GROGPOD Roguelike Podcast

Helios has been abandoned! This week we’re playing the multiple BAFTA Award-winning Triple-A roguelite shooter Returnal. We continue bullet hell/heck month with swarms of huge colorful orbs, energy swords, and as many tentacled Matrix-inspired laser squids as you can shake your noodly appendages at! Join us in our foray into the first actual big-budget rogue-game of the pod with a game that had been locked behind Playstation 5 exclusivity like a gigantic interlocking metal door. We were able to just barely eek through the podcaster-sized hole in the bottom, but can we beat the boss that is…uh…well the first boss even??? Aim assist to maximum!

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2:10 - game stats

4:53 - one sentence description

5:30 - all devs go to heaven warning (sort of)

7:34 - Difficulty preferences and boss fight frustrations

16:18 - Story introduction and crash landing setup

22:33 - Atmosphere and alien environment descriptions

27:53 - Biome structure and room types explanation

32:46 - Progression systems and weapon upgrading mechanics

39:03 - PC port performance and hardware requirements

44:11 - Weapon synergies and parasite systems

51:24 - Game length criticism and pacing issues

55:00 - story spoilers discussion

1:04:05 - rankings and final thoughts

1:14:30 - similar games

Next episode: Barony

Contact us at [email protected]!

https://grogpod.zone

Intro music: McCoy Tyner - Search For Peace

Outro music: Bobby Krlic - Hyperion

Ghostly squeal! This week we’re descending the floors of an ancient facility filled with ghosts, mages, machines, talking cats, and bullets! So, so many bullets. What else would you expect from the bullet hell game that is Star of Providence? A charming, NES-inspired modern throwback, Star of Providence puts us to the test with harrowing boss fights, secret endings, and more guns than you can shake a sword that shoots bullets at!

Team D-13 were kind enough to give a quick Q&A on how Star of Providence came about for us. Give it a look-see here!

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1:52 - game stats

7:31 - Bullet hell categorization and genre spectrum discussion

11:04 - Boss fight difficulty and traditional schmup comparisons

15:19 - Retro aesthetic appreciation and NES style graphics

19:11 - Story and setting overview with facility exploration

22:38 - Tutorial quality and instant teleport feature praise

26:47 - Room design and environmental interaction mechanics

31:17 - Weapon system and ammo management mechanics

35:47 - Keyword system and weapon modification features

42:47 - Dash mechanics and movement system differences

48:17 - Meta progression and scoring multiplier complaints

54:17 - Health and power-up economy criticism

1:07:47 - rankings and final thoughts

1:17:24 - similar games

1:20:25 - upgrade terminal podcast shoutout

Next episode: Returnal

Contact us at [email protected]!

https://grogpod.zone

Intro music: Time-Lapse City - GoGo Penguin

Outro music: Tonal Dissonance - garoslaw

We did it listeners, we saved the city! This week we revisit Subset Games with their hit mecha-tactics bug-squisher puzzle-roguelike: Into the Breach. Time travel shenanigans are at a maximum this time, as we push our recording date back a couple days to get everyone in here. Woody joins us once more to talk about balancing the destruction of apartment buildings with making sure the train gets to its destination on time. Jump mechs, swap mechs, science vesseles, weapons to surpass Metal Gear, bugs that think!?!? Into the Breach is a timeless gem of intense noodle-scratching thought, so drop in from the sky and help us save the corporate islands!

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1:39 - game stats

3:00 - one sentence description

6:09 - Reactive turn-based combat system mechanics explanation

9:01 - Game rule consistency and fairness discussion

14:19 - Story setup: humanity defeated, time travel mechanics

19:07 - Criticism of story elements and time travel narrative

22:07 - Developer interview insights and content cutting decisions

27:04 - Squad variety and achievement system discussion

32:13 - Energy/reactor system and item acquisition complaints

38:22 - Item excitement and randomness in roguelike games

46:56 - Final boss absence and game completion discussion

54:56 - Game length and run time considerations

1:07:11 - Squad preferences and favorite team mechanics

1:15:49 - rankings and final thoughts

1:28:50 - similar games

Next episode: Star of Providence

Contact us at [email protected]!

https://grogpod.zone

Intro music: Stanley Turrentine - June Bug

Outro music: Ben Prunty - Into the Breach

This week we’re drawing a straight with the recent smash hit poker-puzzle deckbuilder Balatro! Join our four-of-a-kind hosts to talk about who will have the last laugh between random card draws and overtly complicated computer simulations. But no adventure is complete without joker hats and joker feet! Many jokes and many quips have passed behind our funny lips. By poking fun and making merry, our podcasts won’t be half as scary. So don’t be timid, don’t be nervous - Joker’s here, at your service! Aheuhheuuehehhah!

Find a link to Will’s optimal hand play simulator here.

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1:18 - game stats

3:25 - one sentence description

6:06 - Will’s discovery and immediate obsession with the game

10:56 - Player statistics and victory counts discussion

13:44 - Story explanation: no narrative, just poker with jokers

18:00 - Will’s advanced mathematical analysis and strategy depth

24:06 - Randomness versus determinism debate in deck builders

32:31 - Accessibility and poker knowledge requirements discussion

42:17 - Most fun aspects beyond winning runs

52:04 - Strategy discussion: flushes, synergies, and joker combinations

1:01:17 - Runtime discussion and fast restart mechanics

1:08:45 - Hand ranking problems and inflexible build issues

1:17:15 - rankings and final thoughts

Next episode: Into the Breach

Contact us at [email protected]!

https://grogpod.zone

Intro music: Lee Morgan - The Joker

Outro music: LouisF - Balatro OST

Lousy Smarch weather! Come in from the cold and warm up with an episode on the recent hit citybuilder roguelite Against the Storm. We’ve got biscuits and pie, jerky, and a nice dry roof to keep your resolve high. There’s lots to talk about between lizard happiness, a Queen that no one has confirmed exists or not, and everyone’s favorite topic: supply chain logistics! Man it’s wet out there. Check me through will you?

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1:19 - game stats

3:30 - one sentence description

6:20 - » all devs go to heaven warning «

9:30 - our story begins

12:19 - End game disappointment and seal mechanics explained

17:10 - Overworld structure and meta progression criticism

19:39 - City building mechanics and randomized building systems

27:07 - UI problems and blueprint menu frustrations

32:44 - Queen’s impatience meter and reputation system mechanics

42:12 - Art style debate (Warcraft-like graphics divisive opinions)

51:20 - Tutorial experience problems and UI learning curve

1:06:00 - rankings and final thoughts

1:16:48 - similar games

Next episode: Balatro

Contact us at [email protected]!

https://grogpod.zone

Intro music: Chad Lawson Trio - If I Only Had A Brain

Outro music: Mikołaj Kurpios - Forest Lights

Happy TOMEntines day! This week we choo-choo choose to revisit the traditional roguelike-sphere with an oldie but a biggie. Tales of Maj’Eyal holds a special place in the hearts of old guards of tradrogues, continuing a legacy from an Angband spinoff in 1998. There’s a lot of love stemming from a vibrant community around TOME, if you can look past the ugly duckling presentation. It’s time to use our Chronomancy to turn back the clock, fight back the Spellblaze Scar, and try to charm the master of Dredfell Tower to watch some sappy romcoms with us.

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1:57 - game stats

4:31 - one sentence description

6:13 - First impressions discussion and art criticism begins

10:18 - Will’s 60-hour experience and frustration with mechanics

16:41 - Mechanical cohesion: enemies use same systems as players

19:06 - Different starting scenarios for various races/classes

23:37 - Auto-explorer feature and movement controls discussion

30:19 - Game modes: permadeath vs multiple lives system

34:12 - Debate on roguelike length and investment vs permadeath

45:58 - Vault mechanics and elite enemies discussion

50:28 - Controls and UI complexity criticism

56:40 - Music repetition and sound design complaints

59:49 - Graphics critique: “objectively ugly” debate and art cohesion

1:12:32 - Dating quest discovery and bikini character screenshots

1:18:21 - rankings and final thoughts

1:26:38 - similar games

Next episode: Against the Storm

Contact us at [email protected]!

https://grogpod.zone

Intro music: Thomas Marriott - The Tale of Debauchery

Outro music: Celestial Aeon Project - Virtue Lost

Reap and tear! This week we’re DOOMing it up with the BOOMer shooter rogue Nightmare Reaper. We all go a little mad sometimes, but what better way to relieve that stress with some out-of-left-field minigames? Keep an eye out for the trumpet skeleton, platforming puzzles, and bolwing ball-launching shotguns. Oh and did I mention there was a chainsaw grappling hook? One more time for the folks in the back: chainsaw. grappling. hook!

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1:17 - game stats

2:34 - one sentence description

6:16 - Host preferences on shooter genres and boomer shooters

10:34 - Story setup: asylum patient experiencing nightmares/dreams with combat

14:18 - Gameplay loop: one chance per level, weapon persistence mechanics

17:57 - Weapon variety and combat mechanics discussion

24:27 - Level design and enemy behavior criticism

31:26 - Upgrade system problems and “should have been default” features

33:25 - Mario-style mini-game tech tree complaints and accessibility options

45:20 - Level navigation issues and procedural generation problems

57:11 - Gun sprite graphics quality and visual design critique

1:07:42 - Music discussion and soundtrack evaluation

1:12:13 - Roguelike classification debate and story execution issues

1:21:29 - rankings and final thoughts

1:27:50 - similar games

Next episode: Tales of Maj’Eyal

Contact us at [email protected]!

https://grogpod.zone

Intro music: Charles Mingus - Orange Was the Color of Her Dress, Then Silk Blues

Outro music: Andrew Hulshult - Lucid Mayhem

Gather round children, it’s story time! This week we’re talking about the pop-up storybook RPG Wildermyth! We’re fighting gorgons with poison blood, turning into wolf people, and replacing arms with pirate hooks. You know, the normal things you always read about in kids books. It’s time to customize your coworkers, pick your pet, and save the lands from mechanical clockwork monsters!

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1:29 - game stats

2:23 - one sentence description

4:11 - Art style discussion: paper standee aesthetic and monster design

6:57 - Age of Ulstryx campaign experience and generic fantasy start

8:35 - Story volume complaints: too much text, too few choices

12:19 - Character customization and personality trait system discussion

16:38 - Magic system: infusing with environmental objects mechanics

21:44 - Overworld exploration and time pressure mechanics

28:13 - Difficulty and strategic decision-making critique

33:03 - Legacy character system and campaign connections

39:05 - Randomization vs bespoke story content debate

46:35 - Procedural vs handcrafted narrative generation discussion

52:27 - Combat mechanics and camera control issues

53:58 - rankings and final thoughts

1:01:10 - similar games

Next episode: Nightmare Reaper

Contact us at [email protected]!

https://grogpod.zone

Intro music: Wayne Shorter - Wild Flower

Outro music: Wildermyth Overworld

Happy New Pod! Or new game! Or new game+! For our second season kickoff we bring an army of orcs and goblins marching on your doom in Rogue Tower. What other podcast can you find deep dives on tower defense strategy in the form of thrilling spreadsheet functions and macros? The Excel fincancial modelling world cup may have just ended, but this game sure EXCELs at metal tunes, one-more-turn-itis, and laser-blasting pyramids. Does Will hold a world record for this game? Send in your armies of Boron-encased glass panes and find out for yourself!

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1:47 - game stats

3:13 - one sentence description

4:32 - Discord data science discussion and Andrew’s 17-level maximum revelation

7:02 - Game mechanics: health, armor, shields and tower specialization

11:14 - UI clarity issues and upgrade system confusion

18:21 - Tower placement strategy and height mechanics discussion

24:27 - Card draw upgrade system and meta progression criticism

30:25 - Mod discussion and game speed improvements

35:48 - Tower defense comparisons and roguelike elements breakdown

39:32 - UI problems: click-through issues and Steam Deck complaints

47:36 - Music discussion: harpsichord metal soundtrack praise

50:12 - rankings and final thoughts

A link to Will’s crazy spreadsheet optimization tool can be found here

And because I totally spaced on the similar games segment, if you’re a fan of Rogue Tower you should also check out:

The Last Spell

Dungeon of the Endless

Tower Tactics: Liberation

Bardbarian

Bloons TD6 Roguelike mod

Next episode: Wildermyth

Contact us at [email protected]!

https://grogpod.zone

Intro music: George Shearing - I Didn’t Know What Time It Was

Outro music: Andrew R. Mason - Orcs Attack!

It’s the holiday season (backup singers: the holiday season) and the GROGPOD is coming ‘round for a special winter break episode! We’ve been asked by listeners for a while to do a developer interview so who better to bring on the program than amazing solo dev Huw Milward of previous episode Warsim: The Realm of Aslona!

We kick off the first hour of the program with Huw, Will, and I chatting by the fireplace with our ‘nog (grog?) in hand about topics like inspiration, marketing strategy, and of course ChatGPT. Join us after the interview for some listener letters too!

Find Warsim on Steam here

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2:20 - Interview with Huw Millward, solo dev of Warsim: The Realm of Aslona

6:25 - Warsim dev history and future

10:45 - How to stay inspired and creative?

13:00 - How to build an indie game community?

16:39 - Windows CMD design and spaghetti code

18:18 - Kitfox remasters of Dwarf Fortress and Caves of Qud

21:00 - Ascii art aesthetics, SanctuaryRPG, WORD GAME

26:39 - Randomness vs proc gen

34:24 - Gamedev feature strategy

37:48 - Steam reviews and marketing strategy

49:13 - ChatGPT

55:40 - Gamedev persistence and community engagement

58:30 - Favorite games and gamedev pen pals

1:05:43 - Emails: How long to evaluate a roguelike game?

1:18:31 - Emails: Mystery Dungeon games

Next episode: Season 2 starts with Rogue Tower!

Contact us at [email protected]!

https://grogpod.zone

Intro music: Huw Warren - Porto Alegre

Outro music: Warsim 8bit main theme