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By Octopus Park
OctopusPark's Literate Gamer: a discussion of games, their meaning, and their impact on people and art.
LAST EPISODE
Horizon: Forbidden West
05.19.2022
Nick regails Jonathan of the joys and tribulations of Horizon: Forbidden west, highs lows, and lots of bows.
Nick tells Jonathan about his experiences with Cyberpunk 2077, followed by a discussion of hype, industry pitfalls, and the dangers of scope creep.
Jonathan recounts his experiences with Subnautica: Below Zero, another crafting first-person swimming experience in the Subnautica universe, just as good as the first, with a few quality of life improvements over the first one. I highly recommend it.
Jonathan and Nick discuss "Ancestors: the Humankind Odyssey", a singular experience, unlike any other game, or type of game, that you might experience these days. It's odd, compelling, and absolutely novel.
Jonathan talks about Dicey Dungeons, a fun, little mechanics-heavy-yet-light-overall rogue-lite, great for a short diversion from time to time.
Valheim! A 3rd-person, crafting, survival game, with viking style and a vast world. If you can host a server, or find a friend who can, or can keep your computer online, up to 10 people can be on at once, ...
Jonathan recounts the joys of brachiating in Bionic Commando: a classic platformer with unique mechanics and quality style and story.
Jonathan and Nick discuss Genshin Impact, a beautiful, open-world, gacha game with unique style, interesting environments, and an aggressive release schedule, created by miHoYo. There's a bit of grind, and some loot-box mechanics to be wary of, but you can ...
Jonathan recounts the wonderful experience of Ghosts 'N Goblins Resurrection, an update to a classic platformer, with all the latest quality of (un)life improvements and art updates, while completely staying faithful to the style and difficulty of the original, should ...
Nick recounts his experiences with Control, mind-bending action brought to you by Remedy Games. A bizarre experience of reality-warping dystopia.
Jonathan recounts Castlevania: Lords of shadow, a linear experience with a few too many QTEs, but a wonderful dive into the mythos. They bring a new dark story brimming with classic Castlevania atmosphere.
Nick and Trevor regale Jonathan with the rich setting, action, and strange history of Dishonored, a first-person immersive assassin sim. They discuss the franchise and its spiritual genealogy and surrounding hamlets, fascinating and rich. Also Check out Trevor's podcast 'Silicon ...
Jonathan examines Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, a loyal spiritual successor to Castlevania: Symphony of the night, and the DS Castlevania games. If you need another hit of Castlevania, this is the game for you, even if it's not official.
Jonathan and Nick speak with the creators of The Wind and Wilting Blossom, by PickleFeet games: Tyler Monroe and Thomas Spradling. Think Heroes of Might and Magic meets GloomHaven. You can see the artistic vision and feel the love they ...
Jonathan discusses The Pedestrian, a fun little platformer puzzle game, light and bite-size, reminiscent of Framed, and available now on Steam.
Nick regales Jonathan on the truly weird world of the Yakuza franchise, a bizarre labor of love that has consumed countless hours of playtime, as much weird fascination as fun.
Jonathan recounts the Mega Man X 3 experience. A good game, in a great franchise, with a side order of design rant.
Jonathan and Nick speak with Joel Clark and Stephen Bell about their creation Blaseball, a real game about fake players playing fake games in a fake league, with real heart and real fun. This goofy nonsensical circus of a game ...
Jonathan discusses Carrion, a novel game where you are the tentacled monster, escaping from a facility of pesky humans, determined to prevent your escape.
Nick regales Jonathan with the current progress of the Assassin's Creed franchise, ups and downs, progress and pitfalls.
Jonathan and fellow author and professional journalist Casey discuss writing, normally and during times of depression. Listen for some tips on good habits, and good mental health while still making good art.
Jonathan and Nick discuss Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor and Middle Earth: Shadow of War, the games that gave birth to the nemesis system, a brilliant generator of emergent gameplay, which must not be missed.
Jonathan discusses The Textorcist, a bizarre, irreverant anti-hero priest who fights demons and the possessed with the power of words... Type for your life!
Jonathan and Nick discuss Ghost of Tsushima: Legends, the free multiplayer content recently added to the game. All this and a cherry on top for no extra cost?
Jonathan recounts the experience of Mega Man X 2, from the Nintendo Switch's Mega Man X legacy collection.
Jonathan and Nick speak with Dorian Richard, co-designer of Hidden Strike: American Revolution, a cooperative or competitive game of high-level war and history. You can feel the love the makers have for both game design and the historical period. Available ...
Jonathan recounts the wonders of Prince of Persia: Two Thrones, third game and a fantastic finisher to this trilogy. They manage to expand upon the mechanics and have a story-line nearly as good as the first game, for a wonderful ...
Jonathan and Nick talk Chimera Squad, a great little game sprouting off the X-COM franchise, nourishing for those jonesing for another hit of the good stuff. It's not as long as a full game, but at this price, that's more ...
Jonathan recounts the wonder of Prince of Persia: Sands of time, a groundbreaking play and story experience that left a permanent mark on the 3D platformer genre. In addition to this episode, there is a well-thought-out examination of it here: ...
Jonathan and Nick talk with Eli Belmont, expert Sea of Thieves pirate and streamer. It's not an action game, it's a pirate simulator with all the action and swashbuckling that entails. This one is a novel take on multiplayer, and ...
Jonathan recounts God's Trigger, a top-down, instant-kill, bullet-hell shooter with a lot of attitude.
Nick and Jonathan discuss WarFrame, the third-person, quasi-massive-online, immortal robot, horde-fighting, action game. It was this game before Destiny was this game. More #ThornCars, and yet less.
Jonathan recounts working out with the Switch peripheral title Ring Fit Adventure, another of Nintendo's ingenious uses of the joycon, more than a bit clever, and surprisingly effective.
Jonathan and Nick discuss Vampyr, a step forward into new territory of story and morality, more than just some sort of simple good and evil mechanic, and certainly enough to overcome a few rough mechanical edges. A fascinating gem amidst ...
Jonathan discusses Alto: a light, fun, relaxing romp of a one-button, 2D platformer.
Jonathan and Nick discuss Code Vein, a Japanese souls-like that represents the expansion of the mechanical genre into new setting genres. Your move, Atlas.
Jonathan recounts a pleasant, puzzle-light platformer, low on tension and high on relaxation.
Jonathan and Nick discuss Ghost of Tsushima, a true love letter to the struggle of the Samurai, and a very solid game besides. It oozes attitude and style, an absolute joy for any fan of Akira Kurosawa's works.
Jonathan regales about a phenomenal MetroidVania platformer with advancement integrated into the narrative, effective power design, beautiful art, exhilarating temptation and indulgent fulfillment of choices in Sundered: Eldritch Edition.
Jonathan and Nick discuss Elite Dangerous, a space-flight-simulator with ships, upgrades, combat, markets, factions, and space tourism. A bit complex, but deep, and a lot of fun.
Jonathan describes Hue, a platformer from the Epic Games store, a sidescrolling puzzler that makes good use of a single, versatile mechanic. Colorful and fun, with well-executed art and a hint of story.
Jonathan and Nick discuss Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: BreakPoint. Sometimes the industry succumbs to temptation. We'll see if they learn their lessons.
A recorded play session of Blades in the Dark, run by Nick, for Jonathan, John, Trevor, and Jason. The game is fantastic. The rest of the sessions will be available to all on our page Patreon.com/LiterateGamer
Jonathan and Nick speak with John Harper, creator of Blades in the Dark, an intricately well-designed Tabletop Role-Playing Game with a unique and novel world. This game is incredibly fun, slick as a shark, and John was a delight to ...
Jonathan discusses Q: a Neon Platformer, a simple game that quickly spirals into a certain complexity and shiny fun. The developer sent me a code for this one, but I can honestly say that it's a good game. Check it ...
Jonathan and Nick discuss two great board games "Paladins of the West Kingdom" and "Root". These two are in the absolute top tier of worker placement games, and Root represents a true asymmetric experience. Both are well designed and fun ...
Jonathan revisits a platformer classic: Mega Man X, available now in a collection on the switch. Still great, and at a great price.
Cassie Layton discusses her role as De Sardet, the Legate of the Merchant Congregation, in 'Greedfall', the 2019 narrative heavy, companion driven, RPG from the developer Spiders.
Jonathan waxes philosophical about Enter the Gungeon and Tormentor X Punisher, bullet hell shooters, proper game design, and mechanics.
Jonathan and Nick discuss "Mount and Blade 2: BannerLord", an 3rd-person action/kingdom management/simulation game with surprising quality, depth, and an aggressive update schedule. Prepare yourself for greatness, or devious banditry, whichever serves you best!
Jonathan tears through the over-the-top, heavy-metal style bloodbath Valfaris, leaving a pyre of unheeded tears, broken dreams, and flaming corpses in his wake...
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