You are listening to Vacation in the Dungeon the podcast with your host(s) Charlton smit and Muhammed Tahir.

In this episode of Vacation in the Dungeon  the Podcast we discuss: Doom Eternal and Texas. Sit back relax and lets get the adventure started 

the crazy Texas sun across endless highways open skies, and a quiet suburb just north of Dallas, where a group of developers at ID Software was quietly working on one of the most unique and interesting games in modern history, Doom Eternal. Texas isn’t just barbecue rodeos and cowboy hats, it’s a state with big energy, a bold personality, and a sense of scale that somehow gets baked into everything created there  including video games. Doom Eternal doesn’t hold back, and in a lot of ways, that’s very Texan fast, chaotic, unapologetic, and larger-than-life. Texas has this fascinating mix of tech, creativity, and ambition, a place where creativity  meets tradition and where people are encouraged to push boundaries and dream big. There’s a certain vibe you can feel if you walk through the area: studios humming with energy, conventions full of people sharing ideas, and a community that thrives on creating something unforgettable. It’s no wonder that a game like Doom Eternal, with its massive scale, ruthless combat, and pounding soundtrack, could be born here. A place so calm and ordinary on the surface giving rise to a game so intense and explosive. So, next time you’re going through armies of demons, tearing across alien landscapes, or just listening to the soundtrack and feeling your heart race, remember that it all started in Texas, a state that doesn’t do anything halfway, where imagination meets grit, and where bold ideas don’t just survive, they thrive.

DOOM is one of the most intense, loud, adrenaline-fueled shooters ever made. It throws you into a nonstop battle where demons flood every corridor and your only answer is overwhelming firepower and pure aggression. The gameplay moves like a rhythm  you’re constantly dashing, jumping, chainsawing, glory killing, and flame-belching to keep your health, ammo, and armor flowing. The Doom Slayer doesn’t speak, doesn’t hesitate, and doesn’t negotiate. He walks into every arena like something the demons should have stayed away from. DOOM doesn’t just want you to win  it wants you to dominate. And between the iconic weapons, the fast-paced combat, and the heavy metal soundtrack that practically screams in your chest, it turns every encounter into its own heart-pounding, chaotic highlight reel.

Despite its hellish landscapes and apocalyptic energy, DOOM was actually created in a very real and very normal place: Mesquite, Texas. id Software, the studio behind DOOM, worked out of a regular office building in a quiet suburb just outside Dallas. No flaming pits, no demon portals, just Texas heat, pickup trucks, and good barbecue down the street. It’s funny to think that a game known for ripping demons in half was born in an environment where someone could look out the window and see a calm parking lot shimmering in 100-degree sunlight. But maybe that heat was all the inspiration they needed. Texas summers alone could convince anyone that Hell is real. Mesquite became the unexpected birthplace of one of gaming’s loudest revolutions, proving you don’t need fire and brimstone outside your window to create it on a screen.

 Today we’re jumping straight into the loud, brutal, heavy-metal madness that is DOOM Eternal. If you’ve never played it, imagine being thrown into the most aggressive rock concert of your life while every single person there is a demon, and the only instrument you have is a Super Shotgun with a built-in meat hook. DOOM Eternal isn’t just about shooting things it’s like a rhythm game made of pure violence. You never stop moving. The game refuses to let you sit still you have to dash, jump, flame belch, chainsaw, glory kill, reload, and repeat, all while the soundtrack blasts like it’s trying to escape your headphones. The Doom Slayer, the main character, says absolutely nothing the entire time, but somehow has the most powerful energy in the room. Demons scream about consuming your soul, and he just responds by ripping their spine out like he’s opening a soda can. The levels are basically demon-filled skateparks that force you to fly around, swing on bars, and make split-second decisions just to stay alive. And the soundtrack? The soundtrack doesn’t just play—it possesses you. Mick Gordon really made music that can raise your blood pressure faster than coffee ever could. Sure, there’s stuff involving ancient warriors, hell, heaven, and cosmic conflicts, but at the end of the day, DOOM Eternal’s entire story can be summed up as: demons caused problems, and the Slayer solved those problems with extreme prejudice. It’s intense, it’s fast, it’s loud, and it gives you full permission to embrace chaos for a couple hours. So if you haven’t tried it yet, grab a controller, warn your neighbors about the noise, turn the volume up, and prepare to rip and tear until it is done. Thats all for this episode everybody, have a safe travel and safe gaming.

• Circuit rush by the Mini vandals

You are listening to Vacation in the Dungeon the podcast with your host(s) Muhammd Tahir and Charlton Smit.

In this episode of Vacation in the Dungeon the Podcast we discuss: Forza Horizon 4 and The United Kingdom.

Video games that give you a sense of real world travel? Forza Horizon 4 is a perfect example. And here’s an interesting twist: this game wasn’t made in Japan, China, or the U.S. It was developed right in the United Kingdom by Playground Games, based in Leamington Spa. The UK setting lets players explore a virtual version of Britain that feels alive and incredibly detailed.

What sets Forza Horizon 4 apart is its driving and dynamic seasons. The game revs through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, and each season completely changes the way the world looks and drives one week  you’re tearing down golden autumn roads lined with colorful leaves, modded-out cars pushing to the max, alive and incredibly detailed , the next drifting across snow-covered streets in the middle of winter, or cruising under bright spring skies with blooming countryside all around. The changing seasons don’t just look beautiful  they change the way you race, adding variety and challenge, just like real-world travel can surprise you with new experiences depending on when you visit.

The landscapes themselves are breathtaking. From the rolling hills of the Cotswolds to Scotland’s rugged highlands, the game captures the diversity of Britain’s terrain. You’ll race past historic landmarks, like Edinburgh Castle or charming coastal towns, and explore winding country lanes that feel like a road trip straight out of a travel magazine. Every corner has something new to discover, whether it’s a hidden trail, a festival event, or a scenic lookout.

But it’s not just about scenery. Forza Horizon 4 also gives players a taste of British culture. The villages, festivals, and even local wildlife make the environment feel lived-in and authentic. Driving through these towns, you get a sense of what life feels like in different parts of the UK from bustling city streets to quiet rural roads. It’s an adventure that mixes speed and exploration, letting you feel like both a traveler and a racer.

For travel and gaming enthusiasts alike, this game is a perfect bridge between the two worlds. It shows how video games can take you to new countries, immerse you in local culture, and let you experience the thrill of  the adventure all without leaving your home. Forza Horizon 4 isn’t just about racing, it's a virtual road trip across the UK, offering discovery, freedom, and fun at every turn.

Today we’re talking about one of the coolest gaming crossovers ever—Forza Horizon 4 and the United Kingdom. This game isn’t just about cars and racing; it’s basically a giant love letter to Britain. You’ve got everything from the rolling green hills of the countryside to the narrow cobblestone streets of Edinburgh, and it all feels alive. The seasons are a total game-changer too—you might be flying down a sunny road one week, then sliding across frozen lakes the next. It’s unpredictable, chaotic, and honestly, pretty much how British weather works in real life. What I love most, though, is the personality packed into it. The cheeky humor from the festival hosts, the classic British rides like the Aston Martin and Mini Cooper, even the GPS voice with that perfect polite-but-sassy tone—it all just fits. It’s like someone mashed up Top Gear with a massive outdoor festival and said, “Yeah, that’s Horizon.” The UK setting gives it this charm and personality that no other Horizon game quite matches. Whether you’re ripping through the Scottish Highlands or doing donuts near Edinburgh Castle, it really feels like a celebration of what makes Britain, well… Britain. Forza Horizon 4 isn’t just a racing game` it’s a vibe.

When this game dropped, I didn’t expect the UK to be… this exciting. Rolling hills, rainy countryside roads, tiny stone bridges  and then bam! A McLaren Senna roaring past a tractor. It’s hilarious and beautiful all at once. Playground Games really nailed that blend of realism and fun. You can tell the world was built to drive through, not just look at.

And the seasons  man, the seasons changed everything. Summer is all about open-road cruising, autumn gives you those satisfying drifts through leaves, winter turns half the map into an ice-skating rink, and spring? Mud. Just… mud everywhere. There’s something kind of magical about having over 700 cars to collect. You’ve got everything from old-school classics like the ’65 Mini Cooper to absolute beasts like the Bugatti Chiron. And if you’re like me, you probably spent way too long customizing license plates or painting your car neon green for reasons.

But what I really love is how Forza Horizon 4 doesn’t punish you for goofing around. You can take a supercar off-road, or drift through a sheep field, and the game just goes, “Yeah, sure, that’s fine.” It rewards chaos  and that’s what keeps it fun. The online side of Horizon 4 is a wild ride. One minute you’re peacefully doing speed traps, the next you’re suddenly in a random player’s convoy doing ridiculous stunts. There’s something wholesome about that everyone just kind of exists together, messing around, racing, and doing backflips off danger signs.

And those live events? Pure energy. You’ll see thirty cars flying through the air, half of them spinning out, and someone in the back doing donuts for no reason. It’s chaos, but it’s the best kind. Even with Horizon 5 out now, Horizon 4 still has this cozy charm. There’s just something about that British countryside — the balance of fast-paced racing and peaceful exploring. I still find myself booting it up just to drive around for fun. No races, no goals. Just me, the road, and that calming Forza soundtrack.

And if you’ve ever played while it’s raining in-game and outside your window at the same time… you know that feeling. It’s oddly therapeutic. So yeah, Forza Horizon 4 isn’t just another racing game. It’s a sandbox of speed, beauty, and a little bit of madness. It’s where you can be competitive or completely ridiculous  and both are equally fun.

If you haven’t played it in a while, give it another spin. Try that one car you never upgraded, drive across the map in first-person view, or just mess around with your friends again. Because that’s what Horizon is about  freedom on four wheels.

You are listening to Vacation in the Dungeon the podcast with your host(s) Charlton Smit and Muhammed Tahir .

In this episode of Vacation in the Dungeon the Podcast where we discuss travel and gaming.

Japan is a dream destination for travelers and gamers , imagine you're walking in japan with neon streets Akihabara in Tokyo. The King for gaming and anime culture You can visit shops filled with the latest consoles, rare collectible figures, and arcades where games you’ve only played online come to life. It’s an entire world built around your favorite games and characters. Japan isn't just about gaming and anime. Just a short train ride away, you can explore unreal temples in Kyoto or stroll through the bamboo forests or soak in some hot springs while you're surrounded by beautiful views. The mix of modernized cities and ancient culture and it is a unique experience. You might be playing a game one moment then the next you're standing in ancient temples the next, it feels like you're traveling back in time between worlds. Many games are inspired by landscapes and traditions. Traveling to japan gives you a real feel of the world that inspires the awesomeness of the most popular games. You can see shrines, gardens, streets that look like scenes out of a video game.And it’s not just scenery. Japan celebrates gaming culture everywhere from themed cafes where you can sip coffee surrounded by your favorite characters, to arcades with classic and modern games, to festivals where cosplay brings characters to life. Experiencing this culture in person is so much more than just sightseeing; it’s stepping into the heart of the games themselves. So even if you're a traveler searching the world for its beauties or if you're a hardcore gamer, japan is the place for you it offers both worlds in one and it doesn't even seem like it. It all blends in together 

 Muhammad: Now that we have explored real world magics of Japan from its temples to its neon lit cities, it's now time to cross over into its virtual side of that same world. Few games capture Japan's beauty, history and spirit better than the ghost of Tsushima.

 Set during the Mongol invasion of the 13th century, Ghost of Tsushima feels like stepping into a living painting of feudal Japan. The island of Tsushima is brought to life with stunning detailed fields of golden grass, misty bamboo forests, mountain shrines, and quiet villages that reflect the balance between nature and civilization 

that Japan is known for. Every frame feels cinematic, almost like a tribute to the samurai films that shaped Japan’s storytelling tradition.

Charlton:  But what makes it even more special is how the game connects to real Japanese culture. The way Jin Sakai, the main character, struggles between the samurai code of honor and the need to protect his people mirrors the real moral conflicts that defined Japan’s warrior history. Even the smallest details  like composing haiku, paying respects at shrines, or following a guiding fox  are drawn straight from Japanese customs. As we shift from travel to gaming, we’re not really leaving Japan behind, we're just seeing it through another view. Ghost of Tsushima lets you experience the country’s spirit in motion: the discipline of the samurai, the beauty of its landscapes, and the quiet strength of its people. It’s not just a game; it’s an artistic love letter to Japan’s past.

You know when a game doesn’t just entertain you it makes you think about who you’d be if you were in that world? That’s Ghost of Tsushima. It’s not just a samurai action game; it’s a story about loyalty, sacrifice, and what it means to hold onto your humanity when the world forces you to change.

You play as Jin Sakai, a samurai who’s been trained his entire life to fight with honor. When the Mongols invade his home, he does what he’s been taught he faces them head-on. But the problem is, honor gets you killed. The enemy doesn’t play by the same rules, and soon Jin realizes that if he keeps following tradition, everyone he loves will die.

That’s the heart of the game: Jin’s transformation. He’s torn between two sides of himself, the noble samurai who wants to protect his people the right way, and the desperate survivor who’ll do whatever it takes. The deeper you get, the more you feel that conflict. Every time you sneak behind someone or use poison, it’s not just a gameplay choice it’s Jin giving up another piece of who he used to be.

And that’s what makes it powerful. You start to feel the cost of survival. You see it in how his allies look at him, in how his uncle, Lord Shimura reacts to what he’s becoming. The story doesn’t glorify it. It hurts to watch, because you understand both sides. Jin is saving lives, but he’s also becoming something his ancestors would never recognize.

What I love is that Ghost of Tsushima never needs to lecture you about any of this. The storytelling is quiet but heavy. The looks characters give, the silences between words, the moments where you stand over fallen soldiers it all tells the story without needing a cutscene to spell it out. It’s restraint done right.

The combat reflects that same duality. When you fight as a samurai out in the open, blades drawn it feels clean and disciplined. It’s all about reading your opponent, timing your strikes, staying composed. But the moment you start using stealth, the tone changes. You move differently. The kills feel colder. You can sense Jin’s guilt, even if he never says it. The game builds that feeling not through dialogue, but through sound design, animation, and how the world reacts to you.

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network 

Show Name:  Vacation in the Dungeon

You are listening to Vacation in the Dungeon the podcast with your host(s) Charlton Smit and Muhammed Tahir.

In this episode of Vacation in the Dungeon the Podcast we discuss: Videogames and Traveling.

Welcome to The first Episode in vacation in the dungeon. We are going to be traveling to China. A place of ancient legends, misty mounds, and culture. From huge peaks like the Huangshan mountains to the unreal temples in the bamboo, China has places that almost feel unreal. And it's not just about the landscapes. It the culture and the stories that have inspired art and even video games. Later we will talk about Black Myth: Wukong, but for now let's talk about real world china.

China’s scenery is incredibly diverse, offering travelers a chance to experience just about every kind of landscape imaginable. In the south, you’ll find the breathtaking karst mountains of Guilin and Yangshuo, where emerald-green peaks rise sharply from the ground and rivers wind between them like ribbons. A simple boat ride along the Li River feels almost magical, as mist rolls off the mountains in the morning and fishermen still use traditional bamboo rafts with lanterns to guide their way. It’s one of those places where you feel transported to another time.

Head west, and the scenery changes completely. In Tibet and the surrounding Himalayan region, snow-capped peaks stretch into the sky, some of the tallest mountains on Earth. Here, travelers can hike trails at the roof of the world, pass through colorful monasteries, and see prayer flags fluttering in the wind. The air is thinner, but the landscapes are unlike anything else raw, powerful, and deeply spiritual.

Further north, the grasslands of Inner Mongolia offer a totally different experience. Vast, open spaces stretch endlessly in all directions, where herders still raise horses and sheep as they have for centuries. Visitors can stay in traditional yurts, ride on horseback, and experience nomadic hospitality under an incredible blanket of stars at night. It’s a reminder that travel isn’t always about big cities. Sometimes the most memorable moments come from the stillness of nature.

(Charlton) What I really like about Black Myth: Wukong is how it mixes real myths with the game world. When you fight something like the Nine-Tailed Fox, it’s not just some random monster, it's based on the Huli Jing from Chinese folklore. People have been telling stories about it for hundreds of years, through operas, paintings, even carvings at temples. And if you travel around China today, you can still see it in festivals and performances.

(Muhammed) The scenery is the same way. Those foggy mountains you climb in the game. They look just like the Huangshan mountains or the stone pillars in Zhangjiajie. Both are actual places you can hike, and honestly, standing there feels just as crazy  as it does in the game. So playing Black Myth: Wukong almost feels like walking straight into China’s old legends. The stories are old, but the culture keeps them alive, and this game is such a cool way to experience that.

Today we’re diving into Black Myth: Wukong, a game that has completely taken over my brain these past few weeks. And I don’t just mean because it looks beautiful or because the combat is fun—though both of those things are true. What really makes this game stand out is how it brings old Chinese folklore into a modern action game. And the more I play it, the more I realize this isn’t just another flashy RPG—it’s something with real roots, something that feels alive.

So let’s start with one of the big highlights: the enemies. If you’ve seen even a trailer, you’ve probably noticed they’re not your average video game monsters. They’re pulled straight from Chinese mythology. Take the Nine-Tailed Fox. At first glance, it looks like a fantasy boss, something you’d see in any RPG. But then you realize—it’s actually based on the Huli Jing, a fox spirit from centuries of folklore. And knowing that changes the way the fight feels. You’re not just hitting a big health bar—you’re stepping into a story people have been telling for generations. That weight, that history, makes every encounter a little more powerful.

And it’s not just the Nine-Tailed Fox. Almost every major enemy has roots in myth. You’ve got demons, spirits, and creatures that feel otherworldly but grounded at the same time. They’re not random. They all belong in this world. It reminds me of what God of War did with Norse mythology, or what Sekiro did with Japanese folklore—but Black Myth: Wukong has its own flavor, its own rhythm. And honestly, it feels fresh because we don’t usually get this much exposure to Chinese myths in big, mainstream games.

Now let’s talk about the world itself. The environments are stunning, sure, but what I love is how they set the mood. You’ll walk into a misty forest or an abandoned temple, and it just feels like a place where spirits or demons could be lurking. The art design is dripping with atmosphere. It’s not just a backdrop—it’s part of the storytelling. Even the way the game uses light and shadow, or the way music swells before a boss fight—it all ties back to this sense of mystery and legend.

The combat deserves its own spotlight too. It’s not easy—you can’t just button mash your way through. The fights are deliberate. They make you think. Each boss has its own style, its own rhythm, and you have to learn how to adapt. And again, because these bosses are tied to folklore, the battles feel like you’re re-enacting some old story. It’s tough, it’s frustrating sometimes, but when you finally land that last blow? It’s so satisfying.

• Brunch Club by Tyler Wombly

• @theHVSPN

Welcome to vacation in the dungeon! Vacation bookings for the winter are coming up! And games are going to get popular. Can’t decide where you want to go and what games you want to play? I’m your host, Muhammad Tahir, and I'm your co-host Charlton Smit. We will be talking about gaming and traveling in ONE podcast. I Muhammad will help you out by talking to you about different locations around the world for your next big vacation. I’m going to cover everything from the history to the culture of each attraction and then help you find the best places to stay while you’re out on your next dream vacation. You might even discover hidden gems you’ve never heard of before. And me, Charlton, will be talking about gaming and helping you discover new games you might not have heard of and help you find a new favorite game.