4Player Podcast

4Player Podcast #815 - The Bradquisition Show (Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Vampire Survivors Castlevania DLC, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, and More!) Nov 15, 2024

Time to get back on the podcasting horse... It IS Brad's week to shine as there is a new Dragon Age game AND some major Castlevania content to discuss so he is firing on all cylinders! We take our first deep dive into Dragon Age: The Veilguard and find that Bioware has managed to put together a polished, fun, and addicting game despite having an undeniable resemblance to modern God of War. In the second segment, Brad goes full nerd while discussing the crazy new Castlevania DLC for Vampire Survivors and Chris Davis revisits Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 now that he has spent some time with the co-op campaign.

Impressions - Dragon Age: The Veilguard (5:15)
Impressions - Vampire Survivors Castlevania DLC (1:04:00)
Impressions - Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 (1:22:40)
4Player Minute (1:36:00)

4Player Podcast #814 - The Brad Barista Show (Outlast Trials, Signalis, The Closing Shift, and More!) Nov 01, 2024

The stars have aligned on this very Hallowed Eve; Blessing this episode with a bevy of sweet horror games to talk about! Krispy continues to tackle his backlog of life-changing games and talks about his time with Signalis! Brad brings two new indie-horror games to the table with The Closing Shift and Tormenture; Both of which defy expectation but in completely different ways. Nick discusses his first night of playing The Outlast Trials with the community and delivers his early impressions of this year's reboot of Alone in the Dark (RIP Pieces Interactive). Of course, we also talk a little about the critical reception of Dragon Age: The Veilguard and the looming Beta of Monster Hunter Wilds!

News - Dragon Age: The Veilgaurd Reviews are Out! (10:30)
Impressions - Signalis (19:40)
Impressions - The Closing Shift (37:10)
Impressions - Tormenture (46:40)
Impressions - The Outlast Trials (1:08:00)
Impressions - Alone in the Dark (1:24:45)
4Player Minute (1:42:10)

4Player Podcast #813 - The Coward Ending Show (Death Stranding: Directors Cut, Silent Hill 2 Remake, Mech Warrior 5 Clans, and More!) Oct 27, 2024

We're running a little late this week but we have a lot to talk about! After a little detour to talk horror films and general spooky season stuff, Krispy takes us back to 2019 now that he has finally played (and loved!) Death Stranding: Director's Cut! It's a fun discussion that puts a lot of us in the mood to revisit the game ahead of the looming sequel. Brad gives his first impressions of the Silent Hill 2 Remake now that he's played a significant chunk of it and Chris Davis shares some thoughts on his time with the story campaign of Mech Warrior 5: Clans. Of course, we've got another does of UFO 50 highlights and some Fantasy Critic talk mixed in there for good measure.

Halloween Season Chatter (2:40)
Impressions - Death Stranding: Director's Cut (17:55)
Impressions - Mech Warrior 5 Clans (48:45)
Impressions - UFO 50 (1:05:10)
Impressions - Silent Hill 2 Remake (1:15:00)
4Player Minute (1:49:30)

4Player Podcast #812 - The Sexy Zora Show (Silent Hill 2 Remake, Metaphor ReFantazio, Ten Bells, and More!) Oct 11, 2024

The surprises keep on coming. Not only did Creative Assembly announce the development of Alien Isolation 2, but Bloober Team's remake of Silent Hill 2 AND the new IP, Metaphor ReFantazio released to stellar reviews! Nick digs deep into Silent Hill 2 Remake and praises it as a faithful and worthwhile adaptation of one of the best horror games ever made. While Metaphor ReFantazio has not officially released, a lengthy prologue demo that carries over to the full game gives us a detailed look at what to expect from the next game from the Persona team! Brad also highlights two more games from UFO 50 and highlights a spooky horror game making the rounds this Halloween season called Ten Bells.

News - Creative Assembly Announced Alien Isolation 2 (13:55)
Impressions - Silent Hill 2 Remake (19:05)
Impressions - UFO 50 (45:00)
Impressions - The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (57:05)
Impressions - Metaphor ReFantazio (1:14:35)
Impressions - Ten Bells (1:33:50)
4Player Minute (1:46:00)

4Player Podcast #811 - Happy Birthday Chris Davis! (The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, UFO 50, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, and More!) Oct 04, 2024

I was so tempted to name this show the "Piss Filter" show but alas, it is Chris Davis' birthday so this episode is named in his honor! How did Chris Davis spend the days leading up to his birthday? By playing through two 20-year old games (read: bonafide classics!): Resident Evil 3: Nemesis and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater! Brad and Nolan deliver some early impressions of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and then highlight 4 seperate games from UFO 50 that have their hooks in deep! There has also been some intense developments with our ongoing Fantasy Critic league so stay tuned!

Banter - Spooky season has begun (7:18)
Impressions - The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (21:08)
Impressions - UFO50 (47:20)
Impressions - Resident Evil 3 / Metal Gear Solid 3 Double Feature (1:22:30)
Fantasy Critic Update (1:29:45)
4Player Minute (1:38:30)

4Player Podcast #810 - Treat Yo Self (UFO 50, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, Dead Rising Deluxe Remastered, and More!) Sep 27, 2024

After a week off to play Dale & Dawson Stationery Supplies together (seriously, check it out), we return to the podcast studio to talk about the latest and greatest in the gaming industry. First up, Sony debuted a new State of Play presentation which, among other things, revealed Ghost of Yotei to the world (the long awaited sequel to Ghost of Tsushima). After a few minor technical hiccups, we get back on track with impressions of UFO 50; an impressive collection of (50) games designed and built around the specs for a imaginary piece of retro gaming hardware! Krispy and Nick gush over Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 and Chris Davis finally got his hands on Dead Rising Deluxe Remastered! Of course, Warhammer also has Krispy spiraling towards an inevitable (and expensive) future in the tabletop space.

Impressions - Dale & Dawson Stationery Supplies (2:00)
News - Highlights from the Playstation State of Play (15:08)
Impressions - UFO50 (31:05)
Impressions - Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 (1:01:30)
Impressions - Dead Rising Deluxe Remastered (1:28:10)
4Player Minute (1:44:05)

4Player Podcast #809 - The Space Jazz Show (Astro Bot, Shogun Showdown, the Playstation 5 Pro Racket, and More!) Sep 13, 2024

Sony manages to be the talk of the town this week in more ways than one... First, we delve into the ridiculous Playstation 5 Pro announcement: a $700 system with NO DISC DRIVE and NO STAND included. Luckily, Astro Bot also released this week and has easily won the hearts of all of us who have played. Brad talks about new indie hotness, Shogun Showdown, and Krispy finally has his opportunity to talk about his extensive time with Star Wars Outlaws; a game he is thoroughly enjoying! Of course, this also leads to bewildering discussions about "Space Jizz" (you read that right) and eventually, more of Chris Davis's hilarious homebuilding shenanigans.

News - Sony unveils the Playstation 5 Pro system and it is absurd (2:30)
Impressions - Astro Bot (28:00)
Impressions - Shogun Showdown (57:25)
Impressions - Star Wars Outlaws (1:04:45)
Fantasy Critic Update (1:32:40)
4Player Minute (1:40:00)

4Player Podcast #808 - The Prescription Mattress Show (Star Wars Outlaws, Arco, Black Myth: Wukong, and More!) Sep 06, 2024

What a wild (and not great) week it has been in the world of video games! Sony shut down Concord less than two weeks after it launched to middling critical reception and tragic concurrent player counts. On top of that, Hideaki Itsuno - the famed designer behind classics like Power Stone, Devil May Cry, and Dragon's Dogma - announced that he is leaving Capcom after 3 decades. Despite all of the doom and gloom, new and exciting games continue to trickle out. Nick gives us his early impressions of Star Wars Outlaws which has been competing heavily with Black Myth Wukong for his time. Nolan walks us through his experience with the Quest 3 VR headset over the weekend and Brad talks about a cool new "Mesoamerican Fantasy RPG" called Arco. During the 4Player Minute, Chris Davis stuns with a shocking revelation about... Mattress shopping?

News - Sony shuts down Concord less than 2 weeks after release (2:50)
News - Hideaki Itsuno leaves Capcom (13:05)
Impressions - Star Wars Outlaws (19:10)
Impressions - Meta Quest 3 VR headset (39:30)
Impressions - Arco (57:50)
Impressions - Black Myth: Wukong (1:10:20)
4Player Minute (1:18:55)

4Player Podcast #807 - Cheat Codes for Dads (Black Myth: Wukong, Tactical Breach Wizards, Abiotic Factor, and More!) Aug 30, 2024

After recapping the latest (and Silksong-less) Nintendo Direct presentation, Nolan shares some exciting news with the community and ultimately opens the door for one of the most bizarre conversations we've had since "Zip-Whip-Pee." Nick digs deep into the rewarding and addicting systems of Black Myth: Wukong while also scoffing at the most ridiculous requests ever put to paper in a video game embargo (one which we are happily not beholden to). Brad and Krispy go onto to rave about Tactical Breach Wizards; The next game from the developer of Gunpoint which some describe as "a DnD campaign gone horribly right." Krispy also dabbled in the early access builds for Abiotic Factor and Deadlock.

News - Recap of Nintendo Direct (1:40)
Nolan's Special Announcement (24:25)
Impressions - Black Myth: Wukong (37:00)
Impressions - Tactical Breach Wizards (58:35)
Impressions - Abiotic Factor (1:21:34)
Fantasy Critic Update (1:43:50)
4Player Minute (1:52:30)

4Player Podcast #806 - The Weapons-Grade Copium Show (Gamescom ONL Highlights, Tango Gameworks is Saved, Steamworld Heist 2, and More!) Aug 23, 2024

We have good news and bad news. The good news is that Krafton swooped in and SAVED Tango Gameworks from closure AND acquired the rights to Hi-Fi Rush so a sequel is all but confirmed. The bad news is that Gamescom kicked off with a rather disappointing Opening Night Live AND Silksong remains as elusive as ever. Regardless, there are some announcements that caught our attention such as Dying Light: The Beast, Blur's new anthology tv series for Amazon Prime called Secret Level, and the reveal of Mafia: The Old Country. After we discuss the highlights (and lowlights) of the show, Brad gives his thoughts on Steamworld Heist 2 and Thrasher!

News - Krafton Acquires Tango Gameworks along with Rights to Hi-Fi Rush (10:34)
News - Highlights from Gamescom ONL (16:20)
Impressions - Steamworld Heist 2 (50:35)
Impressions - Thrasher (59:45)
4Player Minute (1:19:30)

4Player Podcast #805 - Chipper Industry News (World of Goo 2, Earth Defense Force 6, Thank Goodness You're Here, and More!) Aug 09, 2024

The bad news keeps on comin. This week, Bungie was hit with a significant round of layoffs and even an internal project cancellation which has called the future of Destiny and the studio into question. Not to be outdone, Gamestop suddenly and unexpectedly shut down Game Informer magazine; A shocking turn of events for a company that has relied on the publication to prop up their business for many years. On a less depressing note, Brad talks about World of Goo 2 which, despite the long gap between releases, manages to end up just as great and just as flawed as it's predecessor. Chris turned off his brain to play Earth Defense Force 6 and Brad did something similar with a hilarious little game called Thank Goodness You're Here.

News - Bungie hit with layoffs / cancellations (8:25)
News - Gamestop abruptly shuts down Game Informer (18:00)
Impressions - World of Goo 2 (25:55)
Impressions - Earth Defense Force 6 (43:20)
Impressions - Thank Goodness You're Here (56:55)
Impressions - CONSCRIPT (1:13:00)
4Player Minute (1:21:30)

4Player Podcast #804 - The Horrors of War (CONSCRIPT, Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, and More!) Aug 02, 2024

It's release week for Deadpool & Wolverine and Comic-Con so movie-talk does manage to worm it's way in at the top of the show! After that, Nick talks about a delicious new survival-horror game, CONSCRIPT, which captures the overwhelmingly bleak backdrop of World War 1 through a top-down Resident Evil lens. Brad takes a deeper dive into Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure now that the full game is out (and FREE on Netflix apparently!) and Krispy talks about his time with Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail which has hit a proverbial reset button on the story with this latest expansion. Sony dropped the price of the PSVR2 finally and Chris Davis revisits Pacific Drive and talks late game developments.

Movie Talk (1:45)
Impressions - CONSCRIPT (17:05)
Impressions - Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure (31:50)
Impressions - Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail (51:20)
News - Sony drops the price of the PSVR2 dramatically (1:09:07)
Impressions - Pacific Drive (1:13:04)
4Player Minute (1:28:10)

4Player Podcast #803 - The The "Triple I" Show (Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, Nobody Wants to Die, Fallen Aces, and More!) Jul 26, 2024

July might feel like a bit of a lull in the world of video games but there is plenty of fun to be found if dig a little deeper. Brad has now spent a good chunk of time with the full release of Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess. As it turns out, despite some rough edges, the game is... pretty darn cool! Chris Davis played through the first full episode of Fallen Aces; A retro FPS mixed with lite immersive sim elements that leans into comic books and classic detective stories to deliver something fresh! Finally, Nick also found himself playing a game focused around a detective but with a very different wrapper. Nobody Wants to Die is a futuristic, cyberpunk adjacent detective thriller running in Unreal Engine 5 (herefore referred to as a "Triple I" game)!

Movie Talk (6:40)
Impressions - Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess (13:35)
Impressions - Fallen Aces (40:55)
Impressions - Nobody Wants to Die (1:06:30)
4Player Minute (1:31:20)

4Player Podcast #802 - The Pokemon Orgy Show (Shadow of the Erdtree, Resident Evil, Holstin Demo, and More!) Jul 12, 2024

The calm before the storm. We take a breather this week to talk movies and do some much needed 2024 catchup! Brad finished up Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and expresses some concerns over the recent demo of Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess. Nick and Chris Davis talk Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree and Nolan takes us on virtual migration to (the) New York City where he and Bernadette attended a major Pokemon Go event this past weekend. Chris Davis reveals that he played Resident Evil 1 this past weekend... for the very first time and Nick highlights an exciting new indie Survival Horror game called Holstin which blends classic Resident Evil with more modern entries like Resident Evil 4!

Movie Talk (3:30)
Impressions - Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (27:40)
2024 Catchup - Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth / Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (40:35)
Pokemon Go Event with Nolan (50:10)
Impressions - Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Demo (1:05:00)
Impressions - Holstin Demo (1:19:40)
Chris Davis Played Resident Evil 1 for the FIRST TIME (1:26:00)

4Player Podcast #801 - Our Top 3 Most Anticipated Games for the Rest of 2024 Jul 05, 2024

With the year half in the bag, we take some time to talk about what lies ahead in the second half of the year. With zero overlap, we each highlight 3 games that we are excited to play in the coming months. The discussion takes us to some expected and unexpected places; From Star Wars: Outlaws to The Plucky Squire to... Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster (?!). Of course, we fill in some of the gaps with help from the community. Needless to say, 2024 has been an impressive year thus far and the best appears to be in our future.

4Player Podcast #800 - The Gentlemen's Agreement Show (Shadow of the Erdtree, Still Wakes the Deep, Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure Demo, and More!) Jun 28, 2024

Believe it or not, this week marks our 800th official episode! It's an episode full of impressions, drama, and even a couple pacts / agreements that may surprise you. We talk the long awaited Shadow of the Erdtree expansion for Elden Ring to find out if the game really is too hard or if they design was elevated to support the increased challenge! Brad talks about a couple new demos from Steam Next Fest including Arranger: An Role-Puzzling Adventure and Dungeons of Hinterberg, and Chris Davis' continue to talk up his time with Rise of the Ronin. Nick played through Still Wakes the Deep; a game with some serious vibes that can't help but paint a bleak picture for the team's next high-profile project. Things get a little tense during the Fantasy Critic update but it culminates in one of the most interesting trades / agreements we've made thus far.

Off-Topic: Fast food shenanigans (3:00)
Impressions - Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree (9:15)
Impressions - Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure - Demo (30:10)
Impressions - Dungeons Of Hinterberg - Demo (37:50)
Impressions - Still Wakes the Deep (58:40)
Fantasy Critic Drama (1:12:00)
4Player Minute (1:34:20)

4Player Podcast #799 - The Two-Dimensional Show (Nintendo Direct Recap, Dragon Age Inquisition: Trespasser DLC, Dice & Fold Demo, and More!) Jun 21, 2024

Nintendo came out swinging this week with a new Direct presentation full of surprises! We recap the highlights which include the reveal of Mario & Luigi Brothership, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, and of course, the re-reveal of Metroid Prime 4 Beyond! Nolan shines a spotlight on a demo for a fun new deck-builder called Dice & Fold and Brad talks about Dragon Age Inquisition: Trespasser; a game he delved back into in the immediate aftermath of the Dragon Age: The Veilguard reveal last week.

Recap - Nintendo Direct ft Mario & Luigi Brothership, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Metroid Prime 4, and more! (3:35)
Impressions - Dice & Fold Demo (44:45)
Impressions - Dragon Age Inquisition: Trespasser DLC (56:45)
Impressions - Quick mentions from Chris Davis - Alan Wake 2: Nightsprings DLC, Indivisible, Rise of Ronin (1:15:20)
Fantasy Critic Updates (1:34:48)
4Player Minute (1:45:35)

4Player Podcast #798 - The Prophecy Fulfilled (Destiny 2: The Final Shape, The Alters Demo, Summer Game Fest Announcement Recap, and More!) Jun 14, 2024

It's a big week. Krispy has finally blessed us with Destiny 2 footage to coincide with the recent release of Destiny 2: The Final Shape! Not only that, Krispy takes us on a journey through the history of Destiny which has culminated in one of the game's most exciting and successful expansions! Brad talks about his experience with the demo for The Alters; an upcoming game from 11-Bit Studios which seems to combine survival gameplay with an intriguing narrative that involves cloning. In the 2nd half of the show, we recap the highs and lows of this year's Summer Game Fest including the re-reveal of Dragon Age: The Veilguard (formerly Dreadwolf), Perfect Dark, Star Wars Outlaws, and more!

Impressions - Destiny 2: The Final Shape (8:30)
Impressions - The Alters Demo (45:40)
Reactions to the Re-Reveal of Dragon Age: The Veilguard (1:03:44)
Recap - Summer Game Fest (1:25:50)
4Player Minute (2:14:50)

4Player Podcast #797 - Just Say Yes to Everything (Summer Game Fest Predictions, Nine Sols, Minishoot Adventures, and More!) Jun 07, 2024

It's that special time of year once again... where the mess of showcases and preview events run amock without the comfort and organization of E3. Chaos aside... it's still an exciting time for anyone looking to know what the future of gaming has in store. With that in mind, we run through a long list of Summer Game Fest predictions put together by Chris Davis and discuss the highlights from last week's Playstation State of Play and Silent Hill Transmission events. But before we get to all that, Nick and Nolan talk about a hot up-and-coming new Metroidvania called Nine Sols and Brad shares his thoughts on a charming new arcade shooter called Minishoot Adventures!

Housekeeping (1:40)
Impressions - Nine Sols (6:15)
Impressions - Minishoot Advenures (30:45)
Recap - Playstation State of Play and Silent Hill Transmission Highlights (44:30)
Summer Game Fest Season Predictions (1:13:30)
4Player Minute (2:09:00)

4Player Podcast #796 - The Uranus Zone Show (Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Astro Bot / Resident Evil Rumors, and More!) May 31, 2024

Summer Games Fest approaches and some serious rumors are starting to circulate. We set aside some time at the top of the show this week to address some whispers regarding the next round of Resident Evil remakes, an impending Astro Bot announcement, and more! Krispy does an excellent job of selling us on the latest game from Simogo called Lorelei and the Laser Eyes and a conversation about Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 leads to a deeper debate about what dictates success in this industry.

Housekeeping (1:40)
Rumors - The latest on the next Resident Evil projects (9:25)
Rumors - Playstation preparing to announce the next Astro Bot (22:05)
Impressions - Lorelei and the Laser Eyes (38:40)
Impressions - Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 (1:07:30)
4Player Minute (1:51:20)

4Player Podcast #795 - The Chris Davis Enigma Show (Dread Delusion, Animal Well, Stellar Blade, and More!) May 24, 2024

Indie-May continues! We revisit Animal Well and focus a little more on what that game looks like once you have peeled back a few layers of the proverbial onion; More specifically, after the credits roll. Brad goes to town on Dread Delusion as it subverts expectations in both good AND bad ways. Despite that, Brad is very clearly all in on the game. Nick circles back to Stellar Blade which has, at this point, established itself as an uncompromising horny game with some rock solid mechanics to boot. Also... we ask the age old question... what will Chris Davis play next?

Housekeeping / Chit-Chat (1:30)
Impressions - Animal Well (30:08)
Impressions - Dread Delusion (39:38)
What will Chris Davis Play Next?!?! (1:03:40)
Impressions - Stellar Blade (1:20:25)
Fantasy Critic Updates (1:37:36)
4Player Minute (1:52:38)

4Player Podcast #794 - The Cultural Osmosis Show (Animal Well, Crow Country, V Rising, and More!) May 17, 2024

The video game industry landscape continues to shift and collapse as everyone tries to time their layoffs to blend in with the outrage aimed almost entirely at Xbox. While the AAA space might be in turmoil at the moment, May is shaping up to be an absolutely incredible month for indie releases! We try our best (and mostly succeed) to not spoil Animal Well; but with a game built around discovery and experimentation, it proves difficult. As a lover of classic survival horror, Nick is ecstatic to share his thoughts on Crow Country while Brad hypes up V Rising which just hit 1.0 and offers one of the most genuine and addicting Vampire power fantasies out there. In the 2nd segment, Chris Davis entices Krispy to play Star Ocean: The Second Story R with an impressive but unexpected pitch.

Impressions - Animal Well (13:10)
Impressions - Crow Country (35:25)
Impressions - V Rising (42:00)
Impressions - Star Ocean: The Second Story R (1:10:40)
News - Playstation now has TWO CEOs... Hurray! (1:02:00)
Fantasy Critic Updates (1:22:00)
News - Assassin's Creed: Shadows to be Revealed on May 15th (1:26:00)
4Player Minute (1:34:00)

4Player Podcast #793 - The Terrible, Awful, No Good Video Games Industry (Xbox Studio Closures, the Helldivers 2 Debacle, INDIKA, and More!) May 10, 2024

It's yet another sad day for the industry - Unfortunately just another week of mass layoffs, studio closures, and project cancellations thanks to out-of-touch, overpaid executives and bad management. On the morning of May 7th, Microsoft officially (and unexpectedly) closed down Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, Roundhouse Games, and Alpha Dog studio. As a result, hundreds of talented folks are suddenly unemployed and the future of promising IP like Hi-Fi Rush, Evil Within, and Prey are now in indefinitely in limbo. Of course, Sony is also in a hell of their own making (albeit a temporary one) thanks to a wildly misguided decision regarding Helldivers 2. It's a lot to unpack this week but it's not all doom and gloom; Nick takes the time to share his thoughts on the wacky world of INDIKA.

News - Microsoft suddenly shutters Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, Roundhouse Games, & Alpha Dog Studio (2:30)
News - Sony stirs up controversy surrounding Helldivers 2 (43:35)
Impressions - INDIKA(53:40)
4Player Minute (1:15:20)

4Player Podcast #792 - The Spider-Bulge Show (Stellar Blade, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, Movie Talk, and More!) May 03, 2024

The calm before the storm that is May. We have a smaller crew this week but we assure you... it's not short; it's not boring; and most importantly... it's not organized! Brad kicks things off with a little candy interrogation followed by some random movie talk before we buckle down to talk about video games. Nick shares his early impressions of Stellar Blade and is surprised by how much substance there actually is in a game that seems more interested in being titillating. Brad also returns to Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes and his enjoyment is only getting more and more intense as time goes on. Throw in a little bit of random Baldur's Gate 3 talk along with some of our usual chaos and you've got yourself a podcast!

Housekeeping (2:00)
Brad takes the Wheel (6:20)
Impressions - Stellar Blade (21:35)
Impressions - Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes (53:40)
Fantasy Critic Updates (1:20:20)
4Player Minute (1:27:30)

4Player Podcast #791 - The King of the Dweebs Show (Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, Fantasy Critic Spice, and More!) Apr 26, 2024

We've got a short show for you this week but it's no less important! Brad - resident Suikoden fanboy - finally got his hands on the modern day spiritual successor, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes! It's a game that feels light on modern conveniences yet it remains relevant and important to the fans. In the Fantasy Critic segment, we cover some exciting new pick-ups following some big announcements and release-date reveals!

PSA: We experimented with a new pre-show format this week by doing 'Trailer Talk' LIVE as a group before recording the show and we expect it to become part of the routine going forward! It's a lot of fun so make sure you tune in at 8:00pm so you can catch up on the latest game trailers!

Housekeeping (3:20)
Impressions - Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes (5:25)
Fantasy Critic Updates (40:00)
4Player Minute (58:00)

4Player Podcast #790 - The Bonds of Friendship Show (Inkbound, Content Warning, Shadows of Doubt, and More!) Apr 19, 2024

We took a week off of podcasting but dipped our toes into the wild world of Content Warning and the results were hilarious to say the least! Chris Davis revisits Shadows of Doubt now that it is approaching its 1.0 release later this year; It's an interesting discussion that delves into the strengths and weaknesses of making games using procedural generation. Brad talks about Inkbound, the next game from the creators of Monster Train and of course, we spend a little more time with Dragon's Dogma II. During the Fantasy Critic and 4Player Minute segments, we talk a little about the recent news regarding Star Wars Outlaws, Assassin's Creed codename Red, and impressions of the new Fallout TV show on Amazon Prime.

Housekeeping (2:30)
Impressions - Content Warning (8:35)
Impressions - Shadows of Doubt (24:35)
Impressions - Dragon's Dogma II (51:00)
Impressions - Inkbound (1:01:20)
Fantasy Critic Updates (1:35:35)
4Player Minute (1:48:00)

4Player Podcast #789 - The Skateboard Horse Show (Rise of the Ronin, Stellar Blade Demo, Dragon's Dogma II, and More!) Apr 05, 2024

Despite Team Ninja's apparent unfamiliarity with real world horses... Brad is happy to report that the world may have it all wrong about Rise of the Ronin! Despite an all too familiar open-world design philosophy, the game has proved to be fun, addicting, and surprisingly competent in the storytelling department! Krispy returns to share his thoughts on Dragon's Dogma 2 and Chris Davis has continued his love affair with Vanillaware thanks to Unicorn Overlord. Finally, Nick talks about his first impressions of the titillating new action game, Stellar Blade, now that Sony has released the demo.

Housekeeping - Fantasy Critic (7:50)
Impressions - Rise of the Ronin (13:00)
Impressions - Dragon's Dogma II (39:30)
Impressions - Stellar Blade Demo (1:14:00)
Impressions - Unicorn Overlord (1:36:00)
4Player Minute (1:52:45)

4Player Podcast #788 - The Narrative Legos Show (Dragon's Dogma II, Alone in the Dark, Judas Preview Coverage, and More!) Mar 29, 2024

Can you believe it has been 12 years since the release of Dragon's Dogma?! As we finally delve into Dragon's Dogma II, one of our most anticipated games of the year, we revel in just how impressive it is despite the formula having changed very little. To Brad's point, the game hasn't changed much but WE have changed a lot in those 12 years. In this episode we also take some time to check in on our Community Fantasy Critic Leagues now that we are a quarter of the way through the year and Chris Davis gives us an overview of the first Judas preview coverage that is rolling out this week. Also, if you were waiting for Nick to play Alone in the Dark... get ready... because he didn't; Chris Davis did... Twice.

Housekeeping - Checking in with the Community Fantasy Critic Leagues (3:10)
Impressions - Dragon's Dogma II (30:40)
Impressions - Alone in the Dark (1:14:00)
News - Judas Preview Coverage Rolls Out and Chris Davis is here for it (1:46:00)
4Player Minute (2:11:45)

4Player Podcast #787 - The Option Select Show (Unicorn Overlord, Balatro, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and More!) Mar 22, 2024

This week is all about revisiting some of the big games that have been keeping us busy while we patiently await the launch of Dragon's Dogma 2! Nolan dives DEEP into the depths of Balatro; A game that has successfully pulled his attention away from Like a Dragon! Nick's complicated feelings about Final Fantasy VII Rebirth grow more complicated by the day but Brad's love of Unicorn Overlord has only grown deeper now that the full game is out. In other news, Brad goes off on Princess Peach Showtime after a disappointing demo and we argue over whether or not kids have naptime in Kindergarten!

Housekeeping - Fantasy Critic updates (10:48)
Brad Rant - Princess Peach is a shameless Puppeteer knockoff for Babies (18:00)
Impressions - Balatro (29:40)
Impressions - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (58:05)
Impressions - Unicorn Overlord (1:34:00)
4Player Minute (1:50:00)

4Player Podcast #786 - Everybody Hates Chadley (This is Basically a Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Special) Mar 08, 2024

This may not be an official Final Fantasy VII Rebirth special but it may as well be as it accounts for more than 50% of the episode! Most of us have all spent a decent chunk of time with this hotly anticipated follow up to Final Fantasy VII Remake and while the game certainly has some ROUGH edges in places, it still manages to live up to the hype! Quite honestly, Rebirth is a baffling game; Capturing the spirit and variety of the original game in the most fanciful, expensive way possible... while clumsily fumbling the ball in some truly unexpected places. We also spend some time talking Fantasy Critic, random movie talk, and continuing to shake our heads at the awful state of the industry right now.

Random Movie Talk! (2:55)
Housekeeping - Fantasy Critic updates (14:20)
Impressions - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (46:10)
4Player Minute (1:52:40)

4Player Podcast #785 - The Final Fantasy Critic Show (Pacific Drive, Final Fantasy VII Intermission, Unicorn Overlord, and More!) Mar 01, 2024

With Final Fantasy VII Rebirth looming on the horizon, Nick and Ed both bring other FF7 games to the forefront. Ed shares his thoughts on Crisis Core Reunion and Nick revisits the remake in the form of Final Fantasy VII Remake: Intermission; the DLC starring Yuffie. While we manage to squeeze in a fair amount of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth talk, Brad jumps on the opportunity to nerd out over the demo of Unicorn Overlord; a demo which is actually just the first 7-hours of the actual game! Nick also sings the praises of Pacific Drive which finds new and exciting ways to tap into the magic of games like Subnautica. Oh... and the industry is on fire.

Housekeeping - Fantasy Critic updates (6:30)
Impressions - Crisis Core Reunion (25:45)
Impressions - Final Fantasy VII Remake Intermission (37:30)
Impressions - Pacific Drive (58:30)
Imrpessions - Unicorn Overlord (1:12:05)
Impressions - Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (1:37:50)
4Player Minute (1:48:00)

4Player Podcast #784 - The Nick Tingle Show (Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered, Ultros, Balatro, and More!) Feb 23, 2024

We're down a chair this week but it has little effect; Even this early in the year, there is so much to talk about! After Brad officially challenges Nick to play more Japanese games in 2024, the Fantasy Critic talk leads straight into a discussion about Balatro; one of the year's first niche indie darlings! Later, Nick tries to decipher Ultros but it proves more difficult than he imagined. In the 2nd segment, Brad dives deep into the complicated reception of Aspyr's remaster of Tomb Raider 1 - 3. Of course, we cap off the show with some more Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

Housekeeping - Brad's Japan challenge to Nick (2:40)
Housekeeping - Fantasy Critic updates (17:10)
Impressions - Balatro (27:30)
Impressions - Ultros (40:40)
Impressions - Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered (57:15)
Impressions - Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (1:32:00)
4Player Minute (1:45:00)

4Player Podcast #783 - The Sleazy Animal Crossing Show (Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Persona 3 Reload, Helldivers II, and More!) Feb 16, 2024

We open the show this week with the reveal of our community's top 10 games of 2023! After that, we are finally able to play and talk about Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League; Rocksteady's long-awaited follow-up to the Arkham series and their first (and hopefully last) foray into GAAS. Krispy has played the entire campaign and has plenty to say about it; Both positive and negative! Brad talks more about Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth this week but he focuses entirely on one aspect... a mini game that can only be described as "Sleazy Animal Crossing." Nick gives his early impressions of Persona 3 Reload as well; Which coincides with his first time playing this game... ever! Finally, the Chris's talk about Helldivers 2 which certainly holds the potential to be surprise hit... the question is: Does it have legs?

Housekeeping - The Community's Top 10 Games of 2023 (3:50)
Impressions - Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (30:20)
Impressions - Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (1:01:15)
Impressions - Persona 3 Reload (1:20:00)
Impressions - Helldivers II (1:35:00)
4Player Minute (1:59:20)

4Player Podcast #782 - The Lightning in a Bottle Show (Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Silent Hill: The Short Message, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Demo, and More!) Feb 09, 2024

This week, we discuss not ONE, but TWO, Sony State of Plays! First, we delve into all of the new info about Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Nolan gives us his thoughts after playing through the brand new demo! After that, Brad takes another journey into the wackly world of Yakuza with Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and to nobody's surprise, he loves it. In the second half, Nick finally broaches the subject of Konami's handling of the Silent Hill revival after having a few days to contemplate. It's a complex subject given the breadth of projects in development versus the games we have actually played but he does his best. Of course, this includes his thoughts on Silent Hill: The Short Message, a free 2-hour experience that seems dead-set on artificially re-creating P.T... spoiler alert, that was probably a bad idea.

Housekeeping - GOTY Videos! (3:45)
Reactions - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth details + Demo Impressions (18:15)
Impressions - Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (46:00)
Inquiring Minds want to Know: How does Nick feel about the Silent Hill Revival thus far?
Impressions - Silent Hill: The Short Message (1:07:20)
Recap: Sony State of Play (1:43:05)
4Player Minute (2:00:00)

4Player Podcast #781 - The Peruvian Coffee Fighter Show (State of Play Predictions, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Tekken 8, and More!) Feb 02, 2024

Despite the strong start to the year in terms of good game releases, it's been an overwhelmingly shitty week for the industry thanks to an abundance of layoffs and Embracer's continued reign of terror which has now led to the cancellation of a new Deus Ex game. We do our best to remain positive though amidst the chaos. In the first segment, we catch up on Fantasy Critic and talk predictions ahead of Sony's first big State of Play for 2024. In the second segment, Nick and Brad revel in the sheer quality of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and Brad takes us through his early impressions of Tekken 8.

Housekeeping - GOTY content is starting to roll out (2:40)
Predictions - State of Play for January 31, 2024 (14:10)
Headlines - Mass layoffs + Embracer's reign of terror leads to cancelled Deus Ex game (59:20)
Impressions - Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (1:08:30)
Impressions - Tekken 8 (1:28:30)
4Player Minute (1:46:50)

4Player Podcast #780 - Let's talk about the Indy Game of the Year (Indiana Jones Revealed, Hellblade 2 Release Date, Kingsvein, and More!) Jan 21, 2024

Its 2024 and we are kicking things off with some indie gems and some closer looks at a few big games coming to Xbox later this year. Chris Davis gives us his thoughts on last year's Trepang2 which has us all spiraling about the state of Monolith and the potential (or lack thereof) for a return of the FEAR franchise. Brad talks about two games that seem tailor made for him; Cobalt Core has DNA from both card-based deck builders and FTL; Kingsvein is a super dynamic and systems driven strategy game that feels like a Final Fantasy Tactics game with a heavy dose of immersive sim. In the second segment, we discuss our reactions to Microsoft's latest "Developer Direct" presentation which gave us closer looks at Avowed and Senua's Saga: Hellblade II. Of course, we also got our first look at Machine Games new project, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

Housekeeping - GOTY Plans + Fantasy Critic superdrops
Impressions - Trepang2
Impressions - Cobalt Core
Impressions - Kingsvein
Headlines - A closer look at Avowed (Microsoft Dev Direct)
Headlines - Hellblade 2 details and release date (Microsoft Dev Direct)
Headlines - Debut of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Microsoft Dev Direct)
4Player Minute

4Player Podcast #779 - The 2023 Awards Show (Best World Design, Best Storytelling, Best Moment, and More!) Jan 12, 2024

As is customary around these parts... we send off another great year in video game releases with our annual Awards show! Despite our best efforts to trim the fat, it's hard not to talk about the games that we love (and in some cases, hate) so enjoy another long episode! We talk about everything from hidden gems like Pseudorgalia, to indie bangers like Sea of Stars, to massive successes like Baldur's Gate 3! We even venture down some unexpected rabbit holes like the realistic snot that DEFINED Brad's moment of the year and the... tumultuous reactions to Starfield and Final Fantasy XVI.

Community Game of the Year Drawing Winners
2023 Regrets - The games we didn't get to
Best World / Level Design
Best Looking Game
Best Video Game Moment
Break - Best Soundtrack - Dave the Diver (Nolan) and Baldur's Gate 3 (Kris)
Best Storytelling **BIG SPOILER WARNING FOR STAR WARS: JEDI SURIVOR (1:33:30)**
Best Boss Fight
Best New Character
Break - Best Soundtrack - Xenoblade Chronicles: Future Redeemed (Ed) and Sea of Stars (Chris)
Biggest Surprise
Biggest Disappointment
Won't Quit You, I Promise
Break - Best Soundtrack - Bomb Rush Cyberfunk (Brad) and Hogwarts Legacy (Nick)
Spotlight Award
Asterisk Award

4Player Podcast #778 - Our 2024 Fantasy Critic League Draft / Preview Show Jan 05, 2024

With a new year comes an onslaught of new games to be excited about. As is now tradition around these parts, we kick off the new year with the initial Draft in our ongoing Fantasy Critic league! This year, Ed joins the fray, bringing our roster up to seven! We learned a lot over the last year and I think it shows because not only are our individual rosters stronger and spicier, counter-picking was absolute hell! But hey, it makes for a fun podcast. Pay attention at the beginning for the rundown of the rules and all of the changes we have implemented and then sit back and enjoy. Thanks for joining us for another year of video games!

How Fantasy Critic Works (4:20)
Determining the draft order (12:10)
Initial Draft (18:55)
Counterpicks (1:15:00)

4Player Podcast #777 - The Lucky Number Se7en Show (Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, Super Mario RPG, and Fantasy Critic Result / Planning) Dec 22, 2023

For all intents and purposes, 2023 was a great year for gamers but the development / business side of the industry has taken a savage beating. In our final podcast of the year, we talk about two more high-profile cancellations: Naughty Dog's The Last of Us multiplayer project AND E3 were both taken off life support in the past week. Brad talks up Bomb Rush Cyberfunk and Pizza Tower as he squeezes in a few more games prior to Awards season and Chris Davis has us covered with his thoughts on the remake of Super Mario RPG. In the second half of the show, we devote our time to the past, present, and future of Fantasy Critic. We talk final rankings and then hash out the changes and improvements we want to implement in 2024 - including ways of allowing the community to join in the fun more directly!

Housekeeping / Game of the Year Plans (2:38)
Headline: E3 is (finally) dead (14:50)
Headline: Naughty Dog / Sony Cancel 'The Last of Us' Multiplayer Project (19:45)
Impressions: Bomb Rush Cyberfunk (35:40)
Impressions: Super Mario RPG (47:00)
Impressions: Pizza Tower (59:00)
Fantasy Critic Results and Plans for the Future (1:15:30)

Follow the 4Player 2023 Fantasy Critic League Submit your Top 10 Games of 2023 for a chance to win a free game in January! The link is pinned in our #goty-2023 channel.

4Player Podcast #776 - Beat the Blue Screen! (Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer Reactions and The Game Awards Predictions) Dec 08, 2023

It's an unexpected race against time this week! Sudden, unexpected technical difficulties near the end of the episode force us to do battle with Chris Davis' PC as it tries to silence us. Before that though, we delve into the first ever Grand Theft Auto VI trailer and take a look back at the history of the series and the impact it has had on culture and the industry. Rather than close out the show in our usual fashion, Brad runs us through a series of increasingly ridiculous predictions ahead of The Game Awards.

Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer Reactions (09:20)
The Game Awards Predictions (51:35)

4Player Podcast #775 - All's Well that Ed's Well (Cyberpunk 2077, Persona 5 Tactica, Dragon's Dogma 2 Update, and More!) Dec 01, 2023

Ed returns to the show after a hectic but exciting year of traveling and moving across the country! We take some time to catch up with him about Final Fantasy XVI, The Talos Principle 2, Shadow Gambit, and even impressions of the new Steam Deck OLED! The group discusses the latest developments surrounding Dragon's Dogma 2 (including a release date) and the upcoming Fallout adaption on Amazon. Brad makes an argument on Persona 5 Tactica as a potential 2023 underdog and Nick shares his thoughts on Cyberpunk 2077 now that the big 2.0 update has redeemed it in the eyes of players years after launch.

Catching up with Ed (6:05)
Housekeeping / Fantasy Critic (25:20)
Headlines - Dragon's Dogma 2 has a Release Date! (36:00)
Headlines - Our first look at the Fallout TV series (50:30)
Impressions - Persona 5 Tactica (59:25)
Impressions - Steam Deck OLED (1:13:20)
Impressions - Cyberpunk 2077 (1:26:00)
4Player Minute (2:05:40)

4Player Podcast #774 - The Miranda Rights Show (RoboCop: Rogue City, The Talos Principle 2, Jusant, and More!) Nov 17, 2023

After a week off from recording due to unforeseen circumstances, we are back with a vengeance! We are bursting at the seams with new (and mostly exciting) games to talk about! Brad gives us the skinny on the latest Yakuza titled: Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased his Name, and Nick recaps his time with Jusant; a touching and impassioned homage to classics like Ico. Chris Davis fills the group in on his latest... video game life choices which includes playing all the way through RoboCop: Rogue City and Redfall. Nick also takes a deep dive into The Talos Principle II which easily earns a place among puzzle game classics like The Witness and even Portal.

Housekeeping / Fantasy Critic
Impressions - Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased his Name (15:20)
Impressions - Jusant (30:00)
Impressions - RoboCop: Rogue City (43:00)
Impressions - The Talos Principle 2 (1:05:30)
Impressions - Redfall (1:24:00)
4Player Minute (1:43:00)

4Player Podcast #773 - The Bad Gamer Show (Alan Wake II, Super Mario Bros Wonder, the Reboot of Silent Hill, and More!) Nov 03, 2023

This week, we have the pleasure of delving into TWO quality games that couldn't be more different! Brad looks back on his time with Super Marios Bros Wonder and applauds it's accomplishments while pondering it's place in 2D Mario history. In the 2nd segment, Nick and Chris Davis dive into Alan Wake 2; a long-awaited sequel that brought the best out of Remedy thanks to it's ambitious, open-ended design and it's dramatic pivot into the horror genre. Of course, it's not all rainbows and lollipops. We discuss Konami's baffling decision to lead the Silent Hill reboot with Silent Hill Ascension; a perplexing and somewhat embarrassing experiment that nobody asked for.

Housekeeping / Fantasy Critic Discussion
Silent Hill Ascension and the reboot of Silent Hill (22:56)
Impressions - Super Mario Bros Wonder (33:50)
Impressions - Alan Wake II (58:50)
4Player Minute - (1:34:44)

4Player Podcast #772 - I Believe I can Fly, Not Swing (Spider-Man 2, Laika: Aged Through Blood, Killer Frequency, and More!) Oct 27, 2023

Another week, another huge release for 2023. We spend MOST of the first segment this week talking about Insomniac's Spider-Man 2; a bold, polished sequel that delivers on almost every front. As it happens, it almost over-delivers with it's new wing-suit mechanics. After that, we ponder the current state of Insomniac and hypothesize about their upcoming Wolverine game. In the second segment, Brad gives us the rundown on two new indie releases worthy of your time and attention: Killer Frequency (Happy Halloween!) and Laika: Aged Through Blood - a game that feels like Trials HD and Castlevania had a brutally challenging baby...

Housekeeping / Fantasy Critic
Impressions - Spider-Man 2 (12:55)
Discussion - The state of Insomniac and the potential directions for 'Wolverine' (50:40)
Impressions - Killer Frequency (1:09:20)
Impressions - Laika: Aged Through Blood (1:19:35)
4Player Minute - (1:29:30)

4Player Podcast #771 - The Brad Bread Show (Assassin's Creed Mirage, El Paso Elsewhere, Star Ocean: The Second Story R Demo, and More!) Oct 14, 2023

It's a strange week. We find ourselves in the midst of spooky season as we await the imminent release of some of the years biggest games. After some Halloween banter, we delve into the latest developments surrounding Naughty Dog's troubled Last of Us multiplayer project and the announcement of the new PS5 Slim. In the second segment, Brad finally has an opportunity to talk about the demo for Star Ocean: The Second Story R; An impressive remake of a PS1 classic that also calls more attention to the weird choices Square Enix is making. Nick and Chris Davis talk about the double edged sword that is Assassins Creed Mirage and then brad makes a compelling case for El Paso Elsewhere.

Housekeeping - Please take our listener survey (link below)
News - The Last of Us Factions 2 is in trouble - (35:15)
News - Sony announces PS5 Slim - (42:45)
Impressions - Star Ocean: The Second Story R (Demo) - (49:20)
Impressions - Assassin's Creed Mirage - (1:02:10)
Impressions - El Paso Elsewhere - (1:27:00)
4Player Minute - (1:43:10)

Link Dump:

4Player Podcast #770 - The Tempered Expectations Show (Cocoon, The Expanse, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, and More!) Oct 09, 2023

It may be a skeleton crew this week but this industry slows down for nobody; Especially in 2023! We take an unexpected detour into Assassin's Creed territory up front but then go on to revisit Armored Core VI. Nick gushes over Cocoon; A game which may be struggling to find it's audience in such a crowded release season but is undoubtedly one of the best puzzle games of the year. A Starfield discussion goes sideways for Nick and Chris delivers his verdict on Telltale's The Expanse now that the full season has wrapped. Also, it's been an absolutely terrible week for game developers...

Tangent - Assassin's Creed Mirage is Out
Impressions - Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
Impressions - Cocoon
Impressions - The Expanse
Impressions - Payday 3
4Player Minute

4Player Podcast #769 - The Wong Side of History (Mortal Kombat 1, Resident Evil 4 Separate Ways DLC, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew, and More!) Sep 25, 2023

Microsoft can't seem to catch a break. The Activision aquisition led to another massive document leak which gives us some insight into Bethesda's future lineup including new entries in the DOOM and Dishonored franchises and some rather shocking assessments about the value of certain games when it comes to Game Pass. We also react to the new gameplay footage for Dragons Dogma 2 and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth which dropped this week at the Tokyo Game Show. Of course, the 2023 onslaught of cool games continues as we talk about the likes of Mortal Kombat 1, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew (Mimimi's final game), and the new Separate Ways DLC for Resident Evil 4!

News - Huge Microsoft Leak
News - Reactions to new 'Dragons Dogma 2' and 'Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth' gameplay
Impressions - Resident Evil 4: Separate Ways
Impressions - Mortal Kombat 1
Impressions - Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew
4Player Minute

4Player Podcast #768 - The New Uniforms Show (Starfield, Sea of Stars, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and More!) Sep 18, 2023

It has been a whirlwind week in the world of video games but more importantly, we are sporting new podcasting uniforms; In case there was any doubt that our nerdiness knew no bounds. Of course, we dip our toes in the big Unity debacle that has taken the industry by storm this week and we discuss a major departure from Respawn / EA. It is also a historic day in which a Nintendo Direct and Sony State of Play were held on the same day so we run through the highlights. In the second segment, Brad talks Pseudoregalia and we take our first stab at Starfield impressions which, thus far, is proving to be a bit of a mixed bag. Nick and Chris delve deeper into Sea of Stars and we discuss our time playing The Texas Chainsaw Massacre last week.

New Uniforms!
News - Unity fucked up big time
News - Stig Asmussen leaves EA / Respawn
News - Nintendo Direct / Sony State of Play recaps
Impressions - Pseudoregalia
Impressions - Starfield
Impressions - Sea of Stars
Impressions - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
4Player Minute

4Player Podcast #767 - The Good News, Bad News Show (Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, Blasphemous 2, Sea of Stars, and More!) Sep 04, 2023

It's a good news, bad news week. The good news is that Starfield reviews have landed and while they aren't blowing Baldur's Gate 3 out of the water, they do seem to indicate that it's not a disaster! On the other hand, the industry suffered several unexpected studio closures this week. Mimimi announced Shadow Gambit would be their last game and Embracer group shut down Volition. With that said, the year of great gaming continues! We dig into Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon and Blasphemous 2; Two games that faithfully continue their respective franchises while opting to play it safe. Chris also gives us his very early thoughts on Sea of Stars which is on it's way to becoming one of the best reviewed RPG's of the year... outside of Baldur's Gate 3 of course.

Housekeeping + Fantasy Critic Update
News - Starfield Reviews are HERE
News - Mimimi & Volition Studio Closures
Impressions - Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon
Impressions - Blasphemous 2
Impressions - Sea of Stars
4Player Minute

4Player Plus - Our Top 3 Most Desired Indie Spiritual Successors Aug 28, 2023

We take a break this week from the onslaught of current games to delve once again into the world of "what if?" Inspired the release of 'Bomb Rush Cyberfunk' - an indie spiritual successor to 'Jet Set Radio' - we discuss our Top 3 games or franchises that we wish would be reborn as an indie spiritual successor. The possibilities are endless but our answers range from classics like Mega Man Legends to cult hits like Manhunt. These may never come to pass but anything could happen and it's always fun to imagine.

Want to share your thoughts or leave a comment on this episode? Visit the official posting for this episode on 4PlayerNetwork.com!

4Player Podcast #766 - It's a Post Baldur's Gate 3 World (Baldur's Gate 3, Payday 3, Gamescom Predictions, and More!) Aug 21, 2023

The show name says it all. We live in a post Baldur's Gate 3 world and despite our best efforts at staying on topic, we feel the pull of this massive game in almost every segment. We take our 2nd dive into the game and talk about the impact it has had on the industry and more specifically, the impending release of Starfield which has officially gone gold! We also spend a few minutes talking predictions about next week's Opening Night Live presentation at Gamescom. Chris Davis shares his experience with the recent Payday 3 beta and Brad talks about Blasphemous which he has finally played now that the sequel looms on the horizon.

Housekeeping + Fantasy Critic Update
News - Starfield has gone gold
News - Gamescom is next week; What do we expect?
Impressions - Baldur's Gate 3
Impressions - Payday 3
Impressions - Blasphemous
4Player Minute

4Player Podcast #765 - The RPG Whiplash Show (Baldur's Gate 3, Dead Island 2, My Friendly Neighborhood, and More!) Aug 14, 2023

It's been a couple weeks since our last recording but the world has changed. Baldur's Gate 3 is out and it's already giving Tears of the Kingdom a run for it's money as one of the year's most critically acclaimed releases. We spend the entire 2nd segment diving into this undeniably dense but absurdly rewarding RPG. But first, we discuss the announcement of the Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail expansion and Rockstar's incredibly disappointing Red Dead Redemption announcement. Chris Davis "prepared a statement" about Dead Island 2 and Nick highlights My Friendly Neighborhood which feels like Five Night's at Freddy's and Resident Evil 1 had a baby.

Housekeeping + Fantasy Critic Update
News - Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail expansion announced
News - Rockstar announced a PORT of Red Dead Redemption on old hardware
News - GTA6 might be coming next fiscal year
Impressions - Dead Island 2
Impressions - My Friendly Neighborhood
Impressions - Baldur's Gate 3
4Player Minute

4Player Podcast #764 - The Colors of Gaming Show (Pikmin 4, Gravity Circuit, Viewfinder, and More!) Jul 31, 2023

If you like your video games extra video-gamey, we've got a great episode for you this week. After our Fantasy Critic update touches on the rumored Red Dead Redemption remake (remaster?), we deliver our impressions of some of the most vibrant games to release this year! Pikmin 4 is the most accessible entry in the series to date but it comes at a cost. Viewfinder is an impressive technical achievement that doesn't quite reach the heights of the games that inspired it. Gravity Circuit is a rock-solid homage to classic Mega Man that has struggled to find it's audience. Finally, as Brad put it, Exoprimal is "Everything, everywhere, all at once... with a Battle Pass." Don't be fooled, all of the games mentioned this week reinforce 2023's killer lineup.

Housekeeping + Fantasy Critic Update
Impressions - Pikmin 4
Impressions - Viewfinder
Impressions - Gravity Circuit
Impressions - Exoprimal
4Player Minute

4Player Podcast #763 - Fantasy Critic Mid-Year Review & Predictions (The Year so Far, the Big Unknowns Still to Come, Carlos Returns, and More!) Jul 17, 2023

With a few members out this week, we figured it would the perfect time to revisit our Fantasy Critic league, discuss the year so far, and look ahead at the games that have been drafted to predict how the remainder of the year might come together. Carlos even joins us to shine a light on his roster thus far and discuss some of the big question marks for the year such as Hollow Knight Silksong, Routine, and Counter Strike 2. Throughout the discussion, we review each of our rosters and dive deep on a lot of BIG games set to release in the fall and beyond including Spider-Man 2, Alan Wake 2, Baldur's Gate 3, and a whole lot more!

Catch up with Carlos
Fantasy Critic Recap - A look at all of our current rosters
A look ahead at the year to come
4Player Minute

4Player Podcast #762 - The Bear Consent Show (Dave the Diver, Final Fantasy XVI, Red Dead Redemption Remake Rumors, and More!) Jul 10, 2023

The week has been slow for headlines and Fantasy Critic but that gives us more time to gush over Dave the Diver and vent our frustrations with Final Fantasy XVI. We discuss a small update from IO Interactive regarding a new studio and what it means for their upcoming 007 project and then discuss the validity of the rumors surrounding an impending Red Dead Redemption remake. Beyond that, the gaps are filled with plenty of tangents including bear sex in Baldur's Gate 3 and the impending release of Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning which has Nick chomping at the bit.

Housekeeping
Fantasy Critic Update
News - IO Interactive announce Opening of a new Studio
News - Rumors circulate regarding a Red Dead Redemption remake coming 2023
Impressions - Dave the Diver
Impressions - Final Fantasy XVI
4Player Minute

4Player Podcast #761 - The People are Ready (Final Fantasy XVI, Trepang2, Aliens: Dark Descent, and More!) Jul 03, 2023

Nintendo has spoken and Krispy agrees... the people are ready for an amazing 2D Mario game! We dig into all the big announcements from Nintendo's summer showcase including Super Mario Bros Wonder, a remake of Super Mario RPG, and a new Princess Peach platformer! Annapurna also brought it with their latest showcase thanks to the announcement of an internally developed Blade Runner game. In the second segment, we take our first dive into the meat and potatoes of Final Fantasy XVI, Chris makes a strong case for playing Aliens: Dark Descent, and Nick gives his initial thoughts on Trepang2, an indie successor to the original FEAR. Oh... and Brad found his new drug in Halls of Torment, a successor to last year's mega-indie, Vampire Survivors.

Housekeeping
Fantasy Critic Update
News - Nintendo Direct Recap
News - Annapurna Interactive Showcase Recap
Impressions - Final Fantasy XVI
Impressions - Aliens: Dark Descent
Impressions - Trepang2
Impressions - Halls of Torment
4Player Minute

4Player Podcast #760 - The Elusive Horse Show (Xbox / Ubisoft Showcase Recaps, Diablo IV, Final Fantasy XVI Demo, and More!) Jun 19, 2023

We follow up last week's Xbox Showcase predictions game with the results and then recap all of the big announcements including updates on Fable, Avowed, Hellblade II, and more! Of course, we also discuss all of the exciting details that came pouring out of the big Starfield Direct which now has us appropriately hyped. In the second segment, we finally discuss our dissenting(?) opinions of Diablo IV and then take a close look at the big Final Fantasy XVI demo which now has us pretty optimistic ahead of it's launch next week. Chris Davis uses his 4Player Minute to give us a detailed breakdown of the rather bleak news about Embracer Group which seems to be faced with studio closures and game cancellations.

Housekeeping
Fantasy Critic Update
News - XBox Showcase Predictions Results & Recap
News - Ubisoft Showcase Recap
Impressions - Diablo IV
Impressions - Final Fantasy XVI (Demo)
4Player Minute - Includes a detailed breakdown of the Embracer Group debacle

4Player Podcast #759 - The Hip-Hop Infused Show (Summer Game Fest Recap, Amnesia: The Bunker, Friends vs. Friends, and More!) Jun 11, 2023

It's June so Keigh-3 is in the air. The big Summer Game Fest showcase happened this week so we run down the list of all the big announcements including a new Prince of Persia game, Mortal Kombat 1 and Alan Wake II gameplay debuts, and the re-reveal of Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth! After that, we take a new, points-driven, prediction segment for a test-drive ahead of the upcoming Xbox Showcase. In the second segment, Nick praises Amnesia: The Bunker as a new high bar for the series (and maybe even the genre) and Nolan introduces a clever new 1v1 (or 2v2) card-based FPS called Friends vs. Friends.

Housekeeping
Fantasy Critic Update
News - Summer Game Fest Recap
Xbox Showcase Predictions Game
Impressions - Amnesia: The Bunker
Impressions - Friends vs. Friends
4Player Minute

4Player Podcast #758 - The Return of the King (System Shock Remake, Warhammer 40K: Boltgun, The Last of Us Multiplayer Updates, and More!) Jun 05, 2023

Nolan returns to the "studio" after 2 months of relative silence to talk Zelda and reveal that he picked up and moved across the country! Not only that but he gets a chance to chime in on the recent Playstation Showcase and join us for an important conversation about the state of The Last of Us multiplayer project which is apparently struggling to live up to Sony's expectations. Konami shed some light on Silent Hill Ascension which is interesting but concerning if they intend for this to be the first impression for Silent Hill's big resurgence. In the second segment, Nick talks impressions of Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun (a Warhammer boomer shooter!) and the newly released remake of System Shock.

Housekeeping
Nolan Updates + Playstation Showcase
Fantasy Critic Update
News - The Last of Us Multiplayer Development Woes
News - Konami Reveals more about Silent Hill Ascension
Impressions - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Impressions - Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun Impressions - System Shock (2023 Remake)

4Player Podcast #757 - Word on the Street (Playstation Showcase News Roundup, Planet of Lana, Humanity, Tears of the Kingdom, and More!) May 29, 2023

It's another big week in gaming. In fact, we spend almost the entirety of the first segment discussing the news and announcements out of this week's big Playstation Showcase! Strangely enough, that first-party showcase ended up being more of a third-party showcase but we still got big news including a release date for Alan Wake II, a debut of Dragon's Dogma II, and a lot more! In the second segment, we talk Planet of Lana, Humanity, and we dig a little deeper into The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom!

Housekeeping
Fantasy Critic Update
News: Playstation Showcase
Impressions: Planet of Lana
Impressions: Humanity
Impressions: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

4Player Podcast #756 - Nick's First Time (The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Mortal Kombat 1 is REAL, Playstation Showcase Predictions, and More!) May 22, 2023

Nick is back from vacation and full of Coronavirus. Fortunately, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has been keeping him (and the rest of the crew) plenty busy. Before we delve into the biggest game of the year though, there is some important business to discuss... because Chris Davis was right and Mortal Kombat 1(12?) is real! We break down the biggest Fantasy Critic twist thus far and talk about what we expect from this new entry. Sony also announced their official 2023 Summer showcase for next week so we spend a few minutes talking predictions. Of course, the rest of the show is ZELDA ZELDA ZELDA.

Housekeeping
Fantasy Critic Update
News: Mortal Kombat 1 Revealed (Release in September)
News: Playstation Showcase Announced for May 24th
Impressions - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

4Player Podcast #755 - The Final Countdown (Darkest Dungeon II, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and More!) May 15, 2023

Recorded in the final hours of a pre-Tears of the Kingdom world and with Nick out on vacation, Chris Davis, Krispy, and Brad sit down to clear out their game dockets so that Zelda madness can consume them. Krispy and Brad give their impressions of Darkest Dungeon 2, a daring departure from the original's enjoyably challenging formula, followed by updated impressions of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. And there's no way we couldn't talk about the Mortal Kombat news and how that affects our Fantasy Critic league!

Topics:Housekeeping Fantasy Critic Update (5/11/23) News of the Week Impressions - Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Impressions - Darkest Dungeon 2

4Player Podcast #754 - A Universe full of Weird Little Guys (Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, the Redfall Disaster, and More!) May 08, 2023

The Star Wars gods have shined upon us this year by giving us one of the best Star Wars games to date and allowing our recording date to coincide with May the 4th (be with you). Nick is joined by Krispy and Chris Davis to take a deep dive into Star Wars Jedi: Survivor - Respawn's bold new sequel to Fallen Order. Despite the rough launch on PC, our Console experiences have been more than enough to secure this one as a highlight in a year already bursting at the seams with quality games. It's not all sunshine and rainbows though; Star Wars may be great but Arkane Austin had a disastrous launch for Redfall which is on track to be the worst reviewed game of the year. We take a look at the circumstances that led to this unforunate outcome and discuss what it means for Microsoft and Arkane going forward.

Housekeeping
Fantasy Critic Update
News - Redfall has a Disastrous Launch
Impressions - Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

4Player Podcast #753 - Rich People Clouds (Street Fighter VI Demo, Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores, Wartales, and More!) May 01, 2023

With the recent developments involving Microsoft's attempt to swallow Activision / Blizzard and Tango Gameworks continuing to rack up wins amidst apparent losses, there is plenty of news to chew on this week. In the second segment, we get our first taste of Street Fighter VI thanks to the new demo and Brad finally has a chance to share his thoughts on TWO grid based tactics games - Advanced Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp and Wartales. Nick and Chris also share their thoughts on the Burning Shores DLC for Horizon: Forbidden West; a DLC that is equal parts impressive and perplexing... Guerilla somehow decided to deny PS4 players the opportunity to play this chapter in favor of some bold new "cloud" tech...

Housekeeping
Fantasy Critic Update
News - UK blocks Microsoft's acquisition of Activision / Blizzard
News - Remedy provides development update on all projects
News - Microsoft to Expand Tango Gameworks amidst rumors of Hi-Fi Rush failure
Impressions - Street Fighter VI (Demo)
Impressions - Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores
Impressions - Advanced Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp
Impressions - Wartales

4Player Plus - Our Top 3 Games we would Watch a 32-Part Docuseries About Apr 23, 2023

It's not often that we focus our attention on the specifics of game development. With that in mind, our latest bonus episode is inspired by Brad's recent love affair with "PsychOdyssey" the exceptional Docuseries that chronicled the development of Psychonauts 2 at Double Fine! That's right, we run through our personal Top 3 lists of the games that we wish would inspire a similar DEEP dive. Answers range from bizarre (Blaseball) to fascinating (Fable) and everything in between.

4Player Podcast #752 - The Cream-Shaming Show (DREDGE, Wild Hearts, the Future of Resident Evil, and More!) Apr 09, 2023

After a rather unexpected tangent involving coffee creamer, we kick the show off this week with the Playstation handheld that is rumored to be in development. It's been a light news week but we find plenty to chew on thanks to some additional developments related to the future of Resident Evil. Nolan makes his return this week so he and Nick talk about their time with DREDGE; A Lovecraftian fishing game that is sure to be a standout Indie game for the year. Brad finally talks about Wild Hearts - game that has challenged his Monster Hunter programming but is shaping up to be a worthy relative to the beloved hunting franchise.

4Player Podcast #751 - The Spicy Trades Show (Resident Evil 4 Remake, the Death of E3, Tears of the Kingdom Gameplay Reveal, and More!) Apr 02, 2023

We brought the SPICE this week. Brad opens the show with a dramatic trade proposal during our weekly Fantasy Critic update and the wheels finally came off E3 2023 which has now been cancelled. We discuss the fate of the industry institution and then switch gears to talk about something a bit more positive... Nintendo gave us a brief glimpse of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and the game looks amazing. After the break, we take our first deep dive into the Resident Evil 4 remake and Nick goes to bat for Horizon: Call of the Mountain which, despite struggling hardware sales, manages to be a powerful VR experience.

4Player Podcast #750 - The Cosmic Gumbo Show (Tchia, Diablo IV Beta, Exoprimal Beta, Redfall Preview Coverage, and More!) Mar 26, 2023

It has been quite the week in the games industry and it's got everybody feelin spicy! We've got a bevy of big point updates for our Fantasy Critic and some big headlines including a rumored release window for Spider-Man 2 and the acquisition of Night Dive Studios by Atari! But all of that pales in comparison to the dust kicked up by the recent Redfall preview coverage which continues to be one of the most divisive but compelling games on the horizon. In the second segment, we manage to find conflict in Tchia despite it being the most wholesome and delightful games of the year thus far. Krispy takes us on a journey through the Diablo IV beta and Chris Davis claims that Exoprimal could be a potential sleeper hit for the year after his time with the beta.

4Player Podcast #749 - The Ghostwire Texas Show (Resident Evil 4 Demo, Bayonetta Origins Demo, The Last of Us HBO Season 1 Final Thoughts, and More!) Mar 19, 2023

It's a week full of noteworthy demos. In impressions we talk about our first hands-on impressions of the new Resident Evil 4 demo and our expectations for how the obvious changes will be applied across the full release. Brad also talks about the surprisingly charming demo of Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon. Before all that though, we deliver another Fantasy Critic update, run through the Naughty Dog heavy headlines for the week, and deliver some final thoughts on The Last of Us now that the first season has run it's course on HBO.

4Player Podcast #748 - The Hard "E" Show (Is the term "JRPG" harmful to the industry and should we retire it?) Mar 12, 2023

We're mixing things up a bit by introducing an updated "News" segment and swapping the placement of the weekly discussion topic and impressions. With that in mind, we deliver a spicy update to our ongoing Fantasy Critic adventure and run down the juiciest headlines from the past week including an Elden Ring DLC announcement, Suicide Squad delayed, and the details regarding the upcoming XBox & Starfield showcases. We then turn our attention to a hot topic surging through the industry and our discord: the legacy of the term "JRPG" and the potential harm it is doing to the industry. In the 2nd segment, Brad talks Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty and Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania. Chris Davis discusses his playthrough of Metroid Prime Remastered which also happens to be his 1st time playing the game.

4Player Podcast #747 - The Underdog Story (Atomic Heart, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line, the PSVR2 Launch, and More!) Feb 26, 2023

Our first surprise twist of the year has landed... Mortal Kombat 12 is real! Proving once and for all that Chris Davis was right! In other news, Nick is smitten over Atomic Heart and is convinced that it is destined to be his 2023 underdog. Brad breaks down Theatrhythm Final Bar Line and explains how it compares to other entries in the series and other music & rhythm games in general. The group also delves into Like a Dragon: Ishin which is the latest entry in the recently rebranded Yakuza series. In the second segment, Nick gives his early impressions of the Playstation VR 2 headset and it's only true launch title, Horizon: Call of the Mountain.

4Player Plus - The Top 3 Games that we Regret Dropping Feb 19, 2023

In our first Top 3 list of the year, we discuss the games that got away. The games that we booted up, enjoyed, and then never completed despite enjoying them thoroughly. Sometimes a game gets moved to the back burner and is forgotten despite our intentions to the contrary. To make things interesting, we treated this as a committment to return to the games on our list in 2023 in an effort to right these wrongs.

4Player Podcast #746 - The Legend of Zelda: Nuts and Bolts (Nintendo Direct News Roundup, Steam Next Fest Highlights, and More!) Feb 12, 2023

This week we dig into two big events at opposite ends of the industry. On one hand, Nintendo just had one of their biggest Nintendo Direct events in recent memory so with that in mind, we devoted the first segment to breaking down all the big announcements including the release date for Pikmin 4, Metroid Prime Remastered (another Shadow Drop!), and the next big trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom! In the second segment, we highlight a handful of games that are currently available as demos for Steam Next Fest including System Shock, Planet of Lana, Shadows of Doubt, and more!

4Player Podcast #745 - Dead Space takes Manhattan (Dead Space Remake, Fire Emblem Engage, Hi-Fi Rush, and More!) Feb 05, 2023

Thanks to a literal act of god, we are once again down to 3 people this week but the release of the Dead Space remake ensured that there is plenty to dissect. We dive deep into this remake and try our best to figure out it's legacy in comparison to other high-profile remakes. We also discuss the future of Dead Space under the EA Motive banner if this proves to be a success. Brad delivers a hefty Fire Emblem Engage update and Chris emphasizes how good Hi-Fi Rush is following it's surprise release last week. In the second segment, we discuss the recent culling of GAAS (Games as a Service) games and some major industry shakeups at 343 Industries which calls the future of Halo into question.

4Player Podcast #744 - The Shadow Drop Show (Fire Emblem Engage, Forspoken, Hi-Fi Rush, and More!) Jan 29, 2023

Amidst travel and hardware issues, a smaller group convened this week to discuss one of the first big gaming weeks of 2023! Brad uses this opportunity to express some positivity for Fire Emblem Engage and explain some common misconceptions about the series. Chris Davis shares his early impressions of Forspoken which seems poised to be one of the first misfires (or at the very least, divisive releases) of the year. But the biggest news of the week comes in the form of a surprise shadow drop from Tango Gameworks! Hi-Fi Rush is a stylish new action game that uses music and rhythm to great effect. It also happens to be the first big surprise of the year.

4Player Podcast #743 - The Chris vs Kris Show (First Impressions of 'The Last of Us' on HBO) Jan 22, 2023

While we have plenty of actual video games to discuss this week, the recent premiere of 'The Last of Us' on HBO steals the spotlight this week. The show is off to a strong start so we take a minute (or 30) to talk about that first impression and the potential that it holds in the coming weeks (or even years). In the first segment though, we check in with Krispy as he continues to play Tunic (one of our 2022 game of the year contenders) and Chris Davis explains his split feelings on Generation Zero, an open-world FPS that came out in 2018. Nick discusses The Forest and delivers an important update to his Chained Echoes impressions from last week.

4Player Podcast #742 - The Back Alley Trading Show (When is a Game Too Big to Fail Critically?) Jan 15, 2023

With our 'Game of the Year' content behind us, we finally have some time to talk about the games we've been playing in the background for the past few weeks. Nolan introduces Dark and Darker which is currently in development but undergoing Alpha playtests; Despite it's early nature, it seems to have serious potential. Nick finally has a chance to talk about Chained Echoes after weeks of digging into this beautiful throwback to retro JRPGs. On top of that, he finally tore through Chernobylite, a game that has been on his backlog for years. Brad dishes on Citizen Sleeper - a game that could have easily been a GOTY contender had he played it in 2022. In the 2nd segment, we talk shady draft trades and ask the question: When is a game too big to fail critically? Will Starfield fall into the same trap as Cyberpunk 2077?

4Player Podcast #741 - 2023 "Fantasy Critic" League Draft (aka the 2023 Preview Show) Jan 08, 2023

2023 is going to be a ton of fun here at 4Player! In lieu of our usual "preview show" format, we have opted to create a "Fantasy Critic" league! This works a lot like fantasy football but publishers (players) draft games and points are dictated by their OpenCritic scores. In this episode, Carlos joins us for the initial draft and we take turns filling out the slots in our lineup! The league will consist of 12 games total per person but only 8 are selected in this initial draft. We will re-convene after E3 season to bid on our remaining 4 slots and fill out the rest of our teams. We will also provide monthly updates on the last podcast of every month so we can check in and see where we all stand as these games release.

4Player Podcast #740 - The 2022 Awards Show Jan 01, 2023

Another year comes to a close but it's been great! As always, we cap off the year with our annual awards show which gives us a chance to honor a whole bunch of games in over 14 categories! We trimmed some of the fat this year and introduced some new wrinkles which we think make for a leaner (even if it is nearly 4-hours), better show! We hope some of you find the inspiration you need to try some of the games featured on this episode and of course, we hope you will join us in 2023 for another year with a LOT to talk about!

Categories:

Biggest Regret
Best Looking Game
Best New Gameplay Experience
Best World/Level Design (that isn't Elden Ring)
Best New Enemy/Boss Fight
Best New Character
Best Storytelling
Best Video Game Moment
Biggest Surprise
Biggest Disappointment
Stubborn Award
Spotlight Award
Asterisk Award
Number 11
Best Soundtrack

4Player Podcast #739 - The Medical Kink Show (Reacting to the Big Announcements from 'The Game Awards') Dec 18, 2022

The end of 2022 is looming. In fact, this is our last "regular" show of the year. Krispy and Brad have good things to say about Midnight Suns with some... caveats. Nick and Chris finally have a chance to talk about the divisive nature of The Callisto Protocol and it's potential as a franchise. Chris talks about his time with Potionomics and we catch up with Ed who finished Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and has started up Sifu. In the 2nd segment we talk very early (and potentially misguided) impressions from the Forspoken demo and then we discuss all of the exciting announcements from The Game Awards!

4Player Podcast #738 - The Divine Beast Show (Is It possible for Nintendo to screw up 'Tears of the Kingdom?') Dec 04, 2022

Brace yourselves. Nolan played 50+ hours of Pokemon Scarlet and he's here to tell us why it is both "the best" and "the worst" pokemon game ever made! Brad highlights ASTLIBRA: Revision, a crunchy new action RPG that - as Brad says - "Brings the meat." Nick talks Evil West (not to be confused with Weird West, Blood West, or Hard West) and the group digs a little deeper into the divisive nature of God of War Ragnarok. We also introduce the newly revamped community segment to discuss the Topic of the Week: Is it possible for Nintendo to screw up The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom?

4Player Podcast #737 - The Extremely Hardcore Show (God of War Ragnarok, Somerville, Tactics Ogre Reborn, and More!) Nov 20, 2022

With the launch of God of War Ragnarok, 2022 finally has one of it's biggest AAA releases of the year. With that in mind, we kick things off with the most important questions... Why doesn't Kratos just go somewhere else? Once the big questions are answered, we delve into the nitty gritty to find out how we're feeling about it thus far. Nick provides a quick update (and PSA) on Signalis and talks about his playthrough of the long awaited Somerville. Brad talks about Tactics Ogre Reborn which is an odd duck in that it is the 2nd complete remake of Tactics Ogre; A classic grid-based strategy RPG that launched in the late 90s. All of this is of course against the backdrop of Twitter loudly and swiftly burning to the ground.

4Player Plus - Our Top 3 Forever Wishlisted Games Nov 13, 2022

For ages, The Steam "wishlist" has given us a way to show interest in a game without committing to it in the moment. Everyone's approach to managing that list is different. On this episode, we comb through our ever-expanding wishlists to pick 3 games that never quite make the cut regardless of how low the price goes or how often they go on sale. To make things interesting, we each commit to buying one of our list by the end of the episode! Listeners will also get bonus tangents regarding fast-food orders and dinosaur fluids (yes you read that right).

4Player Podcast #736 - The Blue Robin Show (Gotham Knights, Bayonetta 3, Signalis, and More!) Nov 06, 2022

Krispy returns to the show this week to finally dive deep into Gotham Knights and the take away is not as grim as you might expect! Meanwhile, Brad has dabbled in Bayonetta 3 but is impressed enough by the approach that he is eager to see what else the game has to offer. Nick showers Signalis in praise for walking a fine line between faithful love-letter and refreshing iteration while Chris Davis has less than great things to say about the Shadows of Rose DLC for Resident Evil Village. We also cover the new PSVR2 launch details and Nibellions sudden retirement from Twitter and the gaming industry at large.

4Player Podcast #735 - The Rat Battle Show (A Plague Tale: Requiem, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, Bone's Cafe, Spooky Game Roundup, and More!) Oct 30, 2022

Rats. There's lots of them this week. Thousands of them! Nick and Chris discuss the impressive technological and design leap made in Asobo's A Plague Tale: Requiem - a game that Chris Davis is convinced will sit atop his Game of the Year list this year. Brad acknowledges the charm and skill on display in Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope but laments what could have been if Nintendo had decided to pursue other Rabbids crossovers. Nolan charms the group with Bone's Cafe - another delightful (and morbid) indie gem that combines necromancy with the pressures of Overcooked. In the second segment, the group discusses the announcement of a Witcher remake and Nick rattles off a list of impressive horrors games from his most recent stream including In Sound Mind, Mother, Love Sam, and more!

4Player Podcast #734 - The Body Horror Show (Silent Hill Returns, Scorn, Cultic, and More!) Oct 23, 2022

It's been 3 weeks since our last podcast recording but the industry hasn't slowed down to wait for us! The news segment this week is bursting at the seams with big headlines like the return of Silent Hill, our first real look at the remake of Resident Evil 4, and the unfortunate drama unfolding between Platinum Games and the original Bayonetta voice actress, Hellena Taylor. But before we get there, we have loads of new games to talk about. Things get weird (and squishy) when talks about Scorn, Nolan laments the troubled launch of Deathverse: Let it Die, and Krispy is losing time in Mount and Blade II: Bannerlord. Nick also revels in the bliss that is Cultic: Chapter One; the "Boomer Shooter" that he has been searching for all year.

4Player Podcast #733 - The Fabulous Boomer Shooter Show (Prodeus, Fashion Police Squad, The Last of Us HBO Teaser, and More!) Oct 02, 2022

Circumstances force us to record a "shorter" show this week but make no mistake... there is a lot to dig into. Brad shares some insightful but hilarious anecdotes about his family time with 'Disney Dreamlight Valley,' and Nick talks up 'Prodeus' which manages to deliver the goods as a classic "Boomer Shooter" while also making some bizarre design choices. Nolan finds more digging goodness in 'Dome Keeper' and Chris Davis brings another inspired "Boomer Shooter" to the mix with 'Fashion Police Squad.' In the news, we delve into the first teaser trailer for HBO's 'The Last of Us' and discuss Google's decision to call it quits on Stadia.

4Player Podcast #732 - The Brad Dad Show (Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Steelrising, Tinkin, the GTA6 Leak, and More!) Sep 27, 2022

Thanks to the Tokyo Game Show, it's another jam packed week in the world of video games! We take a (really) deep dive into the surprise demo of 'Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty,' Nick shows his support for 'SteelRising,' and Chris Davis talks about the demo of 'Valkyrie Elysium'. Brad and Nolan finally get a chance to talk about 'TinyKin' which seems poised to be one of the chillest and most enjoyable indie games of the year! In the news, Brad finally has his chance to talk about the newly announced remasters of Suikoden 1 & 2 and we of course delve into the massive (and unfortunate) Grand Theft Auto 6 leak at Rockstar.

4Player Podcast #731 - The Arcology Show (The Last of Us: Part I, Nintendo Direct Recap, Assassin's Creed News, and More!) Sep 19, 2022

In this jam packed episode, we do our best to recap the boat-load of news that made headlines in the past week. Ubisoft laid out their plans for the next 4 Assassin's Creed titles, Disney announced Amy Hennig's new Marvel game, and Nintendo and Sony both hosted Direct events featuring tons of announcements. In impressions, Nick discusses the controversial but impressive remake of 'The Last of Us,' Chris Davis discusses 'The Ascent,' and Krispy delivers his analysis of 'Immortality' in true Krispy fashion. It's such a jam packed show that we didn't even have time for feedback or community questions (sorry!). Regardless, it's an exciting time for video games and that's always welcome news.

4Player Podcast #730 - The Clickable Boobs Show (Immortality, Sifu, the Future of Assassin's Creed, and More!) Sep 05, 2022

Sam Barlow throws Brad and Nolan for a loop this week with the bizarre but undeniably impressive new game, 'Immortality.' It throws you into the deep end with no guidance and countless things to click on and discover... including boobs! Nick backs up Chris Davis with his assessment of 'Sifu' which somehow manages to be brutal and refreshing in equal measure. In the news, we talk about a frightening new precedent in the tech industry and Ubisoft's planned unveiling for the future of Assassin's Creed.

4Player Podcast #729 - Opening Night Meh (Saint's Row, Crystal Project, Gamescom 2022 Announcements, and More!) Aug 31, 2022

It's hard to believe but Geoff Keihley now produces THREE huge gaming events every year! This week, we discuss the highlights (or lack thereof?) from 'Gamescom ONL' (Opening Night Live) including: Dune Awakening, Hogwart's Legacy, Tales from the Borderlands, The Expanse, Dead Island 2, and more! In the first segment though, Krispy discusses his enjoyment of the new "Saint's Row" despite middling reception from critics. Nick highlights the demo for 'Conscript' which channels classic Survival Horror by way of WW1 and shares his initial thoughts after finally trying 'Telling Lies.' Brad discusses an unfortunately named gemmie called 'Crystal Project.'

4Player Podcast #728 - The "Who do you Voodoo?" Show (Cult of the Lamb, The Diofield Chronicle, Dead Island 2 Leak, and More!) Aug 21, 2022

Devolver Digital drops another indie banger this week with the release of 'Cult of the Lamb' and Nolan and Nick can attest to it's addictive qualities. Brad shares his initial thoughts on another Square Enix strategy RPG, 'The Diofield Chronicle' and Chris Davis brings up 'Ex-Zodiac'; An early access throwback to classic Star Fox (in everything but name). Nick, despite thinking he didn't have much to add after last week, lets his love of 'The Mortuary Assistant' get the best of him. In the news, we discuss a high profile and highly unexpected leak that appeared just moments before the live recording: 'Dead Island 2' is back and it's coming soon.

4Player Plus - Our Top 3 RPG Parties Aug 14, 2022

When we think of RPGs, we often think about classic mega-hits like Final Fantasy 7 and Chrono Trigger (rightfully so) but over the years, RPGs have taken many memorable forms. In spite of change, they have almost always been defined by the cast of characters that surround and support the player character. In this episode, we look back at our personal favorites to find the RPG parties that stuck with us the most. Our choices span decades of gaming history and explore the differences in approach that are explored in both Eastern and Western RPGs.

Revival Club - Vagrant Story Aug 09, 2022

Brad dished up a real doozy for our latest Revival Club game. Vagrant Story may be verifiably impenetrable but it remains a fascinating RPG that remains unlike anything else out there. While the game may have proven too much for Nick (and perhaps the community at large) to overcome, Brad does an excellent job of explaining it's systems and what makes it so unique. Perhaps most notably, It shrugged off almost every other common RPG convention and defined itself as an unapologetic Yasumi Matsuno game.

4Player Podcast #727 - The Semi-Popular Video Game Podcast (Xenoblade Chronicles 3, The Mortuary Assistant, Symphony of War, and More!) Aug 07, 2022

Ed returns to the hot seat this week to talk with us about the early hours of 'Xenoblade Chronicles 3' and how it compares to the games that came before it - 'Xenoblade Chronicles X' in particular. Nick discusses his first night shift in 'The Mortuary Assistant' which takes the horror genre to some... inspired places. Brad pinches himself when he finds out that Ed wants to talk more about 'Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga' (what are the odds?). Of course, we also play catch up with Ed and answer some great questions from our listeners!

4Player Podcast #726 - The Busy Beavers Show (As Dusk Falls, V Rising, Timberborn, GTA6 Rumors, and More!) Jul 31, 2022

It's been a BUSY week! All 5 of us bring a new game to the table to discuss which doesn't happen often... Nick delivers his early impressions of a new suspense / thriller adventure game called 'As Dusk Falls' and Krispy took a break from Monster Hunter to get swept up in 'V Rising.' Nolan is playing Timberborn, a city-builder... with Beavers so as expected, prepare for some bad puns. Brad's annual "ugly but addicting indie" game finally shows itself in the form of 'Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga' and Chris Davis shares his thoughts on 'Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin.' But on top of all that, it has also been a big week for news with rumors swirling about an open-world Black Panther game in development and the first details about the future of Grand Theft Auto 6.

4Player Podcast #725 - The Purr-fect Show (Stray, Who's Lila?, MADiSON, and More!) Jul 24, 2022

The games discussed this week range from adorable to unsettling to downright horrifying. Stray is finally out and despite a somewhat shallow outward appearance, this charming, cat-based adventure game still manages to impress. Krispy is smitten over a bizarre, "Lynch" adjacent indie game called "Who's Lila?" but conveying why proves to be a challenge. Nick is enamored with MADiSON, another new horror game that draws inspiration from PT while channeling the obtuse nature of escape rooms. Of course, we give a quick Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak update before delving into the latest Platinum Games development and our first look at Yakuza 8!

4Player Podcast #724 - "Do Babies Drink Water?" (Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, Sniper Elite 5, Forgive Me Father, and More!) Jul 10, 2022

We can't promise answers to the important questions in life... questions like "Do babies drink water?" BUT we can promise plenty of enthusiastic video game discussions on this week's episode. Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak is finally out so Brad and Krispy take a deep dive into this massive expansion. Chris Davis sells us on Sniper Elite 5 thanks to some surprisingly open design elements and a cool invasion mode that sounds like a ton of fun. Plus, Nick brings his latest obsession with modern "Boomer Shooters" to the table with Forgive Me Father - an addictive FPS with Lovecraft undertones and a striking visual style. In the news, we cover new release dates and delays.

4Player Plus - Top 3 Upcoming Games we are NOT QUITE Sold On... Yet Jul 03, 2022

It's time to hash out another Top 3 list and this month we are taking a closer look at a handful of upcoming projects that look promising but remain just outside our hype threshold. While we are eager to get our hands on most of these games, they still have something to prove. We try to get to the bottom of what that is and discuss what moves they would need to make to earn our trust.

4Player Podcast #723 - The Love Letter Show (Neon White, Steam Next Fest Demos, Dragons Dogma 2, and More!) Jun 26, 2022

Another year. Another Steam Next Fest FULL to the brim with interesting demos for upcoming indie games! Between the five of us, we deliver quick impressions of 15 upcoming games that we think you should keep an eye out for including Cultic, Signalis, Cult of the Lamb, Metal Hellsinger, and more! It's not all demos though. Brad sells us on his latest addiction in the form of Neon White and in the second segment, we discuss the official announcement of Dragons Dogma 2 and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth!

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