medieval imperial Japan. How much power did the emperor really have in the age of the samurai warlord? And did the shinobi really form democratic republics to challenge the status quo?Echoes of History is a Ubisoft podcast, brought to you by History Hit. Hosted by: Matt Lewis, Prof Eric RathEdited by: Robin McConnellProduced by: Matt Lewis, Robin McConnellSenior Producer: Anne-Marie LuffProduction Manager: Beth DonaldsonExecutive Producers: Etienne Bouvier, Julien Fabre, Steve Lanham, Jen BennettMusic by The FlightIf you liked this podcast please subscribe, share, rate & review. Take part in our listener survey here.Tell us your favourite Assassin's Creed game or podcast episode at echoes-of-history@historyhit.comMount Hiei: Home of Japan's Warrior Monks
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