TIMESTAMPS:

00:15 - Update!

11:15 - Housekeeping

13:30 - Q: Any 2024 hopes?

38:45 - The Games We Playin'

1:07:55 - {DEFAULT} - GOTYS 2023

2:40:15 - THE PICK: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

SYNOPSIS:

Wow! What a ride this podcast has been. In what is (for now) Jared and Josh's final episode, we discuss looking forward to 2024, our GOTY picks from 2023, and of course the pick of the week (and one a long time coming!) Skyrim. After 4 years and 60 episodes, I can't help but be proud of the work Jared and I have done and for how both of us have grown, changed, improved, and lived. It is definitely one for the history books. Thanks for listening!!!

TIMESTAMPS:

02:59 - Housekeeping

11:55 - Q: Do you go through phases?

25:12 - The Games We Playin'

34:48 - {DEFAULT} - What are your best tips for making friends?

1:03:50 - THE PICK: Super Mario Party

SYNOPSIS:

Behold, a new Jared-hosted episode! Jared brings the research and the FIRE in this episode, tackling the evergreen and ever-popular Mario Part series in as thorough detail as you'd expect from a Jared episode. I (Josh the Bard) personally love handing the controller over to Jared because he always knocks it out of the park and does something unique with it to boot. That being said, this is a doozy of an episode, so feel free to use timestamps if you feel inclined! In the first portion of the episode, we lengthily discuss topics like making friends and going through phases. Of course the upcoming school year, the occasional background bump, and the Souls franchise all make appearances as well! Enjoy the 59th Hall of Games!

TIMESTAMPS:

04:02 - Housekeeping

11:05 - Q: Would you rather be haunted by a ghost or be a ghost?

14:02 - The Games We Playin'

28:27 - {DEFAULT} - The Backlog Reaping 2023

1:44:02 - THE PICK: Detention

SYNOPSIS:

The Reaping was a wonderful time this year! What would've otherwise been a one-hour episode is much bigger due to a fantastic Reaping conversation/debate/baring of souls. Plus we also nominate a particularly interesting (and artsy, some may argue) video game in Detention, a politically-charged Taiwanese horror point-and-click adventure. And it lives up to each of those beats, in more ways than one. But as the Reaping segment proves, the Hall of Games is growing more elite and exclusive by the year... so does Detention have what it takes to make the cut? Jared's new nickname--SOFT SERVE--makes its debut, and we chat fireworks at 4th of July, the difference between being a ghost and being haunted by one, Attack on Titan, Josh's PS5's demise, the guilty pleasures of Dark Souls 2, and we even have a lengthy conversation on the tragedy of divorce. It's bursting at the seams, ladies and gents--we hope you enjoy!

**late upload due to poor scheduling, a holiday, and general laziness

TIMESTAMPS:

00:42 - Housekeeping

07:22 - Q: Do our cars have names?

11:03 - The Games We Playin'

21:25 - {DEFAULT} - GOTY Check-in's

29:52 - THE PICK: BioShock

SYNOPSIS:

I'm very excited to finally sit down to chat BioShock with Jared!!! (I'm doing this under duress so not enough time to describe everything, although we definitely talk about GOTYS and cars).

TIMESTAMPS:

02:35 - Housekeeping

11:20 - Q: What's a favorite gaming memory from our childhood?

22:20 - The Games We Playin'

31:06 - {DEFAULT} - REAL or FAKE: Dead Cells weaponry edition

53:45 - THE PICK: Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

SYNOPSIS:

It's TIME!... even though I am absolutely unprepared for it. In a move that is wholly unlike me, I the videogamebard was unable to complete this episode's Pick before we recorded--and there's a very interesting reason as to why. With Jared having spent over 100 hours and I having spent over 50, we still feel more than capable to cover what is perhaps the biggest game of the year and one of the greatest games of the 2020's so far: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Does this massive expansion on the highly lauded Breath of the Wild live up to its predecessor and the hype? Will the controversial additions to the game be enough to keep it from being put into the Hall? Do we even LIKE the game at all??? Listen to see. We also talk a bunch about Dead Cells weaponry (lots of fun!), normalizing cartoons, and Jared's heartfelt memories playing none other than the Game of Life on the PSX (of course). And hey! We launched our official Twitter! Go follow us, @hallofgamespod.

TIMESTAMPS:

06:01 - Housekeeping

10:40 - Q: What's a book we wish we could read for the first time again?

26:25 - The Games We Playin'

44:30 - {DEFAULT} - Gaming on vacation

58:30 - THE PICK: Dead Cells

SYNOPSIS:

With a wild spring now behind us, Jared and I were finally able to reconnect after some *slight* delay to talk about DEAD CELLS. Josh has an extensive history with Dead Cells, but Jared has actually beaten it! (curse his rogue-like skillage). Will the fast-paced deathloop have what it takes to stand above the other rogue-likes out there? Does Jared's trick disqualify him from gaming forever? Is vacation possible with kids?! We talk about that, as well as best books to reread, Tears of the Kingdom's scope, and of course, Breckenridge!

TIMESTAMPS:

06:48 - Housekeeping

14:00 - Q: What's our take on poetry? Do we have a favorite poem?

19:22 - The Games We Playin'

30:15 - {DEFAULT} - Should using a guide while gaming be universally accepted?

49:55 - THE PICK: The Last of Us Part I

SYNOPSIS:

It's been far too long since the start of this love project for us to have NOT covered The Last of Us in any way. After a 2022 full of AAA experiences and Jared's baptism in the Playstation catalog, Naughty Dog's premiere title is finally up to bat. Will the state of modern games overshadow what was a significant 2013 title? Does The Last of Us stand the test of time well enough to enter into the great Hall? Will ushering in such a juggernaut upset the balance of the Hall??? Listen and discover alongside us! One of my favorite things about the podcast is that we go into it not knowing where the other stands on the title, nor knowing the verdict. Plus! We discuss poetry, video game guides, and a crazy busy May!

I finally coaxed Jared into fully playing Dark Souls II and its DLC, and we have QUITE a few thoughts on it as is evident by the length! Not to worry, every minute is spent productively and the conversation needed to be as thorough as this one to fully understand the controversial behemoth Dark Souls II. Listen on to discover if we enter it into the Great Hall, or pass on it like its sequel! The penultimate Souls game is now in the books! Plus, some riddles to stump Jared, Mario movie chat, differences between the sexes, and LOTS of general From Software chat (after all, we're a Dark Souls podcast).

Timestamps:

00:50 - Mario movie chat

13:32 - Housekeeping

16:02 - Q: When single, would we have married ANYONE immediately?

46:00 - The Games We Playin'

1:03:08 - {DEFAULT} - Can Jared answer all the riddles from The Batman

1:13:17 - THE PICK: Dark Souls II

This week we cover the seminal Pokemon Legends Arceus! Will the offshoot entry in the beloved series be original enough to be entered into the Hall? Listen and find out! We also discuss comebacks, famous people, Fortnite and the uncanny valley!

Timestamps:

01:49 - Housekeeping

09:25 - Q: Who's the most famous person we've personally met?

18:00 - The Games We Playin'

38:34 - {DEFAULT} - What is the Uncanny Valley?

56:08 - THE PICK: Pokemon Legends Arceus

Now entering the second phase of the Hall of Games, Jared and Josh bring up one of gaming's classics--Metroid Prime Remastered. Is old game too old? Does a facelift do enough justice to a game from 2002, or is the core too weak to stay afloat in 2023? There's a reason it topped Switch charts for so long, but in a post-Dread world, does Prime have what it takes to enter into the Hall of Games? Listen and find out! We also discuss what IP we'd like to "Elden-Ring-ify," what reality shows we could win, and a small discussion on our spoilery conversations.

Timestamps:

03:37 - Housekeeping

04:01 - On spoilers...

07:18 - Q: What reality show/game/contest could we win??

13:53 - The Games We Playin'

31:05 - {DEFAULT} - What IP would we "Elden-Ring-ify"?

50:50 - THE PICK: Metroid Prime Remastered