After their original plans for a Flashback sequel got cancelled, they started over again in the third dimension, bringing us the early PlayStation hit Fade To Black. Does this wild sci-fi universe survive the polygon treatment? Hell, is this even a cinematic platformer at all?! Andre and Steve find out in the latest installment of Cinematic Platformer Paradise.

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Bluesky: @fineti.me

Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me

Steve: @monotonegent.fineti.me

When people think of cinematic platformers, the first one they likely think of is Flashback. And with good reason! Not only is it an incredible technical achievement, it features the crystalized vision of what was cyberpunk in the 1990s. But as we all know, ambition can often lead a video game astray. Does Flashback manage to stay on track? Andre and Steve find out in the latest in their continuing Cinematic Platformer Paradise series.

Fine Time on Instagram: @finetimepodcast

Bluesky: @fineti.me

Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me

Steve: @monotonegent.fineti.me

Another World is a absolute titan of the cinematic platformer genre, and it was an incredible technical achivement on every platform it released on. But can its gameplay match its audiovisual splendor? Is its status as a classic deserved? Was Heart of the Alien forgotten for a reason? Find out this week on Cinematic Platformer Paradise. Face it, you're warped!

Fine Time on Instagram: @finetimepodcast

Bluesky: @fineti.me

Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me

Steve: @monotonegent.fineti.me

[00:00] Another World

[24:31] Heart of the Alien

Andre and Steve continue their cinematic platformer journey to Shadow of the Beast, the 1989 classic for Amiga. But is it really a classic, or is it just pretty? Find out in this bite-sized holiday episode!

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Bluesky: @fineti.me

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Steve on Bluesky: @monotonegent.fineti.me

At the dawn of the 90s, the cinematic platformer was seen as the future. While it never did become the future, the games in this highly influential subgenre are still felt today, and the technology used to makes them still impresses. In this first of seven epsiodes in this miniseries, Andre and Steve dive into the one that started it all, Prince of Persia.

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Andre on Bluesky: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me

Steve on Bluesky: @monotonegent.fineti.me

Andre is joined by Dave from Tales From the Backlog to talk about the recent life and times of the Final Fantasy series, including FF15, FF16, the FF7 Remake series, and other things along the way such as Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin and Pixel Remaster.

Listen to Dave's podcast, Tales From the Backlog right here.

Dave on Bluesky: @tftblpod.bsky.social

Andre on Bluesky: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me

[00:00] Final Fantasy XV Spoiler Warning

[01:08] Intro + Our Final Fantasy Experiences

[10:09] Final Fantasy XV

[30:49] Final Fantasy VII Remake + Rebirth

[47:59] Final Fantasy XVI

[01:03:48] Odds and Ends

[01:24:31] Thanks For Listening!

We played Beyond Shadowgate, Resident Evil Village, Meteos and the new mobile Pokemon TCG. Then we talked about Nintendo's grip of annoucnemnt and our favorite comfort games. Thanks for being such great listeners!

Instagram: @finetimepodcast

Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me

Steve: @monotonegent.fineti.me

Kevin: @kevinflevin89.fineti.me

[00:00] Public Penis Announcement

[05:12] Andre played Beyond Shadowgate

[20:24] Kevin played Meteos

[36:48] Kevin and Steve played Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket

[48:27] Steve played Resident Evil Village

[57:54] SHOWER TIME

[59:05] Taste Test: Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry

[01:02:30] Nintendo, What Is You Doin Baby?! Pt. 2

[01:14:24] Our Favorite Comfort Games

[01:42:26] JAV Title or Frog & Toad?

[01:49:55] Thank You For Listening

Konami's landmark survival horror sequel Silent Hill 2 is a game beloved by many, but can it survive the remake treatment? Andre and Patrick find out the answer as they explore the sights, sounds, and scares of this PS5 remake and take a trip deep into the frayed mind of James Sunderland.

Beware, full spoilers ahead!

Twitter: @FineTimePodcast

Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me

[00:00] Spoiler Warning and Intro

[04:48] The Lead Up To Release

[20:17] Graphics and Presentation

[33:23] Puzzles

[40:53] Characters and Story

[51:40] New or Not New?

[57:00] Combat and Monster Design

[01:08:55] Criticisms

[01:17:27] Endings

[01:27:47] Conclusions and Outro

All three of us played an assortment of spoopy games and we talked about them, including Luigi's Mansion 2, Bayonetta Origins, and Pools. Then we talked about Masahiro Sakurai's YouTube channel coming to an end, The Addams Family menu at Burger King, a candy quiz game, and so much more on this week's Big Deal. Enjoy!

Twitter: @FineTimePodcast

Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me

Steve: @monotonegent.fineti.me

Kevin: @kevinflevin89.fineti.me

[00:00] Intro

[03:12] Kevin played Luigi's Mansion 2

[16:30] Kevin bought some Nintendo trinkets

[22:48] Steve played Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon

[34:03] Andre played a trio of spooky liminal games (Exit 8, Platform 8, Pools)

[47:43] Break Time!

[49:01] Sakurai's Series Finale

[55:49] Bandai Namco's Expulsion Rooms

[01:01:11] Addams Family Burger King Menu

[01:15:17] Reactions To Celebrity Deaths

[01:24:51] Name The Things: Candy Edition

[01:34:12] Bye!

The first brand-new Mana game in many years came to us last month, but was it any good? Andre and Vin are here to break down Visions of Mana, including characters, evironments, story elements, battles, and everything else. Is this the first good Mana game since the 90s? Listen and find out!

Twitter: @FineTimePodcast

Andre: @pizzadinosaur.fineti.me

Vin: @lucentai.bsky.social and twitch.tv/lucentai

[00:00] Intro - Expectations of Mana

[05:21] Premise of Mana

[09:52] Graphics, Art, and Presentation of Mana

[15:54] Towns, Dungeons, and Exploration of Mana

[26:42] Characterization of Mana

[37:25] Break of Mana

[39:00] Equipment, Classes, and Magic of Mana

[48:49] Battles of Mana

[56:35] Bosses of Mana

[01:03:57] Pacing of Mana

[01:07:47] Music of Mana

[01:11:42] Tidbits And Conclusion of Mana

[01:19:38] Spoiler Wall of Mana

[01:20:31] Spoilers of Mana

[01:43:02] ~FIN~