Critical Diversions

On this week's show, Matt's covering the recent Nintendo Indie World Presentation and surprise of the show, Sticky Business, along with hot current gaming discourse topic Metroid Dread. Also, we've got a buncha Bit Harmony talk going on.

Check out Bit Harmony, a podcast about video game music

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Get your Bit Harmony merchandise over at AllN.Media!

Critical Diversions on Twitter - ⁠@crit_diversions⁠

Matt Murray on Twitter - ⁠@shyguycity⁠

Matt Murray on Blue Sky - @mattmurray.bsky.social

Podcast art by Natascha Murray

Natascha Murray on Twitter - ⁠@couchmochi⁠

Natascha Murray on Blue Sky - @couchmochi.bsky.social

The various Critical Diversions theme songs were made by Mic Fox. Check out all of his cool stuff over at

Our break music this week was Sticky Business Main Theme by Marie Havemann, from the game Sticky Business

A very tired Matt is ready to not only talk about games this week such as Undermine 2 and more Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, but also reveal the next project he's been working on.

Critical Diversions on Twitter - ⁠@crit_diversions⁠

Matt Murray on Twitter - ⁠@shyguycity⁠

Matt Murray on Blue Sky - @mattmurray.bsky.social

Podcast art by Natascha Murray

Natascha Murray on Twitter - ⁠@couchmochi⁠

Natascha Murray on Blue Sky - @couchmochi.bsky.social

The various Critical Diversions theme songs were made by Mic Fox. Check out all of his cool stuff over at

Our break music this week was Irida's Theme from Pokémon Legends: Arceus, composed by Hiromitsu Maeba, Hitomi Sato & Go Ichinose

Matt's solo again, so we're mixing it up, talking about some dumb stuff that doesn't matter before we get into the stuff that does, like the end of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Pepper Grinder, and.....South Park? I guess?

Critical Diversions on Twitter - ⁠@crit_diversions⁠

Matt Murray on Twitter - ⁠@shyguycity⁠

Matt Murray on Blue Sky - @mattmurray.bsky.social

Podcast art by Natascha Murray

Natascha Murray on Twitter - ⁠@couchmochi⁠

Natascha Murray on Blue Sky - @couchmochi.bsky.social

The various Critical Diversions theme songs were made by Mic Fox. Check out all of his cool stuff over at

Our break music this week was Glacial Pace by Xeecee from the Pepper Grinder soundtrack

This week on the show, Matt somehow convinced his wife, Natascha, to cohost again. Listen to them wax philosophical on the state of humanity on the internet, and maybe talk some games if there's time.

If you want to rent either of our pawns in Dragon's Dogma 2 (just don't forget to thumbs up, scumbag):

Natascha's Pawn ID: 9XYKHI2LU7ZE

Matt's Pawn ID: 8UG8ZMWN1BD9

Critical Diversions on Twitter - ⁠@crit_diversions⁠

Matt Murray on Twitter - ⁠@shyguycity⁠

Matt Murray on Blue Sky - @mattmurray.bsky.social

Podcast art by Natascha Murray

Natascha Murray on Twitter - ⁠@couchmochi⁠

Natascha Murray on Blue Sky - @couchmochi.bsky.social

The various Critical Diversions theme songs were made by Mic Fox. Check out all of his cool stuff over at

Our break music this week was "Prickly Situation" by Xeecee from the Pepper Grinder OST.

We're back. It's only been two weeks, but Matt and his wife are now the specific kinda dorks that are real into Dragon's Dogma. Let's talk about it. Also this week: updates on Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and some belated Mario day stuff.

Critical Diversions on Twitter - ⁠@crit_diversions⁠

Matt Murray on Twitter - ⁠@shyguycity⁠

Matt Murray on Blue Sky - @mattmurray.bsky.social

Podcast art by Natascha Murray

Natascha Murray on Twitter - ⁠@couchmochi⁠

Natascha Murray on Blue Sky - @couchmochi.bsky.social

The various Critical Diversions theme songs were made by Mic Fox. Check out all of his cool stuff over at

"Fight For Us Stamp (Bow Wow Wow)" and "Fight For Us Stamp Battle Version (Bow Wow Wow)" were composed by Masashi Hamauzu and Mitsuto Suzuki for Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

On this very sleepy Weekly Diversion, Matt's talking about Queen's Blood, Berserk Boy, Queen's Blood, WB games being a complete shitshow, Queen's Blood, and Queen's Blood. Plus lots of other stuff.

Critical Diversions on Twitter - ⁠@crit_diversions⁠

Matt Murray on Twitter - ⁠@shyguycity⁠

Matt Murray on Blue Sky - @mattmurray.bsky.social

Podcast art by Natascha Murray

Natascha Murray on Twitter - ⁠@couchmochi⁠

Natascha Murray on Blue Sky - @couchmochi.bsky.social

The various Critical Diversions theme songs were made by Mic Fox. Check out all of his cool stuff over at

Our break music this week was Queen's Blood Theme from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, composed by Masashi Hamauzu and Mitsuto Suzuki

Matt's review of Berserk Boy!

ABYSS X ZERO trailer!

On this week's episode: Matt's 10 hours into Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth! He was briefly on top of most of the leaderboards of Runner 2 on Switch! His doorbell is disturbingly loud! Also we're talking some Dungeons and Dragons books for a bit too.

Critical Diversions on Twitter - ⁠@crit_diversions⁠

Matt Murray on Twitter - ⁠@shyguycity⁠

Matt Murray on Blue Sky - @mattmurray.bsky.social

Podcast art by Natascha Murray

Natascha Murray on Twitter - ⁠@couchmochi⁠

Natascha Murray on Blue Sky - @couchmochi.bsky.social

The various Critical Diversions theme songs were made by Mic Fox. Check out all of his cool stuff over at

Our break music this week was "Cogwyn Caves" from Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore, composed by Jake Silverman

Seth's video on Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore, mentioned in the show

Splatoon 3 Side Order is out! The Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth demo was updated! There was a Nintendo Direct! ELDEN RING!

Critical Diversions on Twitter - ⁠@crit_diversions⁠

Matt Murray on Twitter - ⁠@shyguycity⁠

Matt Murray on Blue Sky - @mattmurray.bsky.social

Podcast art by Natascha Murray

Natascha Murray on Twitter - ⁠@couchmochi⁠

Natascha Murray on Blue Sky - @couchmochi.bsky.social

The various Critical Diversions theme songs were made by Mic Fox. Check out all of his cool stuff over at

Our break music this week was Pokemon X/Y Gate Theme (Strobe Remix)

Strobe on Soundcloud

Strobe on Youtube

Yeehaw. Matt's got a weird batch of games this week, including Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Saints Row 4, and Monster Hunter World, as well as the standard news roundup. Turns out the world didn't end this week and weird Xbox fans all over can come out of their self-imposed isolation.

Critical Diversions on Twitter - ⁠@crit_diversions⁠

Matt Murray on Twitter - ⁠@shyguycity⁠

Matt Murray on Blue Sky - @mattmurray.bsky.social

Podcast art by Natascha Murray

Natascha Murray on Twitter - ⁠@couchmochi⁠

Natascha Murray on Blue Sky - @couchmochi.bsky.social

The various Critical Diversions theme songs were made by Mic Fox. Check out all of his cool stuff over at

Our break music this week was Frosty Fruits - In a Snowbound Land by David Wise from the Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze soundtrack.

This week on the show: Matt has to offer his first formal apology as a podcast host for gross misrepresentation. Afterwards, we're talking about Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Pepper Grinder, and a bunch of large corporations worthy of our scorn ire.

Critical Diversions on Twitter - ⁠@crit_diversions⁠

Matt Murray on Twitter - ⁠@shyguycity⁠

Matt Murray on Blue Sky - @mattmurray.bsky.social

Podcast art by Natascha Murray

Natascha Murray on Twitter - ⁠@couchmochi⁠

Natascha Murray on Blue Sky - @couchmochi.bsky.social

The various Critical Diversions theme songs were made by Mic Fox. Check out all of his cool stuff over at

Our break music this week was Super Monkey Ball 2 - World 7 - Bubbly Washing Machine, composed by:

Hidenori Shoji

Haruyoshi Tomita

Ryuji Iuchi