Bad End

It's been a minute but BAD END is BACK for our end of the year special! Kyle's still on admin leave, so we're joined by listeners to talk about the games, trends, and anime that kept us going this year. We'll be back with part 2 in two weeks!Check out our new merch on the merch tab at the top of our site: badendpodcast.comFollow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideoSupport us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO 

We're joined by video essayist Jacob Geller and editor/Superculture homie Zack Kotzer to discuss the strange impulse to dub every Zelda the "darkest ever," with other thoughts on VR, The Stanley Parable, Not for Broadcast, videogame aesthetics, and escape rooms.Check out our new merch on the merch tab at the top of our site: badendpodcast.comFollow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideoSupport us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

The cat game is very pretty and cute but not quite everything we wanted. But still cool! Also: Film and its many connections with games. We're talking Annapurna, movie tie-ins, product placement, and Oscars-themed listener questions. Featuring special guest JJ Bersch, researcher at Blank Check Podcast.Support us on Patreon to join us live and gain discord access: https://www.patreon.com/badendFollow BAD END Videos at the SUPERCULTURE YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/superculturevideoBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Game Informer's Blake Hester joins us as we discuss the clean speed of Neon White, nostalgia for games we missed out on, pleasurable rehashing via Rogue Legacy 2, and rock punching games.Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Matthew Slaybaugh, Eliza Tantivy, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier and above! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

We're back from a hiatus and joined by Polygon's Toussaint Egan to discuss the miserable state of game design via the new hot Steam hit V Rising, the recursive present and "cancelled" future, and a bunch of different anime series, including beloved classics such as Naruto and My Dress-Up Darling. Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Elden Ring has been out for a minute, and we spend the entirety of this episode digesting it. From conversations about the baroque inspirations behind its arc, to discourse around accessibility, to a few surprising turns in the game's George R. R. Martin-tinged localization, we dive deep into what's likely to become one of our top games of 2022.Find this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FakabW9msZ0Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Let's be real, the first banger of the year (until Elden Ring) is/was Vampire Survivors, despite being a 3-dollar dodge-em-up that feels like a bastard child that could've come straight out of the Facebook ad-driven mobile shovelware camp. And yet, here we are in BAD END 112, praising it as one of the best games of the episode. Also included: the Eldritch Papers Please-ian plant identification simulator Strange Horticulture, and the lightly satisfying, heavily cringey brawler Sifu.Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cU14MxP1huQSupport us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Happy 2022 Gamers! It might be low season, but we're playing through some backlog games and some Steam top sellers to deliver you prime video game content. On the slate we've got the apparent GOAT contender SOMA (which we've just gotten around to), a latecomer for goty 2021 consideration in Ultrakill, the weeby moving wallpaper-esque Ender Lilies, and hardcore WC3 mod throwback Legion TD 2. We also discuss the prevailing perception of "quality" in games and how that interferes with good criticism, as well as important questions like: why doesnt steam have incognito mode yet??Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cU14MxP1huQSupport us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

It's a wrap on yet another year, and what better way to wrap 2021 than by gathering with friends and breaking down the many games and trends that kept us going this year? Sure there weren't many real Greats to speak of, but we looped through time and commiserated with online friends and saw glimpses of a couple genres at their best. So grab a glass'a 'nog, pull up a chair by the fire, and shoot the breeze about some good old videogames.Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GJkFRGSBu14Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

This week on BAD END, we're diving into Riot's new animated series Arcane, which feels like videogame nerd fanservice (not the sexual kind) as an act of benevolence. We're also talking about Forza Horizon 5's magnetic, often overwhelming extroversion, and the half-baked tactical/arcade crossover that is Halo Infinite Multiplayer (prepared for the flak on this one). Then we're laughing at clips of Crab Game, which is an honestly-pretty-funny meme game based on the popular TV show Squid Game.Find this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTMgiMaf0i4Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

BAD END is back talking about videogames, and with about a month since our last time discussing things we played, we got a lot to cover! This week, we tear into Metroid Dread (despite digging it quite a bit). Not a bad game, but it loses a bit of Metroid's soul in exchange for some great action sequences. We're also discussing the 4th wall-breaking first-person card game Inscryption, Age of Empires 4, and Back 4 Blood - which is basically Left 4 Dead with crafting and leveling. Then listen to Josh gush about Final Fantasy XIV for like 15 minutes. If you can handle it. WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD FOR SHADOWBRINGERS! TIMESTAMPS SO YOU CAN SKIP:56:35 - SPOILERS START1:00:57 SPOILERS ENDFind this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTMgiMaf0i4Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

In today's episode we're joined by two special guests - game developers Greg Kythreotis of Shedworks (Sable) and Gareth Damian Martin (In Other Waters). We discuss the game development process, the act of pitching and marketing a game in a world where streaming and Steam reviews exist, the beauty and nostalgia of in-game architecture, and the secrets behind what goes into our save files. The insights may shock you. Download Sable:https://store.steampowered.com/app/757310/Sable/Download In Other Waters: https://store.steampowered.com/app/890720/In_Other_Waters/Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

This week, we're diving into the sandy, Jbrekkie-soundtracked expanses of Sable, along with a Hades-like called Dandy Ace, the ending of Deathloop, and some board games. Which, by the way, are becoming more like videogames with every passing day. We're also covering some viewer questions about things like Far Cry, NPCs, desert island games, Twitch income strategies, and critical reappraisals of older games.Apologies for the scuffed first 20 minutes of the show, by the way! Kyle forgot to hit record so we were rolling without typical quality for a tad.Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZFpMm-MCS84Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Is there an echo in here? This week we're digging into the time loopy antics of Deathloop, and not the time loopy antics of 12 Minutes, which we discussed last week. We're also talking about the 20-year cultural cycle and whether or not it applies to games. We've also got the war re-enactment-esque Hell Let Loose, and a bit of organizational feng shui in the form of Wilmot's Warehouse.Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/K474EZFSjNMSupport us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

This week we've got our gamer plates full, but we're spending most of it airing out our grievances with 12 Minutes - a game so clunky (and occasionally desperate) that we can't help but laugh a bit at its expense. We're also talking about the brilliant Psychonauts 2, our tangled-up issues with Boyfriend Dungeon, and the spreadsheet-like antics of Humankind. Also including: Cantata, Eliza, Starbase.Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/31uBzdZYaEwSupport us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Kyle's slammed with deadlines, and this week's BAD END features writer/art director/Superculture Network member Yussef Cole. We're discussing Halo Reach and the lost serenity of early Halo, as well as the so-good-it's-meh appeal of Death's Door. Then we're rambling about crit (again) with new Cyberpunk twin-stick-shooter The Ascent, and talking a bit about Odin Sphere and narrative in games. Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/J6Yc6bBxsZESupport us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO 

This week's episode is all about videogames' artsy, cool, well-dressed younger sibling: creative technology. We're joined by Nicole He, one of the finest in the space today, whose works include a mind-reading Tinder-swipebot, a voice-activated game that parodies CSI "zoom and enhance" sequences, and an AI that interviewed Billie Eilish for Vogue.  We discuss the brilliance (and shortcomings) of creative technology, the surprisingly wide gap between creative technology and gaming, and the difficulty of making art in a medium that comes pre-packaged with tons of social and political ramifications.Find this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sI1--0RG8boSee Nicole's work: https://nicole.pizza/Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Welcome to BAD END 101! This episode, we tackle the draw-em-up metroidvania Chicory, the flailing and absurd attack animations of Nioh, and the weird (but fun) vibes of card-roguelike Griftlands. Find us on YouTube: Support us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO 

It's our 100th episode, and to celebrate, we're finally revealing our definitive top 10 games EVER. We're also discussing the last 4 years in videogame journalism/crit, and where we want things to go from here. Thanks to everyone for listening to our show, and here's to 100 more. This is the same audio version you know and love, but this episode also lives on YouTube with ~~video to go along with the sound. Find us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfO8P_s9iwkmWf9LB4LiGTgSupport us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO 

Welcome to BAD END's first-ever video podcast! This is the same audio version you know and love, but this episode also lives on YouTube with video to go along with the sound. This week, we're talking about the paradox of fun survival horror in Resident Evil 8, along with the potential modern appeal of a Mass Effect Remaster. Since it's a video episode, we go on a couple tangents - discussing the merits of a new Dragon Quest, the bizarre genius of Bloodborne, Fortnite Dances, and, uh, tennis?Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07KyzbSGZnkSupport us on Patreon to join us live: https://www.patreon.com/badendBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

As life transitions back into the weird alien world of reality, we're dipping our toes into the post-quarantine world with New Pokemon Snap and the open fields of Nier Replicant... which we're now experiencing for a second playthrough. Maybe we're more ready for a return to normal(ish) life than we think.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO 

This week we're joined by writer and FUNLAND magazine creator Zack Kotzer to talk about the lost ethos of early gamer magazines, the amusing terribleness of Balan Wonderworld, and videogame genre-busting in Nier Replicant. Support FUNLAND at patreon.com/funlandmag, and follow the magazine's accounts on Twitter and Instagram @FunlandMag for more updates. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHOBreak music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST

We're joined by journalist/streamer/podcaster Bijan Stephen to talk about gaming's greatest power fantasy: unalienated labor. We're also discussing the glorious perfection of Final Fantasy XIV, the ecstasy of shounen in 2021, and games like Bloodborne, Before Your Eyes, Valorant, Adios, and Deliver Us The Moon.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHOBreak music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST

We're back on our Normal Episode beat this week, talking about videogame core loops of all kinds - some peaceful, some way too complex for their own good, some infuriating. We're talking about Loop Hero, the new indie hotness that's taken the idle roguelike world by storm, the new demo for Monster Hunter Rise, and FFXII the Zodiac Age, an old classic we're finally playing for the first time. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend3:55 - Final Fantasy XII24:00 - FFVIIR39:37 - Monster Hunter Rise51:54 - Loop Hero1:12:50 - Listener questionsIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

This week, we're joined by Lukas Frank (Storefront Church) and Cole Smith (DIIV) to talk about Thoughtseize Interviews, a new show where they interview artists and gaming personalities while playing Magic the Gathering. We talk about community-building, the value of art in an increasingly-monetized world, the crossover between music and games, taste and criticism in a pandemic, and obviously, Magic The Gathering. Follow Thoughtseize Interviews on Twitter @ThoughtSeize and watch the show on Twitch and YouTube. New episodes stream every Monday at 5pm EST - support the show by subscribing or buying merch.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Today we're joined by game creator and critic Gareth Damian Martin about In Other Waters, their new sci-fi exploration game. We discuss the interplay between game criticism and game design, the game development process as seen through the eyes of an outsider, and the discipline of architecture as it applies (and doesn't apply) to videogames. We also reveal a new partnership between Gareth's publication Heterotopias and SUPERCULTURE Network!BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Now that we've been quarantined for almost a year, we're actually playing through our backlogs. We have a lot of games to talk about, including the new Steam bestseller Valheim, the weird beautiful stealth of Hitman 3, the mindless carnage of Gunfire Reborn, and more! We're also talking about videogame patents, and arguing whether or not stealth games are actually good. Join our patreon at patreon.com/badend if you wanna join us in our Tactics Ogre playthrough.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

This week, we're joined by music label founder and musician Maxwell Allison AKA Mukqs to talk about videogame music, DIY and experimental spaces for music and games, a 2020 arcade-style game called Disc Room, and the inherent value of videogames (if there's any to be had).  BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

This week, we're joined by Fanbyte contributor and The Game Awards Future Class member Natalie Flores (@heartimecia) to talk about Cyberpunk 2077's best character, an incredible 45-minute indie game called Promesa, the anime detective game AI: The Somnium Files, and maybe even a little K-pop...BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend3:14 - Spiritfarer18:37 - Paper Mario Origami King30:44 - Oxygen Not Included41:48 - Cyberpunk 2077Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

BAD END's long-awaited GOTY awards are here to conclude 2020. We're hashing out our favorite picks, recapping the trends that defined the year, and making way for the videogame landscapes yet to come.  So lean in real close, keep your voice down to a whisper, and make sure the coast is clear. 2020 is finally gone, and we've got some crap to talk. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend5:28 - What did we learn from "The Ideal Gaming Year?" 20:50 - Superlatives1:28:15 - Our personal picks2:00:34 - Official BAD END pick, wrap-upIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

The year's biggest game - Cyberpunk 2077 - is officially out, and we're doing our best to avoid crashes so that we can actually talk about it. We're also discussing recent backlash against the game's developer CDProjektRED, as well as a sweet little game about death called Spiritfarer.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend3:14 - Spiritfarer18:37 - Paper Mario Origami King30:44 - Oxygen Not Included41:48 - Cyberpunk 2077Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

This week we're joined by narrative designer, writer, and long-time friend Roy Graham. Get ready, because we're greasing up your cyberchips and dusting off our 20-barrel plasma guns to do an ADVANCE REVIEW of Cyberpunk 2077! It is satire so please dont get mad at us. We didn't actually play the game.  We're also talking about the quietly brilliant new Paper Mario game, Halo novels, Josh's ever-mounting skills in Aim Lab, and of course... card games.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHOBreak music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST

New consoles are out! Exciting new games are... potentially on the horizon! Joined by writer and game maker Emma Kidwell, we talk about a few recent games of interest and the inflated appeal of new videogame systems in these strange pandemic times. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

This week, we're joined by videogame critic Yussef Cole to discuss the motherly horror of the new Amnesia game, the compelling aesthetic mishmash of Paradise Killer, and the upcoming (?) "event" game Cyberpunk 2077. We also delve into the declining appeal of graphical fidelity, and the gradual fall of realism in mainstream gaming.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Promise yourself not to spend too much cash as we discuss Genshin Impact, the latest anime gacha craze, with producer/viral artist/streamer Yung Skrrt. We're also diving into the Mortal Kombat 11 scene, our inability to understand the appeal of "lying games," and the exhausting, lucrative world of Twitch streaming. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Caty is off to bigger and better things, so this is her final episode. To stave off the debilitating grief, we send her off with love from our listeners and some good ol' gamer talk. We're discussing a new all-time great roguelike/dungeon runner in the form of Hades, and Spelunky 2 - the sequel to one of the former best roguelikes ever. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Another week of quarantine, another multiplayer meme game to stave off debilitating loneliness. This week it's the social deception game Among Us, but we're also playing a VN/RTS with beautiful art, a tactical shooter that everyone seems really good at, and a puzzle game that might just be better than Portal (insert incredulous gasp here). BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

This week, we're joined by Matt Margini, author of a new Boss Fight Book about Rockstar Games' now-classic Red Dead Redemption. We discuss the overwhelming complexity of Crusader Kings 3, the ahead-of-its-time '90s RPG moon, and the legacy of RDR. Read an excerpt of the book at Kotaku and pick it up at Boss Fight Books. It's also available digitally.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

We usually play the Small Games but this week we have been playin' pretty much nothing but the Big Games. We talk about the new "casual battle royale" of Fall Guys and whether that's a self-contradicting concept. We talk about the tonal disconnect of online multiplayer shooters like CoD Warzone. We talk about the match structure and beautiful styling of Valorant. And we talk about the "shounen ecstasy" that Josh experiences when watching anime like My Hero Academia, Hunter X Hunter, Demon Slayer, and Gurren Lagann (among others).BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO 

Between following an internet league sport, getting yelled at by teens for not aiming well, and sticking aliens with plasma grenades, it feels like we're going back to high school in episode 79 of BAD END podcast. We talk about the imaginative fandom that drives Blaseball, the beautifully-designed meathead shooting in Valorant, and the merry-go-round of controversy surrounding the new Halo game. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Ghost of Tsushima is out, and we're joined by Matt Kim (IGN) and Emma Kidwell (Gamasutra) to talk about the game ~~as Asian Americans~~. Join us as we wrestle with ideas on representation, intersectionality, appropriation, and Asian-American identity, all while answering the most important question: is the game fun and/or worth 60 bucks?We're also discussing Necrobarista, a new visual novel.2:42 - Ghost of Tsushima from a 'gamer' review angle20:00 - Ghost of Tsushima from our own perspectives1:07:51 - NecrobaristaBAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

We're not gonna lie, we spent a chunk of this episode talking about TLOU2 again. But it's spoiler-free! And on top of that, we're answering listener questions about summer gaming and talking about a bunch of other miscellaneous quarantine gaming stuff. So sit back, put a lil paper umbrella into your can of Monster Energy Drink (not a BAD END sponsor), and enjoy Bad End 77.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin, Alyse Stanley, and Joshua Jarvis for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

After a one-episode hiatus, we're joined by friend of the show Emma Kidwell in a full-length episode where we ONLY discuss The Last of Us Part II. Sprinkled in there we've also got some discussion of single player AAA's role in 2020, diversity, new consoles, and ~~stuff that's going on~~ in the world today. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

We're joined by critic/streamer/podcaster Bijan Stephen to talk about streaming on Twitch, the trials of the videogame press, battle royale games, and the future of games criticism. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Hope you're all doing well during lockdown, cuz we're trying to find games to keep us entertained that aren't CoD or ACNH. This week, Caty played a bit of the (still mostly embargoed) Xenoblade Chronicles remaster, while Josh tried out the new Streets of Rage joint. Then we dig through a pile of listener questions, diving into games vs film, annoying discourses of the last couple years, new consoles, comfy sneakers, and more. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend10:50 - Streets of Rage 416:37 - Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition21:45 - Worst videogame discourses25:00 - PS5 vs Xbox Series X, and the Nintendo Switch41:20 - Sites/podcasts/etc that got us into gaming 45:35 - Videogames vs film51:30 - Quarantine gaming habits52:58 - Videogame dads, tirade about TLOU58:26 - Comfy and stylish shoes1:06:06 - ACNH and others as new cultural touchstones post-c*vid1:09:30 - What series or game would you erase from history or revive?1:14:20 - Do you look up TiPZ before going into a new game?Intro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Take a break from taking a break and join us as we discuss all the biggest games of the season. We're taking a deeper dive into FF7 Remake from a FF7 newcomer's perspective, Call of Duty Warzone, more ACNH, board games, and Anno 1800, which is way better than the screenshots would ever have you believe. We're also answering listener questions about gaming in the time of c*rona, Animal Crossing's appeal over time, and the BAD END spoiler philosophy.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend5:55 - Final Fantasy 7 Remake51:54 - Call of Duty Warzone1:05:40 - Board Games and Tabletop Simulator53:38 - Anno 18001:17:43 - Listener questions: ACNH, quarantine gaming, spoiler philosophyIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

We break quarantine to hang out with Austin Walker (Waypoint Radio, Friends at the Table) and discuss some of the biggest games of the month - Final Fantasy VII Remake, which captures at least some of the magic of the original, and Animal Crossing New Horizons, which has been softening our brains into mush for almost a month now. We wrap up with some discussion of an indie RPG called Horizon's Gate, the PS5, and  videogame journalism as an institution.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend5:59 - Why are so many videogame journalists into wrestling?13:50 - FFVII Remake1:00:19 - Animal Crossing New Horizons1:23:10 - Will the next generation of videogame console tech bring a significant creative leap?1:34:53 - Horizon's Gate1:38:40 - Waypoint, Kill Screen, and videogame journalismIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

We are on lockdown and we are obsessed with Animal Crossing, just like you are (perhaps). Here's us talking about it for an hour and a half. We try to keep the spoilers to a minimum, and do our best to give you a little warning when we're gonna drop the names of objects and functions we've acquired. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badendIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

Take a load off from your days of isolation and come hang with the BAD END crew as we talk about the new Call of Duty, Ori, and CoD. We're also delving into the specifics of taste and our perspective on videogame crit.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend5:22 - Death Crown7:23 - Animal Crossing New Horizons30:27 - Criticizing our criticism / regarding Bad End's taste56:40 - Ori and the Will of the Wisps1:12:25 - Call of Duty WarzoneIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

One of us went to PAX East, one of us is playing a game under embargo, and one of us played a bunch of beloved games that are no longer protected by the sheen of newness. We discuss the Metroidvania frustrations of Hollow Knight, the woes of min-maxing in Noita, and Animal Crossing's influence.BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend6:28 - PAX East17:56 - Hollow Knight36:52 - Noita53:15 - Scourgebringer57:07 - Moonlighter1:06:32 - Listener questionsIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SEIHO

With one co-host gone this week, the remaining two end up shooting the breeze for like 2 hours straight in this one. We discuss the new Dragonball Z game, we rag on Ori and the Blind Forest, we talk about Slay The Spire and the concept of "perfunctory" game mechanics, and we answer a very, very long list of listener questions. We've also got a fun ~~NEW~~ section lined up for y'all, so stick around in the second half for that. BAD END is proud to be part of SUPERCULTURE, a network of podcasts and websites dedicated to the underobserved. Tweet us @superculturenetSpecial thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and shout out to Wesley Martin and Alyse Stanley for donating at the Bad End Patron tier! Become a contributor at patreon.com/badend2:24 - Ori and the Blind Forest15:31 - Scourgebringer and games that feel "perfunctory"23:29 - Slay the Spire36:34 - DBZ Kakarot45:13 - TiPZ1:00:37 - QuestionsIntro/Outro music is "TABOO" by SeihoBreak music is 3 31 from the Persona 3 OST