In this episode, we announce a change to our release schedule. For 18 months, we've published a new episode every two weeks without skipping a beat. However, in that process, we also missed out on a lot of time for gaming, so we're looking for ways to balance the time spent podcasting vs. the time we spend gaming. Another big reason for a change is to explore new kinds of content creation, and since the beginning of the podcast (actually, since before), we've wanted to create video content. So, in the future, we're hoping to make videos for YouTube, stream games together on Twitch, and hopefully increase the quality of our podcast episodes along the way! Thanks for tuning in, and we hope you stick around to see what happens. Oh, we also talk about a few games in the episode!

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we take you behind the scenes for a collection of audio clips that didn't make it into episodes 31–39. Mostly, these clips are a little too off-topic to include in regular conversations, so we're featuring them in this episode to celebrate our foolishness. Taylor nails his impersonation of Doug "SA" Martinez from 311, Willie admits to playing Creed cover songs in high school, and Joseph emphasizes that he doesn't pay $60 for a game to send a bunch of emails in it. Also, Taylor's a copper, traffic stopper, a pill popper. "I did it by myself!" 

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we explore some of the pop culture references and nostalgia of Ready Player One. They crammed a lot of fan favorites into this film—everything from Battletoads, Mortal Kombat, and Halo—to Back to the Future, The Iron Giant, and The Shining. In 2045, the world is harsh, and most of humanity spends their days in an immersive virtual universe. In short, there's a competition to find three keys that lead to a golden egg. Find the egg and win complete control of the OASIS. Naturally, we got a little side-tracked by some of the details, like the omnidirectional treadmill Wade uses as a part of his gaming rig. Taylor treads a little too close to our reality with the thought of "big corpo" enslaving us to pay off our debts, and Willie thinks this film gets lost somewhere in the middle of the pack. Joseph thinks—is it more enjoyable than GAMER? Yes. Is it more fun than the original Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter? Nope, lol. (Enter 80s rock music)  

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we follow up on everything we mentioned in episode 26—Games We Want to Play in 2024. A lot happened in the first half of the year, and we were excited to see showcases by Microsoft, Playstation, Nintendo, Ubisoft, and Summer Games Fest. Willie gives his thoughts on Tales of Kenzera: Zau, Taylor reveals which game he's looking forward to more between Star Wars: Outlaws and Black Myth: Wukong, and Joseph makes a case for why he thinks we should run across Mandalorians in Star Wars: Outlaws. But, before all of this, we get side-tracked by an article on The Verge about how difficult ELDEN RING: Shadow of the Erdtree is. Also, console gaming is > than PC gaming...WHAT, FOO!

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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Welcome back to Hip Fire, a mini-series where we share our first impressions about a game after 5–10 hours of gameplay. In this episode, we cross into the realm of the dead (Umbral) to talk about a third-person action RPG called Lords of the Fallen. We didn't play long enough to become immersed in the main story, but your mission as fabled Dark Crusaders is to embark on an epic quest to overthrow Adyr, the demon god. Joseph thought the combat was decent, and Willie had trouble enjoying this game so close to the release of Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, and Taylor was impressed by some of the enemy designs. Overall, we thought the Umbral Lamp mechanic was the most original concept in the game, but the game still has a lot of bugs to iron out—even  EIGHT MONTHS after its release. If you enjoy playing soulslike games and have a subscription to Game Pass, it might be for you. But be careful around that asshole red-colored grim reaper because he'll steal your lunch, call you a dork, and shove it down the back of your pants.

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we do our best to decipher the latest story trailer for the upcoming Elden Ring DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree. WARNING: SPOILER ALERT. Like everyone else, we have so many questions about where FromSoftware is going with the story and lore of Elden Ring. Joseph and Willie speculate on everything mentioned in the trailer and what it means for the Tarnished, the Erdtree, and the Lands Between. Taylor does his best to get caught up with everything happening, lol. Will we find the Kindling Maiden's body in the Land of Shadow? Is she Messmer's sister? Did he kill her? Did Queen Marika (and the other Numen) sail to the Land of Shadow by ship? Did Mohg steal Miquella's cocoon to prevent him from using his unalloyed gold needle on the Erdtree? Regardless, we can't wait to square off against Messmer the Impaler and get our asses kicked.

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we explore the "cod damn" Sands Between with our trusty fork and face off against WAY too many crabs—including some not-so-clawsome snipers who just DON"T miss. As Kril, the hermit crab, you wear the trash around you as shells to withstand attacks and embark on an epic treasure hunt to buy back your repossessed shell. Surprisingly, this game has a lot going on—the combat is a little clumsy, but it's filled with original ideas and a unique and colorful take on a tried and true formula for soulslike games. In some aspects, this game is a complete "ship show," but we still think it's worth $30 if you don't have Game Pass. Give it a shot, at least, until the Shadow of the Erdtree comes out.

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, Willie takes us down memory lane, and we explore the first appearances of three gameplay features—the ability to slow down time (aka bullet time), free-flow combat, and quick-time events. Of course, we couldn't have this conversation without mentioning games like Enter the Matrix, Batman: Arkham Asylum, and Dragon's Lair. Stick around until the end because Willie talks about the original first-person shooter game—it involves NASA and MIT, and it's way older than you think. Also, "After the eyes flash on the screen, shoot."  

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we join the front line as "peacekeepers" to defend our Super Earth-born rights in a galactic war. In HELLDIVERS 2, you step into the boots of the Helldivers, an elite class of soldiers whose mission is to spread peace, liberty, and Managed Democracy. We all agree this game is fantastic—like, the best co-op game of 2024 so far. It's a lot of fun to play with up to four friends or go at it solo and get destroyed. Joseph talks through how to call in and use Stratagems, Taylor shows respect for the weapon selection and physics, and Williie explains the in-game currency and the upgrade systems. Seriously. This game is worth $40 if you enjoy playing team-based third-person shooters. Everything in this game wants you dead. So, do you have what it takes to become a hero? BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE SUPER EARTH
MINISTRY OF TRUTH.

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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Welcome back to Hip Fire, a mini-series where we share our first impressions about a game after 5–10 hours of gameplay. In this episode, we discuss our co-op experience with Dead Island 2. This game is brutal and disgusting in all the right ways. It features a procedurally generated dismemberment system called FLESH that allows players to break bones and internal organs and destroy anything in their way. We dive into the diverse weapon sets, talk about the character selection screen, and Willie reveals which 70s rock band he can't stand. Joseph and Taylor break down the shortcomings of the game's dash mechanic, and we read a few reviews from Metacritic. Overall, we think Dead Island 2 is a lot of fun to play with friends and 100% worth trying out if you have a subscription to Game Pass.

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we revisit a guessing game called NOT the Leonard Maltin Game—inspired by The Leonard Maltin Game from Doug Benson's podcast called Doug Loves Movies. In short, each of us chooses a game and reads a maximum of ten clues for it. From least to most helpful, the other two co-hosts try to name the game with as few clues as possible. Also, I think we're getting better at it! We're limiting the spoilers here, but buried in the episode, Joseph—a pro gamer—guesses correctly with ZERO clues AGAIN, Taylor chooses the most obvious game he possibly could, and Willie pulls off an upset. Spoiler Alert: we might change the game's name to The Leonard Nimoy Game. Listen to find out why, lol. 

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we take you behind the scenes for a collection of audio clips that didn't make it into episodes 21–29. Mostly, these clips are a little too off-topic to include in regular conversations, so we're featuring them in this episode to celebrate one full year of the podcast. In addition to whiskey, Taylor likes to store his energy drinks in plastic bags and drink them warm and mentions how much he loves the game Dead Cells. We spend too much time talking about Taco Cabana and the "Cruncharito Supreme" and try to figure out what residents of Michigan call themselves. Willie and Taylor introduce Joseph to Mattress Mack, and then we circle back to talk about people getting stabbed in the Taco Cabana drive-thru. Anyway, "Doooon't gooooo chaaaasing waterballs."

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we head into the confessional booth and ask the 8-bit Lord to forgive us for our rage quits and deliver us from glitches. One of us finally admits our love for Techtonica, and another confesses to spreading ourselves too thin by playing too many games. We also chat about inverted vs. non-inverted controls and 2-D platform games and get side-tracked by news from Microsoft. The last of us doesn't think Skull and Bones is a game worth $70 and flexes their Yakuza street cred all over your face—forever and ever, respawn after respawn. Amen.

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, Arvid Svenungsson, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we share our thoughts about Gamer, a science fiction action movie from 2009 starring Gerard Butler and Michael C. Hall, and includes a mean-ass-looking Terry Crews. This movie is hard to defend, so we spend most of our time bashing it instead. We chat about the cinematography and actor performances and pay our respects to Ludacris. "I do feel you, my giant brother." Willie breaks down the movie's plot and references a 10,000-word blog post from a guy who thinks Gamer is "as radical as reality itself." Taylor struggles with a character named Gorge and how this movie portrays gamers, and Joseph thought John Leguizamo's performance was one of the highlights. Overall, this movie does a great job of NOT delivering anything beyond surface-level action scenes, but it does have an ethanol-powered vehicle in it—so there's that science, lol. "Let's Boogie Woogie Rock & Roll!"

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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Welcome back to Hip Fire, a mini-series where we share our first impressions about a game after 5–10 hours of gameplay. In this episode, we talk about our co-op experience with THE FINALS. Taylor had a blast playing this game—like, literally a blast—since you can blow up almost everything in this game and found the lines for the in-game announcer poorly written. Willie was the only one of us to make it to THE FINALS in the game's tournament mode and thinks the game's XP progression is too damn slow. Joseph derails the conversation with Gerard Butler and thinks the starting cosmetics are garbage. So, spending money on the battle pass is probably a waste, but all three of us had a lot of fun playing one of the game modes called Bank It. Overall (considering it's free-to-play), we recommend this game to anyone who enjoys first-person shooters. Watch out for Orbital Lasers!

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we share our thoughts about the games we think will hit the hardest in 2024. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is on Joseph and Willie's shortlist. The air-dashing looks tasty, and we're dying for more time-shift shenanigans—while we wait for the remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Willie breaks down the concept for Banishers: Ghosts of Eden, which sounds like a game of consequences, and promises to give an in-depth review of Rise of the Ronin if you buy him a PS5. Taylor (of course) brings up Light No Fire, a game scheduled for release in 2025 instead of 2024—because guidelines can't keep an AI-loving kid in check. Other games mentioned are Black Myth: Wu Kong, Star Wars: Outlaws, Tales of Kenzera: Zau, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, and Mariachi Legends. Also, Taylor thinks Darth Vader looks like a loser. Please direct your hate at him.

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we share our thoughts about Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Willie drove 19 hours cross-country to visit Joseph, naturally leading to a couch co-op playthrough of the game. This game is pretty damn good, full of joy, and pulls inspiration from classics like Super Mario World and Super Mario Bros. 3. Think of it like a souped-up version of those games, but with a ton more variety in the level designs—specifically in the Wonder Flower sections. We discuss the visual graphics, different level types (like Break Time and Search Party), new power-ups, the re-spawn mechanic, and the game's difficulty. Overall, Joseph thought the game was too easy, and Taylor talks about how impressed he is by the variety in the game. Willie breaks some news about the helicopter/bowl thing that Bowser flies around in and gives his critique about the music. If you're a big fan of Super Mario Bros. 1–3 and Super Mario World or looking for something family-friendly— you should 100% check this game out. HINT: don't miss out on the Special World!

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we share our Game of the Year picks and react to the announcements and winners at The Game Awards. To no surprise, Baldur's Gate 3 received the attention it deserved. Hello Games introduced Light No Fire—a new adventure game we're all excited about, and Hideo Kojima announced his new project called OD. Both games look great, but we were disappointed The Game Awards spent so much time on those presentations. We would have rather seen more award acceptance speeches on stage since—you know—it's supposed to be an award show. ANYWAY. We also discuss bangers like Lies of P, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Alan Wake II, Baldur's Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, and Spider-Man 2. Overall, 2023 was an incredible year for video games, and we're looking forward to 2024. Thanks so much for listening to us this year, and special thanks to Christopher Judge for publically slamming the length of the newest Call of Duty single-player campaig...Please Wrap It Up - Geoff Keighley.

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we dive into the story of Mortal Kombat 1. Somehow—and even after 30 years—Netherrealm Studios is still weaving together a compelling narrative. The MK universe has gotten pretty complicated up to this point, but Mortal Kombat 1 (mostly) resets the timeline and rewrites the story. Taylor didn't play the game, so Willie and Joseph try to get him caught up. Jack breaks down the Invasions game mode, praises the game's visual graphics, and throws shade at the Dragon Crystals used for microtransactions. We also cover the main story beats, talk about voice-over performances, and highlight some of our favorite moments in the game. Overall, we all enjoy playing MK1, and it's super fun to watch competitively. We 100% recommend playing through the main story, and if fighting games aren't your thing—watch the cutscene movie on YouTube. FRIENDSHIP!  

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we continue our conversation about Lies of P. We all love this game—we'll be raising HELL if it doesn't win at least one nomination for Game of the Year. We're revisiting this game because there was too much information to cover in a single episode. Who is the Legendary Stalker? What does Dark Horse Comics have to do with the game? Why does one enemy resemble Robin Williams's character from Night at the Museum? Deep in the episode, we discuss the collectible vinyl records, our approach to weapon crafting and Legion Arms, and Geppetto's motivations. Joseph breaks down the 4th wall with the Mad Donkey's dialogue. Willie breaks down the relationship between the Red Actress and the White Lady, and Taylor talks about the secret boss fight at the end of the game. We can't say enough great things about the quality of this game. Find it on Game Pass and play it, but don't piss off the King of Riddles, Arlecchino. 

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we share our thoughts and experiences about Lies of P. We 100% confirmed our speculation that this game could be the Game of the Year. Seriously, it's that good, and if you enjoy playing soulslike games, we strongly recommend you play Lies of P. From great game mechanics and fantastic weapons to a solid main storyline—Lies of P feels like the total package. Joseph thinks this game is the master of delayed and mix-up attacks, Taylor is still getting his P-Organ stretched by the final boss, and Willie digs through the end credits for clues about the upcoming DLC. All three of us loved playing this game, and we can't wait for more. Until then, we'll continue our theories about Paracelsus, the Arm of God, and the single stargazer that can't used in the game. HINT: you can cheese enemies through walls with the Puppet Ripper's charged attack. 

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we take you back behind the scenes for a collection of audio clips that didn't make it into episodes 11–19. Mostly, these clips are a little too off-topic to include in regular conversations, so we're featuring them here to celebrate reaching another goal for the podcast. Tune in to hear Taylor talk about going to war with a Gatorade-obsessed "supermouse" and check on his chickens to make sure they're not getting f*cked up. Willie revisits our previous discussion about "Tarzan Boy" and wonders how many people don't realize Boomhauer—from King of the Hill—is using legitimate words when he talks. Together, all three of us bash "Try That in a Small Town" by Jason Aldean for its traditionally racist ideas and completely confuse ourselves about whether or not there's a character named Curly Bill in the movie Tombstone. Also, this episode is brought to you by Pippy's Peanut Butter—"if you're not eating Pippy's, you're not ain't eating sh*t."

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we trade thoughts and comments about the 2023 blockbuster, The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Ultimately, we all came away with a similar feeling about the movie. It was fun to watch, but it comes up short in a few ways. There's certainly no shortage of terrific easter eggs and clever ways of incorporating nostalgic sound effects and sounds. But some of the main story beats felt like they lacked depth. However, one thing's for sure—we all loved how they portrayed Princess Peach as a badass. You can expect great voice-over performances from the entire cast, and they don't hold back on the number of "Mamma Mias." It's worth watching, but it left all three of us wanting a version of the movie crafted for the generation of Super Mario Bros. players who grew up with the franchise in the 80s and 90s. Collectively, we give The Super Mario Bros. Movie an 80 out of 100. "Let's-a go!"

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we tackle a list of games Willie created that have shape-shifted between different game styles. You know, starting as a real-time strategy game but switching to a first-person shooter—that sort of thing. We highlight games in famous franchises like Pac-Man, Resident Evil, Fallout, World of Warcraft, and Grand Theft Auto. Later in the episode, we speculate how AI could help or hurt the gaming industry, and Willie introduces us to a game called Resident Evil Gaiden—WTF, lol. We wrap with comments about Unreal Engine 5, water?, and misleading thumbnail images on YouTube. 

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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Welcome back to Hip Fire, a mini-series where we share our first impressions about a game after 5–10 hours of gameplay. In this edition, we talk about our co-op experience with Techtonica. Joseph takes his first crack at a factory automation game but quickly realizes it's not the genre for him—and gets lost for most of the time. Willie highlights some game mechanics and keeps the crew grounded by ACTUALLY learning how to play the game. At some point, Taylor glitches his way into seeing everything in the entire game—all at once. Despite our gripes with the game, Techtonica seems like a great take on a factory automation game, you know, if you're into that sort of thing. At the very least, we'll make you think about your favorite burger! 

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we discuss Evo 2023 and delve into the culture of the fighting game community. For over two decades, Evo has attracted the most elite fighting game players to compete in games like Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Super Smash Bros. Joseph talks about how he got interested in fighting game tournaments, mentions Evo Moment 37 and explains how Street Fighter 4 saved a dying community. Willie brings up the intricacies of frame data, asks questions about the brackets and structure of Evo, and talks about sinking time into playing Mortal Kombat 1. Taylor lightens the mood with a fight stick-skateboard crossover, notices how much blocking happens in fighting games at the elite level, and helps us rant about YouTube's resolution for 10 minutes. Shoryuken!

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, Wilie introduces us to a guessing game he created called The NOT the Leonard Maltin Game—inspired by The Leonard Maltin Game from Doug Benson's podcast called Doug Loves Movies. In short, Willie chooses a game and reads a maximum of ten reviews for it. From least to most helpful review, Joseph and Taylor try to name the game with as few clues as possible. In general, expect a lot of wrong guesses, lol. We're limiting the spoilers here, but buried in the episode, Joseph—a pro gamer—magically guesses correctly with ZERO clues, and Taylor butchers the name of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Let the Hunt to the Bloodborne begin! 

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we take on the challenge of making a list of boss fights we think are worth remembering. Willie starts with Batman: Arkham City, talks about stealth attacks and recaps the fight against Mr. Freeze. Later in the episode, he brings up the brilliance of Hideo Kojima and the Psycho Mantis boss fight from Metal Gear Solid. Taylor has fun talking about the most ridiculous-sounding boss—Sahelanthropus—from Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain and remembers rage quitting because of the gigantic Ancient Dragon from Dark Souls 2. Joseph talks about the biggest, toughest MF from Gears of War—General RAAM—and highlights Madeline's fight against a Part of Her and how it's a turning point in the game, Celeste. Also, "I've got it. Use the Controller Port!! Plug your Controller into Controller port 2."  

Here's the full transcript for this episode. It includes links to some of the videos we watched during this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, the gloves are OFF. Well, not for Balrog, lol. Unfortunately, we secretly love almost everything about Street Fighter: The Movie. Raul Julia, as Bison, minimizes the damage with a fantastic performance, despite being terminally ill. On the other hand, our beloved Jean Claude Van Damme gave "one of his most wooden performances" ever. Together we question everything about this movie in an episode full of laughs, criticism, DNA Mutagens, and "that son-of-a-b*tch Bison." Taylor mentions the enormous number of jump cuts in the editing, Willie questions why this movie isn't rated more mature than PG-13, and Joseph gives the Gooood Morning Shadaloo announcement. Say, anybody out there know what to do if a Bison Trooper throws a grenade right in your face? 

Here's a link to the full movie.

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

Welcome to the first episode of Hip Fire, a mini-series where we share our first impressions about a game after playing it for only 5 hours. Well, more like 5–12 hours for the Lies of P Demo. Yeah, we know we suck at things, lol. Anyway, this demo is incredibly polished. So polished Joseph thinks it might be the best demo he's ever played. Willie breaks down the scrambled messages seen in the boss fights, and Taylor wonders if he can finally wield Pi-NOSE-cchio's nose as a deadly weapon. Together we dig into the game's combat mechanics, intelligent level, and boss designs and talk about the potential of the full release. In our opinion, this game will be good enough to compete for GOTY. Get good or get rekt, fool. 

Games briefly mentioned in this episode: Amnesia: The Bunker, Starfield, Fallout, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Bloodborne, Elden Ring, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Yakuza, Aliens: Dark Descent, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, Mortal Kombat 1, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.  

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we "analyze" the Mortal Kombat Announcement Trailer scene by scene. But first, we try to remember what in the hell has happened in the overly complicated lore of the series, lol. Joseph brings up the long list of controversies surrounding Mortal Kombat in the mid-1990s and confesses he didn't know the secret behind Noob Saibot's name. Willie wonders which game in the series is considered Mortal Kombat 8 and talks about how much he enjoyed the first timeline reset in Mortal Kombat (9) from 2011. Taylor bails on us for 20 minutes of the episode, but not before he tells us that Baraka and Johnny Cage were two of his favorite characters. We wrap with speculation about Mortal Kombat 1 and how Fire God Liu Kang's new era will play out. Down, Up, Left, Left, A, Right, and Down.

Here's a link to the trailer we watched in this episode. 

Games briefly mentioned in this episode: Mortal Kombat 1, Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat X, Mortal Kombat 11, Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, Mortal Kombat: Deception, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, Mortal Kombat II, Mortal Kombat 3, Mortal Kombat 4, Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

In this episode, we bring you behind the mic for a collection of audio clips that didn't make it into the first nine episodes. Ridiculous moments happen pretty frequently (spelled without a w) off-air, so we're using our tenth episode as an excuse to share them with you. Expect a bunch of voice-over readings for AI-generated Berries & Blades ads, confirmation that "Willie internet weak," Taylor rant about loud motorcycle speakers, and several intro/outro outtakes. In other words, listen to us be foolish for 58 minutes, lol. Enjoy!

Games briefly mentioned in this episode: Horizon Forbidden West, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Halo, Mario Bros., Halo Infinite, and Ghost of Tsushima.

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

In this episode, we're trying out a new format that allows us to catch up with each other about the games we play solo. More importantly, we confess about the games we promised to play but never did. The versatility of the Pizza Tower soundtrack comes up, Taylor spits fire (discreetly), and Willie updates us on his Star Wars Jedi: Survivor progress. Joseph digs into the deep and powerful messaging behind the platformer, Celeste, and Willie's computer crashes in the middle of the episode, lol. As usual, Taylor finds a way to shift the conversation toward AI, we chat horror games, and Willie shares how he uses Dungeon Alchemist to create D&D maps. Later in the episode, we revisit Shadow of Mordor's groundbreaking Nemesis System, which prompts a stream of confessions, and we wrap with the speculation surrounding Redfall. 

Games briefly mentioned in this episode: Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Elden Ring, Fallout, Atomic Heart, Pizza Tower, Celeste, Metroid Dread, Surviving Mars, Beat Saber, Super Meat Boy, Ninja Gaiden, Mega Man, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Red Dead Redemption, GTA, Mass Effect, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Dragon Age, Dungeon Alchemist, D&D, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, Middle-earth: Shadow of War, Resident Evil 7, God of War (2018), Ghost of Tsushima, Halo Infinite, No Man Sky, Destiny 2, Resident Evil 4, Starfield, and Redfall. 

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, Peerlees, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we dig into the main entries in the Call of Duty series. Joseph has a lot of questions because he has no idea how many games exist or how they're all connected. We chat about celebrities featured in the series—apparently, Snoop Dogg is a playable character—tongue twist our way through the complicated naming convention and get lost in the developer battle between Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer Games. They're mentions of Nuketowm, nazi zombies, the infamous "No Russian" mission, and Hans Zimmer. Later in the episode, Willie asks Joseph if his military experience affected his desire to play Call of Duty, and we wrap with a mini celebration for reaching a small milestone for the podcast. (Reload SFX)

Games briefly mentioned in this episode: No Man Sky, Halo Infinite, The Last of Us Part 1, Atomic Heart, Call of Duty, Call of Duty 2, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, Call of Duty: Warzone, Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare, Medal of Honor, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Fortnite, Gears of War, Call of Duty: World at War, Call of Duty 2: Big Red One, Call of Duty 3, Rainbow Six, Destiny, Far Cry, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Call of Duty: WWII, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Call of Duty: Warzone 2, Battlefield: 2042, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilized.

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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---

Note from Willie: As mentioned towards the top of the episode, I think it’s worth noting that Call of Duty can be seen as propaganda for the U.S. military, and it’s worth thinking about what happens when the fictional world is so closely tied to the real world and puts you in the middle of war as the hero. It’s something that warrants discussion but that’s not really the focus of this episode/podcast but I did want to include some links for reference.

I mentioned high ranking state officials on the advisory board at Activision Blizzard (the publisher of the Call of Duty games). It would be more correct to say that they have former high ranking government officials on their leadership team. What I was trying to sum up quickly is that there are some ties between Activision Blizzard and former government officials. There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with that but it does make me wonder how much sway the leadership team has on what is or isn’t included in a Call of Duty game. I’ve linked a few staff bios below:

Frances F. Townsend

Brian Bulatao

Grant Dixton

One of the non-profit boards that Frances Townsend is on is the Atlantic Council, an American think tank in the field of international affairs. The Atlantic Council has additional ties to former Call of Duty staff.

Chance Glasco

Dave Anthony - Art of Future Warfare series announcement of Dave Anthony as a Nonresident Fellow.

The military-entertainment complex: Call of Duty makers have close ties with the Pentagon

Call of Duty as an engagement tool:

How the Military Uses Call of Duty As A Recruitment Tool

U.S. Army Planned to Pay Streamers Millions to Reach Gen-Z Through Call of Duty

Call of Duty Controversies and “re-writing” of history:

Call of Duty Creators Say Oliver North Helped Make Their Game More Authentic

That time Castro appeared in Call of Duty, angering Cuba

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s Highway of Death controversy, explained

Correction:

At 44:55 in the podcast I mention a Call of Duty game that was potentially set in 2075 with the primary conflict being with China. After further research, I can’t verify that statement with anything but a questionable source so I’ve chosen not to link any article.

(Spoiler Alert for Black Ops 2) It’s also worth noting that Black Ops 2 campaign takes place in two timelines, the late 1980s and 2025. One of the conflicts in that game is a new Cold War between a Chinese-led faction called the Strategic Defense Coalition and a U.S.-led NATO. One of the four endings leads to an alliance between the U.S. and China, ending the new Cold War.

In this episode, we journey back to the Lands Between and relive our experience with Elden Ring. This game is MASSIVE, and we spent over 830 combined hours exploring the world, running away from giant lobsters, and stabbing fools in the back to the most satisfying sound effect imaginable. After a quick overview, we chat about our favorite characters and highlight some of our most hated enemies—damn dogs. Willie and Taylor realize they never advanced the questline for Boc the Seamster, and somehow Willie completely missed the tutorial cave at the beginning of the game, lol. We also touch on how much lore and information is in the weapon and item descriptions and how easy it can be to feel lost in the game. Ashes of War, spirit ashes, golden runes, and rainbow stones come up during the game mechanics discussion, and we spend some time remembering the visual graphics and depth of the environment. Later in the episode, we dig into the sequencing, texture, and overall theme of the 67-track OST, which is masterful in its own right. We wrap with some final thoughts, and Joseph reads a 1-star Amazon review for the game. "you don't have the right, O you don't have the right."

Other games briefly mentioned in this episode: Deathloop, Dishonored, Prey (2017), The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Dark Souls, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Ghost of Tsushima, Red Dead Redemption 2, Bloodborne, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Horizon Forbidden West. 

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we revisit the Mushroom Kingdom. The three of us give some quick thoughts about Chris Pratt cast as the voice of Mario. Then, Taylor breaks down the origin story of Mario, Luigi, and their mother, Maria Luigia, question mark. Willie reads the backstory found in the game's manual, and unfortunately, we realize Mario is the perp responsible for murdering the brick citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom. Speedrunning comes up, so we talk about the current world record and wrong-warp through the game's mechanics, graphics, music, and some of our favorite worlds. Willie reads a few interesting Amazon reviews, and we wrap up our final thoughts about the game. Also, there are Cheep Cheeps. 

Other games briefly mentioned in this episode: Rogue Company, Horizon Forbidden West, Resident Evil 7, Outlast, Outlast II, The Quarry, The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan, Super Smash Bros., Elden Ring, Ghosts N' Goblins, Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario Bros. 2, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Yoshi (NES), Super Ghouls N' Ghosts, Bubble Bobble, and Dig Dug. 

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

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In this episode, we each present (2) more games from our all-time favorites lists. Joseph travels to the island of Tsushima and remembers the stunning graphics, epic music, and excellent combat system of Ghost of Tsushima. Willie picks Batman: Arkham City and reminds us of how good it felt to lurk in the shadows of Arkham City and how the game popularized the freeflow combat system. Taylor talks about the freedom of choice and exploration in No Man Sky and highlights the development effort behind the game. We also chat about the photo mode and lore of Control, countless hours of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim gameplay and dragon mods, and the general ridiculousness of the poundmates in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. We wrap with a lightning round of honorable mentions.

Our All-Time Favorites picks in the episode are Ghost of Tsushima, Batman: Arkham City, No Man Sky, Control, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Yakuza: Like a Dragon. 

Honorable Mentions: Borderlands 2, Halo 3: ODST, Tecmo Super Bowl, Metal Gear Solid 2, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Bioshock, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, God of War (2018), Mass Effect 2, Metroid Dread, Joust, Galaga, Fallout, and Bad Dudes.

Other games briefly mentioned in this episode: Halo, Resident Evil, Prey (2017), Surviving Mars, Gears of War, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, God of War (2018), Resident Evil 7, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham Knight, Spider-Man 2 (2004), Alan Wake, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Gears of War, Grand Theft Auto, and Overwatch. 

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

berriesandblades.simplecast.com

In this episode, we each present (2) games off our all-time favorites lists. Exploring Resident Evil, we talk about door animations and how RE opened the door for countless horror survival games. Then, stop in Hyrule to remember you could cut grass, and Taylor invents a new item called the "Wind Stick" for The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. A love for sci-fi adds Prey (2017) to the list, and Willie and Taylor chat about finding their friend's pizza box design in the game. The list wouldn't be complete without one of the best 1st person-shooter franchises ever—Halo. Willie picks Halo 3 and talks about the impact of the marketing campaigns for the game. Gears of War  reminds us of just how badass the Lancer is, and Joseph talks about playing the game with friends during a deployment to Iraq. We wrap by discussing the art direction of Surviving Mars and how the gameplay is impressive for a city builder made for consoles.

Our All-Time Favorites picks in the episode are Resident Evil, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Prey (2017), Halo 3, Gears of War, and Surviving Mars. 

Other games briefly mentioned in this episode: Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3, Tomb Raider, Secret of Mana, Fallout, Starfield, Dishonored, Red Dead Redemption 2, Dead Space, No Man Sky, Halo Infinite, Guitar Hero, Gears of War: Judgement, Gears Tactics, Gears 5, Halo 2, and Civilization.

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

berriesandblades.simplecast.com

In this episode, we focus on Willie's gaming experience and interests. Willie explains how he convinced his parents to buy him multiple gaming consoles and let him rent Mortal Kombat for the first time. We blast to the past with the Atari 2600 and remember the ridiculousness of an NES game called Bad Street Brawler. We also get Willie to revisit his backyard wrestling days with his tag team partner, Pyro. His story wouldn't be complete without mentioning Resident Evil, a video game rental store called Videos To Go, and playing pc games with his oldest brother. We wrap by talking about button-mashing techniques for Caveman Games.

The games briefly mentioned in this episode: Resident Evil, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, God of War, Sonic the Hedgehog, X-Men, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters, Final Fight, Streets of Rage, Bad Dudes, River City Ransom, River City Girls, Duke Nukem, Bad Street Brawler, Double Dragon, Batman, Pro Wrestling, WCW World Championship Wrestling, WWF Royal Rumble, WWF SmackDown, The Simpsons: Bart vs. the Space Mutants, The Simpsons: Bart vs. the World, Paperboy, Super Mario 64, Pilotwings 64, GoldenEye 007, Sonic and Knuckles, Earthworm Jim, Altered Beast, Splatterhouse, Mortal Kombat, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Super Smash Bros., Pikmin, Overlord, Resident Evil - Code: Veronica, Ready 2 Rumble Boxing, Destiny, Halo Infinite, Caveman Games, Myst, Descent, and Zork Nemesis.

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

berriesandblades.simplecast.com

In this episode, we focus on Joseph's gaming experience and interests. We travel back to 1990 to hear about Joseph's earliest SNES memories and learn he was a Legend of Zelda game counselor for his stepfather. Listen to stories of rage and competition against his friends and how they shared game cartridges among their tight group. Willie asks about gaming restrictions, favorite genres, and video game rental stores. Somewhere in the mix, Joseph and Taylor talk about losing a parent and the perception of time. We wrap with recently played games, breaking down GoldenEye 007, and hearing how Joseph broke into virtual photography. 

The games briefly mentioned in this episode: Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Mortal Kombat II, Street Fighter II Turbo, Cuphead, The Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time, Super R-Type, Super Ghouls N Ghosts, Battletoads, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Halo, Gears of War, The Last of Us, God of War, Spider-Man, Horizon Zero Dawn, Days Gone, Control, Elden Ring, State of Decay, Dying Light 2, Halo Infinite, Splitgate, Duke Nukem, GoldenEye 007, Star Wars: Dark Forces, Ghost of Tsushima, and Assassins Creed Valhalla. 

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 
Follow @PikkleJoe on IG for more in-game photography.

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

berriesandblades.simplecast.com

In this episode, we focus on Taylor's gaming experience and interests. Willie reminisces about Taylor's fashion choices in high school, and Taylor remembers getting an NES for Christmas in 1985. We also chat about classic games like Karnov and Kid Niki and laugh about techniques for Track & Field on the NES. Taylor breaks down riding a Onewheel GT, life on the ranch, and losses in the crypto space. We wrap by chatting about recently played games and the cost of games versus subscription-based services like GamePass. 

The games briefly mentioned in this episode: Super Mario Bros, Duck Hunt, Karnov, Kid Niki: Radical Ninja, Super Scope 6, Track & Field, Surviving Mars, Myst, Warcraft, Final Fantasy 7, Vigor, Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, Horizon Zero Dawn, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, Destiny 2, Atomicrops, Assassins Creed Valhalla, Smash TV, and Stardew Valley.

Here's the full transcript for this episode.

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

berriesandblades.simplecast.com

If you like what you hear, the best way to support us is to tell people about the show. Please consider subscribing wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

You can also keep us going with coffee refills on Ko-Fi.

Follow @BerriesAndBlades on IG for in-game photography, video clips, and behind-the-scenes content. Follow BerriesAndBlades on Twitch for D&D and video game streams. 

The music you hear on the podcast is by ELFL, Lexica, and Christian Nanzell.

berriesandblades.simplecast.com

Here's the full transcript for this episode.