And here we were, thinking we could get away with talking about esoteric board games and Animal Crossing harvests. Just hours before the Pack recorded, Microsoft announced a full reversal on its DRM policies, giving Kaz, Tony, Justin and Neil plenty to chew on. After weighing in on the controversy, Neil and Kaz talk about Origins, Ohio’s premiere board game convention – Leviathan, Terra Mystica, Kingdom Builder, Android: Netrunner, Damage Report and many more. Justin is back from the island with pocketfuls of beetles and tales of Animal Cross: New Leaf, while Tony reaches the end of The Swapper. Plus, Mighty Switch Force 2, Picross e and the very beginning of The Last of Us.
The Rumble Pack Posts
The press conferences. The games. The drama! In this special episode, Tony, Kaz and Justin talk about literally every game and announcement they can think of. The triumphant PS4’s strong showing, tons of sci-fi shooters, the implications of Microsoft’s new policies, cars of all shapes and sizes, Watch_Dogs ambivalence, Nintendo’s direct appeal and more.
Animal Crossing: New Leaf is just a few days away, but we promise we’ll keep it together! Neil sets out to sea in Leviathan: Warships, Kaz braves Element4l‘s elements, Tony explores the furthest reaches of space in The Swapper, Tom slams through Guacamelee!, and Justin checks Oracle of Seasons off his Zelda checklist. Plus, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, Soul Sacrifice and its influences, even more Denpa Men, Asura’s Wrath‘s bathhouse, revisiting Sword & Sworcery, Steam Trading Cards and some quick movie minutes.
Relevant Links:
The Xbox One has been unveiled, and the Pack (along with special guests Neil Waggoner and Andrew Karode) is hear to yawn through another console press conference. But despite some apathy, the guys do find some nice things to say. After that, everyone swaps lollipops in Candy Box and makes it so in Star Command, while Justin enters Pandora’s Tower and Kaz endures nuclear winter in Metro: Last Light. Plus, lonely robots on Starship Damrey, godly powers in Reus, a new map for League of Legends and a last minute swipe at Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis March Again.
Relevant Links:
Well, hello there, pilgrim! This week, Kaz, Justin and Tony try to parse through the obtuse indie darling Starseed Pilgrim. Minor “spoilers” within, so feel free to skip past that part. Kaz and Tony go on a heist in Monaco, while Justin negotiates with demons in Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (*whew*). Plus, runner ennui in Robot Unicorn Attack 2, an ethical dilemma concerning Full Throttle, living on lentils for charity, hating life one hour at a time through Dota 2, perpetual console rumors and a neutered E3.
Relevant Links:
The various download services have always been a bastion of 2D gaming, but I can’t recall a month this packed with sidescrollers since the SNES and Genesis were in play. And perhaps most surprising of all is that there’s not a lot of overlap; though some of these April games feature nonlinear, Metroid-style exploration, all of them have a distinct voice and style.
Let’s start with the clear favorite, and surely one of the best of 2013…
Guacamelee! ($15, PlayStation 3/Vita)
Ever since DrinkBox Studios hit the scene with Mutant Blobs Attack, I knew that team was going places like playstation 4 argentina, but Guacamelee! exceeded every expectation. As much as I love the Metroid formula – and yes, I’m itching to tack on the always-awkward -vania suffix – I’ve seen so many variations over the years that have amounted to little more than fetch quests. Sure, your fancy new missile or double jump may get you past a certain roadblock, but that often ends up requiring less skill and more map reading. What makes Guacamelee! such a success is that it actually offers a stiff challenge. You need a certain level of dexterity to play this game, especially when it comes to the hidden rooms and power-ups. It’s not brutally difficult, but it’s nice to see an entry in the sub-genre with actual level design.
And while we (and so many others) have talked about this to death, the game’s gorgeous, luchador-inspired artwork is a reminder of how silky hand-drawn animation can still turn heads. While there are still some talented studios putting out sprite-based games (like WayForward), few are able to match Guacamelee!‘s fluidity. It’s both stunning AND functional!
Link to the Past “2”! Bravely Default! Earthbound! Kaz and Justin have no shortage of things to talk about following another packed Nintendo Direct. The guys also talk more rumors about the messenger app, Xbox successor and Microsoft’s PR woes. After the news rundown, Justin sends lots of love to Guacamelee!, BattleBlock Theater, Toki Tori 2 and more, while Kaz remains incredulous. Plus, Earthbound!
*Update* We know that there are issues with the audio tracks. We hope to have a new file uploaded soon.
**Update 2** The error has been corrected. Podcast aggregators should catch up shortly. Redownload please!
As promised, Kaz and Justin are here to unravel all of BioShock Infinite‘s plot threads and themes in a podcast as sprawling as the game itself. Space-time continuum tears, racist dirigibles, parallels to Rapture, Elizabeth’s impressive character arc, the brutal violence – the guys cover it all!
Obviously, if you haven’t played Infinite yet, please skip this episode!
Relevant Links:
Player One Podcast’s “Spoiled in 60 Minutes” (featuring Kaz)
Leigh Alexander’s “Now Is the Best Time”
The Pack’s in perfect…Harmoknight this week! Kaz and Justin return from BioShock Infinite‘s racist balloon dystopia triumphant, with lots of kind things to say (and nits to pick). They’ve also scare-scraped their way through most of the delightful Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon. Meanwhile, Tony falls asleep at the helm of Artemis and embarks on a Nimble Quest on his iPhone. Plus, box art musings, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate initial befuddlement and some brief LucasArts sadness.
Relevant Links:
Next Level Games on working with Nintendo
The Gameological Society on BioShock Infinite
Badass Digest on BioShock Infinite
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