The Tyranny of Thumbs

This is the one where we all take a break and just play our home games. Whatever brings us joy. Oh and Gabe joins us!

This week we talk about:

• James: Balatro, The Bazaar

Next week: Rise of the Golden Idol

The thrilling conclusion to our Spooky Games Month: Still Wakes the Deep aka Still Haunts Our Nightmares.

Somehow we convinced ourselves that this game was totally gunna be like Dear Esther. And well... you prolly know how this is about to go. Luckily we had each other's company to help guide us through.

Spooky Games Month:

• Indika

This week we go on an adventure... into Shakespearian play?

(Also we open this week with some Keenan story telling beef for the hardcore)

Spooky Games Month:

• Indika

Now this game is something like you've never seen before. What an absolute banger out of nowhere. MUST PLAY IF YOU LIKE ARTSY BS.

If you don't know what this game is, the trailer will help you be correctly confused (but intrigued) as to what this game is.

Many tracks are really interesting on the soundtrack but here is one McCoy's been Jamming on. It's like Dark Trap music. Here is one Zoe linked and said it's just odd this is part of the game.

Spooky Games Month:

• Indika

We back and instead of James being sick it's McCoy! Let's Go!

Also check out the Game List for October aka Spooky Games Month:

• Indika

Editor McCoy's Note on the Release Schedule:

Ok, so listen we started recording on Tuesday so I edit on Wednesday and release on Thursday. Does this work for you? If you need me to make a release on Wednesday morning we can talk about it. It's just like, more work and more turn around and like, listen... aren't you just happy there is an episode this week at all? It's a low bar but we cleared it.

There is literally no way anyone remembers how to do any of this right. Grace is requested.

And also, we back baby.

And also, what a game.

"Elden Ring is done."

- McCoy, 2024

Could such words be real? Tune in for an extremely worn-down set of travelers who are finally ready to put their foolish ambitions to rest.

We finally dive into the long-awaited Elden Ring DLC and boy do we have a variety of experiences. Did you know that Gabe plays this game on NG+7? Holy mother of god. He gives some advice on whether or not he thinks that's a good call (Spoilers: He does not).

We also talk a bit about the community reaction, which while it started off incredibly positive has fallen to "mixed" in the one week since launch.

The podcast today starts with a conundrum:

What podcast to Re-Release this week between Control and Dear Esther?

Starting off you get a reflective contemplative editor McCoy trying to solve that problem live on air. He comes in a little "I got this" and ends "Ok, I got a bit humbled and I totally didn't have this". It's a nice journey that ends up delivering some presence, some value, some stories, and overall just proves Editor McCoy deserves his own podcast.

Also, forgive the audio quality, you have no idea the production setup required to make this episode work back in the day, and also... I was young and didn't know what I was doing back then. I still don't know what I'm doing now, but I'm not young anymore.

The long-awaited sequel to Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is finally here and we've re-released enough content to figure out how to align our schedules and lives to play it together. Join us for a rather illuminating discussion of the themes of this game, that at least I can say, leveled me up a lot compared to when I had just finished it and was sorta wondering what the heck was going on.

Also, editor McCoy, who essentially barely existed before the re-release era, is now sad as he looks ahead and realizes there isn't as much space for him as there once was.