Between Levels Podcast

WheelieAverage, Sarthe, and FightinCowboy are joined by special guest DreamcastGuy for Episode 4 of Between Levels.

In this episode, we discuss Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced and how it revitalizes one of the franchise’s most beloved games, our disappointment with Echoes of Aincrad, and the Revelations DLC for DOOM: The Dark Ages.

We also share our Fantasy Critic predictions for Mortal Shell 2 and Valor Mortis, discuss the future of physical media and digital game ownership, reflect on classic games including Skies of Arcadia and Final Fantasy VII, and reveal some of our most controversial gaming opinions and guilty pleasures.

Check out DreamcastGuy:

https://www.youtube.com/@DreamcastGuy

Follow Between Levels:

Instagram: @betweenlevelspodcast

Facebook: Between Levels Podcast

X: @BtweenLevels

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BetweenLevelsPodcast

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome and DreamcastGuy introduction

02:16 - Fantasy Critic League update

03:42 - DOOM: The Dark Ages Revelations review

05:58 - Boss challenges and DLC features

10:12 - Our disappointment with Echoes of Aincrad

15:47 - Game reviews, scores, and upcoming releases

24:20 - Mortal Shell 2 predictions and demo impressions

33:03 - Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced

36:48 - Combat, ship battles, and gameplay changes

44:27 - Why Black Flag remains so beloved

55:47 - Physical media and digital game ownership

1:07:44 - Our favorite games and guilty pleasures

1:24:49 - Popular games that missed the mark

1:28:58 - Nostalgic and guilty-pleasure picks

1:31:11 - Controversial gaming opinions

1:33:12 - Closing thoughts and thanks to DreamcastGuy

Join WheelieAverage, Sarthe, and FightinCowboy as they dive into Soulslike games, the future of physical media, digital-only gaming, horror game tropes, PC gaming, and the changing shape of the industry.

In this episode, we discuss what actually makes a game a Soulslike, our favorite Soulslike experiences, Elden Ring, co-op and invasion mechanics, build crafting, modding, PlayStation's reported move away from physical game production, digital ownership, game pricing, PC gaming versus consoles, horror game design, The Dark Pictures Anthology, Fantasy Critic updates, and much more.

Between Levels is a weekly gaming podcast bringing together three different perspectives from across the gaming community to discuss the latest news, releases, and trends shaping the industry.

Follow Between Levels:

Instagram: @betweenlevelspodcast

Facebook: Between Levels Podcast

X: @BtweenLevels

Watch on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/fbBIA8aOWss

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and host banter

03:24 Best Soulslike games and FromSoftware alternatives

07:38 What actually makes a game a Soulslike?

08:55 Multiplayer, co-op, and invasions in Souls games

11:21 Elden Ring and co-op experiences

13:45 Lords of the Fallen and modern co-op systems

16:04 Modding in FromSoftware games

18:22 Sarthe's favorite non-World of Warcraft game

20:07 Build crafting, lore, and Soulslike depth

22:13 Breaking game mechanics for fun

23:43 Game difficulty and player attitudes

25:33 Sleep schedules, ADHD, and gaming habits

32:35 PlayStation, physical games, and digital-only trends

36:41 Digital ownership and game pricing

40:16 Piracy, preservation, and the value of physical media

44:17 Esports and competitive gaming

50:06 All-digital consoles and the future of hardware

55:12 PC gaming, nostalgia, and hardware choices

1:02:30 How quickly can you tell if a game is for you?

1:09:45 Horror game tropes and genre evolution

1:15:30 The Dark Pictures Anthology discussion

1:20:02 Fantasy Critic updates and bid strategies

1:24:25 Channel updates and subscriber milestones

1:25:44 Upcoming episodes and future topics

1:26:40 Closing thoughts

Follow for new episodes every week and leave your questions for future episodes.

#GamingPodcast #Soulslike #EldenRing #PhysicalGames #BetweenLevels

Join WheelieAverage, Sarthe, and FightinCowboy as they dive into some of the biggest topics in gaming, including GTA VI pricing, Valve's Steam Machine, Fantasy Critic, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, and the rising cost of gaming.

In this episode, we discuss our Fantasy Critic draft strategies, impressions of Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, GTA VI editions and microtransactions, Valve's Steam Machine pricing, graphics versus optimization, upcoming game releases, console pricing, and much more.

Between Levels is a weekly gaming podcast bringing together three different perspectives from across the gaming community to discuss the latest news, releases, and trends shaping the industry.

Follow Between Levels:
Instagram: @betweenlevelspodcast
Facebook: Between Levels Podcast
X: @BtweenLevels

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and episode overview
02:11 WoW stories and Cowboy's gaming anecdotes
04:51 Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy gameplay impressions
11:34 Upcoming game releases and the 2026 industry timeline
24:14 Fantasy Critic draft begins
36:11 Game pricing, hardware costs, and industry backlash
43:20 Graphics, optimization, and performance tech
55:10 GTA VI editions, pricing, and microtransactions
1:04:32 Rising console prices and upcoming hardware
1:17:46 Final game picks for the year
1:25:29 Valve's Steam Machine and hardware affordability
1:31:33 Closing thoughts and next steps

Subscribe for new episodes every week and leave your questions in the comments for future episodes.

Welcome to the very first episode of Between Levels.

Join WheelieAverage, Sarthe, and FightinCowboy as they dive into some of the biggest topics in gaming, including Xbox's future, GTA VI, Summer Game Fest, and the future of Soulslike games.

In this episode, we discuss Xbox's recent showcase, industry layoffs, GTA VI's impact on the gaming landscape, Mortal Shell 2, Lords of the Fallen 2, anime games, gameplay versus graphics, and much more.

Between Levels is a weekly gaming podcast bringing together three different perspectives from across the gaming community to discuss the latest news, releases, and trends shaping the industry.

Follow Between Levels:

Instagram: @betweenlevelspodcast

Facebook: Between Levels Podcast

X: @BtweenLevels

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome to Between Levels

02:04 Upcoming Game Releases

03:21 Summer Game Fest Impressions

04:12 September & October Release Rush

05:26 Game Delays & Release Strategy

06:40 GTA VI's Shadow Over Gaming

07:56 Can Smaller Games Survive?

09:27 Xbox's Summer Game Fest Showcase

10:36 Innovation vs Established Franchises

11:30 Industry Rumors & Misinformation

12:41 Studio Acquisitions & Consolidation

14:11 Sony's Investment Strategy

15:31 Layoffs & Industry Restructuring

16:11 Gaming's Growth Problem

17:26 Are Soulslikes Here to Stay?

18:38 NFTs & Gaming Trends

19:33 Why Some Games Fail

21:03 The Death of the System Seller?

22:28 Graphics, Art Style & Immersion

23:05 Is Call of Duty Still King?

24:45 Understanding Gaming Communities

26:34 Realism vs Fun

27:10 Gameplay Over Graphics

28:52 Crimson Desert & Community Feedback

29:14 Evolve, Anthem & Games That Deserved Better

30:27 Mods & Community Support

31:12 Changing Consumer Habits

32:00 Rising Costs of Gaming

33:16 The Future of Gaming Technology

34:21 Why Gameplay Matters Most

35:52 The Power of Art Direction

36:39 Walking Simulators & Niche Genres

37:10 First Impressions Matter

39:32 Marketing & Expectations

40:43 Why Astro Bot Works

42:06 Storytelling in Games

44:02 Mortal Shell 2 & Modern Soulslikes

48:02 Pricing, Value & Expectations

50:34 Open World Design Challenges

52:27 Anime Games: Ambition vs Reality

55:42 Control Resonant Discussion

58:53 The Crowded Fall Release Schedule

62:12 Marketing, Hype & Mystery

66:38 FromSoftware's Untapped Potential

70:17 Developer Evolution & New Ideas

71:43 Gaming Through Parenthood

73:07 The Future of Between Levels

75:19 Final Thoughts & Community Questions

Subscribe for new episodes every week and send us your questions for future episodes.