The Level 857 Video Game Podcast

We’re celebrating 10 years of Level 857 and our 400th podcast episode by looking back at the journey that brought us here. Join us as we react to a special retrospective montage filled with memorable moments, milestones, laughs, and highlights from the past decade.

The Level 857 Video Game Podcast Ep-400: 400 Episodes & 10 Years of The Level 857 Video Game Podcast!

0:00 - Intro

3:41 - Indie Game of the Week - Slipstream

6:16 - Celebrating 10 Years and 400 Episodes

58:25 - Games Played Discussion - Mad King Redemption

1:07:00 - Al played Denshattack, Noir Bloom, Control Resident

1:15:58 - Stal played Fortune’s Weave

1:23:38 - Stikz played Castlevania Belmont’s Curse

1:28:57 - Turb played Final Fantasy Resonance

If you enjoyed the show, we'd be grateful for any show of support below:

(1) Subscribe and share this podcast with close friends/family

(2) Rate/Review us where ever you get your podcasts:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/level857

(3) Become a member on Youtube or Patreon for exclusive perks and discounts on merch!

https://www.857ent.com/#membership

(4) Get levelheaded merch here: https://level857-shop.fourthwall.com/

(5) Hit the bell and subscribe to our live podcast and multiplayer, co-op gaming channel:

https://goo.gl/Zy9RTD

***Special shout out to all of our supporters, especially our Boss Level Members***

John L., DaBagel69

(6) Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/WHauNxQAM5

Can you still trust video game reviews, or has the line between honest criticism, hype, sponsorships, and online outrage become too blurred? In this episode, we break down how professional critics, influencers, user reviews, review scores, embargoes, early access, and review bombing can all shape the way a game is perceived before you ever play it.

Level 857 Video Game Podcast Ep-399: Can You Still Trust Video Game Reviews?

0:00 - Intro

2:06 - Indie Game of the Week - LIMBO

5:20 - Can You Still Trust Video Game Reviews?

57:26 - US gamers forced to cancel PlayStation, Nintendo and Xbox subscriptions as costs climb

1:03:16 - Activision to take over Halo series as more Microsoft layoffs hit Halo Studios and others

1:06:42 - Final Fantasy VII Revelation Includes Auto Level-Up Option For Players Who Skip Side Quests

1:13:05 - Games Played Discussion - Orbitals

1:17:19 - Stal played Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave

1:23:24 - Stikz & Choc played Marvel's Wolverine

If you enjoyed the show, we'd be grateful for any show of support below:

(1) Subscribe and share this podcast with close friends/family

(2) Rate/Review us where ever you get your podcasts:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/level857

(3) Become a member on Youtube or Patreon for exclusive perks and discounts on merch!

https://www.857ent.com/#membership

(4) Get levelheaded merch here: https://level857-shop.fourthwall.com/

(5) Hit the bell and subscribe to our live podcast and multiplayer, co-op gaming channel:

https://goo.gl/Zy9RTD

***Special shout out to all of our supporters, especially our Boss Level Members***

John L., DaBagel69

(6) Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/WHauNxQAM5

This week, we’re taking a closer look at the games we’ve been playing and recently completed to answer one question: Are they actually worth your time? We’ll break down what we liked, what we didn’t, what kept us invested, and whether we’d ultimately recommend each game or tell you to pass.

Level 857 Video Game Podcast Ep-398: Are These Games Actually Worth Your Time?

0:00 - Intro

1:30 - Indie Game of the Week Spotlight - Inside

6:20 - Are These Games Actually Worth Your Time?

13:53 - Blasphemous 2 Third Sin DLC

34:57 - Anomaly President

39:27 - Forza Horizon

44:21 - Resident Evil Requiem

53:02 - Mind Over Magnet

54:37: Midnight Fight Express

57:46 - Marvel's Wolverine

1:14:00 - Terminator 2D: No Fate

1:20:24 - Ember Knights

1:26:29 - General Practice

1:29:03 - Street Fighter 6

1:31:34 - Super Tetris (Sega Master System)

1:33:18 - Dead or Alive 2

1:35:29 - Screamers

1:41:11 - Slash Zero

If you enjoyed the show, we'd be grateful for any show of support below:

(1) Subscribe and share this podcast with close friends/family

(2) Rate/Review us where ever you get your podcasts:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/level857

(3) Become a member on Youtube or Patreon for exclusive perks and discounts on merch!

https://www.857ent.com/#membership

(4) Get levelheaded merch here: https://level857-shop.fourthwall.com/

(5) Hit the bell and subscribe to our live podcast and multiplayer, co-op gaming channel:

https://goo.gl/Zy9RTD

***Special shout out to all of our supporters, especially our Boss Level Members***

John L., DaBagel69

(6) Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/WHauNxQAM5

Nintendo, PlayStation and Konami all dropped major announcements, so this week we're breaking down the biggest reveals from all three showcases! We dive into the latest Nintendo Direct, PlayStation State of Play and Konami Press Start, including the newly revealed. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake and determine which reveals have us most excited!

The Level 857 Video Game Podcast Ep-397: Big reveals came from Nintendo, PlayStation & Konami: Who did it best?

0:00 - Intro

2:25 - Indie Game of the Week Spotlight - Lies of P

6:07 - Big reveals came from Nintendo, PlayStation & Konami: Who did it best?

6:59 - Konami Press Start rundown

17:02 - PlayStation State of Play impressions

48:19 - The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time remake Nintendo Direct reactions

59:20 - Nintendo Direct 9.9.26 thoughts

If you enjoyed the show, we'd be grateful for any show of support below:

(1) Subscribe and share this podcast with close friends/family

(2) Rate/Review us where ever you get your podcasts:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/level857

(3) Become a member on Youtube or Patreon for exclusive perks and discounts on merch!

https://www.857ent.com/#membership

(4) Get levelheaded merch here: https://level857-shop.fourthwall.com/

(5) Hit the bell and subscribe to our live podcast and multiplayer, co-op gaming channel:

https://goo.gl/Zy9RTD

***Special shout out to all of our supporters, especially our Boss Level Members***

John L., DaBagel69

(6) Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/WHauNxQAM5

We break down the best reveals, biggest announcements, and standout games from the rest of Gamescom 2026 before reacting to the latest Grand Theft Auto VI news and what Rockstar’s highly anticipated release could mean for the gaming industry at large?

The Level 857 Video Game Podcast Ep-396 | Gamescom 2026: Best Reveals + GTA VI Reaction

0:00 - Intro

2:02 - Indie Game of the Week Spotlight - Pizza Tower

7:20 - Mario on Sega master system

8:53 - X-Men 97 costumes coming to Marvel Rivals

10:46 - PlayStation debuts live TV

12:15 - Gamescom 2026: Best Reveals

44:58 - GTA VI Reaction

1:05:48 - Castlevania appears to be getting a reboot

1:10:08 - State of Decay 3 in good shape despite Xbox upheaval

1:13:17 - Sonic Team head talks possibility of Sonic Mania 2

1:16:40 - Xbox boss confirms next gen Project Helix is more than one console

1:20:56 - Al played Anomaly President, Midnight Fight Express

1:23:59 - Stal played Aggelos, Street Fighter 6

1:28:07 - Stikz played Resident Evil Requiem

1:31:32 - Turb played Onimusha Way of the Sword

1:34:03 - Choc played Forza, Marvel Rivals

If you enjoyed the show, we'd be grateful for any show of support below:

(1) Subscribe and share this podcast with close friends/family

(2) Rate/Review us where ever you get your podcasts:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/level857

(3) Become a member on Youtube or Patreon for exclusive perks and discounts on merch!

https://www.857ent.com/#membership

(4) Get levelheaded merch here: https://level857-shop.fourthwall.com/

(5) Hit the bell and subscribe to our live podcast and multiplayer, co-op gaming channel:

https://goo.gl/Zy9RTD

***Special shout out to all of our supporters, especially our Boss Level Members***

John L., DaBagel69

(6) Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/WHauNxQAM5

Gamescom 2026 is underway! We break down the biggest Opening Night Live reveals, share what impressed us most, and discuss what we still hope to see before the event wraps up.

The Level 857 Video Game Podcast Ep-395: Gamescom 2026 came out swinging on opening night!

00:00 - Intro

1:29 - Indie Game of the Week: Sea of Stars

7:55 - Gamescom 2026: Opening Night Reveals

1:02:32 - Golden Axe: First Look at the New Animated Series Based on the Classic SEGA Game

1:06:21 - 2XKO Active Development Will End in December 2026

1:11:07 - Stal played Aggelos

1:13:58 - Stikz played Resident Evil Requiem, Street Fighter 2 Prime

1:17:29 - Turb played Onimusha: Way of the Sword demo

1:20:06 - Al played Anomaly President

If you enjoyed the show, we'd be grateful for any show of support below:

(1) Subscribe and share this podcast with close friends/family

(2) Rate/Review us where ever you get your podcasts:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/level857

(3) Become a member on Youtube, Fourthwall or Patreon for exclusive perks and discounts on merch!

https://www.857ent.com/#membership

(4) Get levelheaded merch here: https://level857-shop.fourthwall.com/

(5) Hit the bell and subscribe to our live podcast and multiplayer, co-op gaming channel:

https://goo.gl/Zy9RTD

***Special shout out to all of our supporters, especially our Boss Level Members***

John L., DaBagel69

(6) Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/WHauNxQAM5

Are AAA games getting too big for their own good? We discuss ballooning budgets, longer development cycles, massive teams, cutting-edge graphics, monetization, and whether the modern AAA model has become unsustainable.

Level 857 Video Game Podcast Ep-394: Are AAA Games Getting Too Big for Their Own Good?

00:00 - Intro

1:40 - Indie Game of the Week Spotlight - Vampire Survivors

7:38 - Are AAA Games Getting Too Big for Their Own Good?

1:09:45 - Aspyr Promises More Lord Of The Rings Revivals In The Future

1:13:54 - The Simpsons: Hit & Run is coming back, according to Matt Groening

1:17:22 - Bethesda Dev Says Cuts Were Rare Before Xbox Took Over: ‘All Of A Sudden We Have Yearly Layoffs’

1:22:21 - Al played Anomaly President

1:24:52 - Stal played Aggelos

1:27:30 - Stikz played Geometry Wars Galaxy

1:29:49 - Turb played Resident Evil Requiem

1:33:48 - Choc played Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls

If you enjoyed the podcast and would like to show support, doing anything below goes a long way:

(1) Subscribe and share this podcast with close friends/family

(2) Rate/Review us where ever you get your podcasts:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/level857

(3) Become a member on Youtube, Fourthwall or Patreon for exclusive perks and discounts on merch!

https://www.857ent.com/#membership

(4) Get levelheaded merch here: https://level857-shop.fourthwall.com/

(5) Hit the bell and subscribe to our live podcast and multiplayer, co-op gaming channel:

https://goo.gl/Zy9RTD

***Special shout out to all of our supporters, especially our Boss Level Members***

John L., DaBagel69

(6) Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/WHauNxQAM5

Is there really such a thing as a perfect video game? In this episode, we debate what it actually takes for a game to earn that label, whether a 10/10 score should mean flawless, and how much personal taste factors into the equation.

Level 857 Video Game Podcast Ep-393: Does the Perfect Game Exist?

00:00 - Intro

03:03 - Indie Game of the Week Spotlight - OlliOlli World

06:38 - Does the Perfect Game Exist?

1:20:05 - Take-Two Boss Defends No Disc Version of GTA 6, Equates Physical Releases to Vinyl Records & a GTA6 Extended Look is Premiering Exclusively on Netflix

1:24:38 - Xbox Project Helix Offers Complete Backward Compatibility

1:28:24 - Xbox cut thousands of jobs, but a bigger threat to game development may be happening lower down the ladder & Turkey's AI dilemma is a perfect example

1:33:20 - 7 classic JRPGs that are so good they never need a remake

1:36:44 - Al played Anomaly Agent

1:38:39 - Stal played Fire Emblem Path of Radiance

1:40:20 - Stikz played Nervous Brickdown

1:42:07 - Turb played Devil May Cry 5

1:44:01 - Choc played Halo Campaign Evolved, Gears E-Day, Marvel Tokkon

If you enjoyed the podcast and would like to show support, doing anything below goes a long way:

(1) Subscribe and share this podcast with close friends/family

(2) Rate/Review us where ever you get your podcasts:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/level857

(3) Become a member on Youtube, Fourthwall or Patreon for exclusive perks and discounts on merch!

https://www.857ent.com/#membership

(4) Get levelheaded merch here: https://level857-shop.fourthwall.com/

(5) Hit the bell and subscribe to our live podcast and multiplayer, co-op gaming channel:

https://goo.gl/Zy9RTD

***Special shout out to all of our supporters, especially our Boss Level Members***

John L., DaBagel69

(6) Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/WHauNxQAM5

We discuss whether there is room for a new game console manufacturer and examine the chances of whether Sega, Apple, Samsung, Panasonic, and other companies would have competing against PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and PC gaming. We also debate what a new platform would need to offer, which company has the strongest chance, and whether gamers would actually support another console.

Level 857 Video Game Podcast Ep-392: Is There Room for Another Player in the Console Wars?

00:00 - Intro

03:00 - Indie Game of the Week Spotlight - Neon White

06:57 - Is There Room for Another Player in the Console Wars?

56:42 - Sony doubles down on axing physical game discs

1:00:21 - Gears of War: E-Day devs are embracing 'old-school' multiplayer in 2026

1:03:30 - Xbox disc-to-digital program confirms retro 360 era catalog release window

1:06:40 - Dave Bautista in Talks to Join God of War TV Series as Kratos

1:10:35 - Al played Rhythm Heaven Groove

1:14:28 - Stal played Fire Emblem Path of Radiance

1:17:02 - Stikz played Saros

1:21:36 - Turb played Star Fox

1:24:40 - Choc played Halo Campaign Evolved

If you enjoyed the podcast and would like to show support, doing anything below goes a long way:

(1) Subscribe and share this podcast with close friends/family

(2) Rate/Review us where ever you get your podcasts:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/level857

(3) Become a member on Youtube, Fourthwall or Patreon for exclusive perks and discounts on merch!

https://www.857ent.com/#membership

(4) Get levelheaded merch here: https://level857-shop.fourthwall.com/

(5) Hit the bell and subscribe to our live podcast and multiplayer, co-op gaming channel:

https://goo.gl/Zy9RTD

***Special shout out to all of our supporters, especially our Boss Level Members***

John L., DaBagel69

(6) Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/WHauNxQAM5

This week, we revisit the Nintendo Entertainment System to discuss the best co-op games that made sharing the couch, coordinating attacks, and occasionally sabotaging Player 2 unforgettable! Special shoutout to @Massproduc3 for suggesting this week’s main topic!

Level 857 Video Game Podcast Ep-391: These Are The Very Best Co-Op Games on the 8-Bit NES!

00:00 - Intro

02:27 - Indie Game of the Week Spotlight - Stray

05:20 - Best Co-Op Games on NES

1:03:15 - Xbox Is Putting Ads Before Games, And It Feels Gross

1:08:18 - After 15 Years, Resident Evil 5 Has Finally Been Dethroned as The Series' Best-Selling Game

1:12:30 - Sega Won’t Ditch Physical Media, But Says Digital Expansion Is Vital

1:17:13 - Al played Rhythm Heaven Saga

1:21:26 - Stal played Fire Emblem Path of Radiance

1:24:48 - Stikz played Thimblewead park

1:30:08 - Turb played Resident Evil Requiem

If you enjoyed the podcast and would like to show support, doing anything below goes a long way:

(1) Subscribe and share this podcast with close friends/family

(2) Rate/Review us where ever you get your podcasts:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/level857

(3) Become a member on Youtube, Fourthwall or Patreon for exclusive perks and discounts on merch!

https://www.857ent.com/#membership

(4) Get levelheaded merch here: https://level857-shop.fourthwall.com/

(5) Hit the bell and subscribe to our live podcast and multiplayer, co-op gaming channel:

https://goo.gl/Zy9RTD

***Special shout out to all of our supporters, especially our Boss Level Members***

John L., DaBagel69

(6) Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/WHauNxQAM5